Year-to-date residential development performance in San Francisco has been stronger in 2017, as compared to last year with overall transaction volume up by 9%.
San Francisco Residential Development-January 2017
The Costa Group Just Sold, Just Rented & Coming Soon-January 2017
San Francisco Market Update-December 2016
60+ Apartments Coming to San Francisco's Upper Market
Earlier this month, San Francisco's Planning Commission overwhelmingly approved the construction of a new, 7-story building at Market and 14th Streets. The building will include 62 residential apartment units and will take advantage of the location's proximity to public transportation by offering parking for bicycles but not vehicles.
The complex will be on the site of the former Home Restaurant, which closed in 2011 after declaring bankruptcy. It has taken 5 years for the future of this unused parcel to be decided upon. The parcel is an odd triangular shape and includes challenging slopes but city planners felt it would benefit from substantial development, especially because of the 5 Muni lines all within a block of the property.
“This is an important corner, as you kind of enter into the Castro at two major intersections,” stated Commissioner Rich Hillis.
Enter Brian Spiers Development, the San Francisco-based real estate firm that is spearheading the mixed use complex that includes 62 residential units and ground-level retail. Though the building's proposed design underwent some reworking of the exterior as well as the floor plan of the retail space, the planners unanimously decided to approve Spier's project.
Brain Spiers Development rendering of approved building at 2100 Market Street.
“To those who were critical of the building, one group said it wasn’t dramatic enough…others said it didn’t fit in with the Victorians…but I think it strikes a good balance,” said Commissioner Michael Antonini.
Because of the vicinity to multiple Muni lines all within a one block radius, the building will not include any parking areas for motorized vehicles. Instead, it will offer bicycle parking to encourage residents to take advantage of public transportation.
Commission President Rodney Fong noted that San Francisco needs new housing immediately, and further delaying this project could prevent the construction of new homes.
7 San Francisco Restaurant Makes Yelps Top 100 List
Yelp recently announced its top 100 eateries in the United States. The list was comprised of a wide variety of establishments that had numerous reviews and were the most popular among Yelpers in the local area.
Seven San Francisco restaurants made this list. They vary widely in atmosphere, cuisine, and price but all get kudos from Yelpers. The top-ranking restaurants include:
#6: Gary Danko, high end New American cuisine on N. Point Street whose namesake is widely respected as one of the nation's most talented and respected chefs.
Chef Gary Danko, whose restaurant ranked #6 on Yelp's Top 100 in the nation.
#24 Ike's Place, known for their amazing sandwiches, especially those with the 'dirty sauce'
#26 Kokkair Estiatorio, serving delicious Greek/Mediterranean dishes in the Financial District
#53 Lou's Cafe, another sandwich shop in Inner Richmond with many loyal customers
#55 Arizmendi Bakery offers pizza and mouthwatering baked goods on 19th Street
#83 The Codmother Fish & Chips, a favorite British fare served up in a casual, fun atmosphere
#95 Roxie Food Center, a market that makes stellar sandwiches and it right across the street from Balboa Park
Of course, San Francisco is known for its amazing diversity and its cuisine is no exception. There are so many delicious options to explore for breakfast, lunch and dinner!
Tell us, what is your favorite place to dine in San Francisco?
Top Dog Parks in San Francisco
San Franciscans love their pets. In fact, according to SFGate, in San Francisco, pooches outnumber people, or at least the younger ones. Just like humans, our furry friends need to run, play and socialize.
Whether you live in the Presido or Nob Hill, whether your dog loves the beach, meadows or trails, SFist has compiled a list of the best dog parks in San Francisco to take your canine companion for fresh air, a rousing game of catch or an off-leash romp.
Click on each below to learn more and choose your next outing with your best buddy.
2. Crissy Field
3. Duboce Park
4. Fort Funston
8. McLaren Park
10. Ocean Beach
11. Pine Lake Park (Stern Grove Dog Park)
Click here to read the complete SFist article.
Google Fiber Coming to San Francisco
Yesterday, Google announced that it will provide its lightening-fast gigabit Google Fiber Internet service to certain apartment and condominium complexes as well as affordable housing in San Francisco.
Gigabit speed allows users to download HD movies or backup computers in seconds instead of hours. It could significantly increase the productivity of those who work out of the home, allow for more efficient, collaborative online studying and even positively impact the tele-health industry.
Taking into account 'a number of factors, including the city's rolling hills, miles of coastline, and historic neighborhoods,' the company decided to piggyback upon existing fiber networks instead of laying its own line.
San Francisco will be Google's fifth city in the nation equipped with its Fiber Internet service. Currently, the two main high speed Internet providers in the Bay Area are Comcast and AT&T.
Google's super high-speed Internet coming to a lucky few in San Francisco.
"That's a good thing for consumers. We can get to better services and more competition without having to build lots of new or redundant networks," said Hovis, who works for local governments and nonprofits on broadband projects, some involving Google Fiber. "We don't see huge amounts of competition in broadband. It's really expensive to build these networks. It really leads to monopoly and duopoly."
The cost of Google Fiber to those lucky San Francisco residents is not yet determined but will most likely be competitive with current providers. Hopefully, the service will expand throughout the city.
Google has also been working on plans to offer service in San Jose.
Are you looking to buy or sell in San Francisco? Learn more about The Costa Group and how we can help.
This Saturday: San Francisco's Chinese New Year Parade
This Saturday, February 20th from 5:15 to 8pm, San Francisco's annual two-week-long Chinese New Year festivities will culminate with the Southwest Airlines Chinese New Year Parade. One of the top 10 parades in the world, San Francisco's celebration is the largest of its kind outside of Asia.
Established in 1848, San Francisco's Chinatown holds the distinction of being not only the oldest Chinatown in North America but also of having the largest Chinese community outside of Asia. A major tourist attraction, the area covers 24 square blocks in downtown San Francisco, according to San Francisco's Planning Department, it is 'the most densely populated urban area west of Manhattan' with 15,000 residents living within its boundaries.
Celebrating the Year of the Monkey, the parade includes elaborate floats, colorful costumes, school marching bands, stilt walkers, Chinese acrobats, martial arts groups and this year's Miss Chinatown USA. The parade's grand finale includes the 268 foot Golden Dragon and more than 60,000 firecrackers. Constructed in Foshan, China, the 29 segment dragon is made of bamboo and rattan and is adorned with white rabbit fur, glittering lights and rainbow pom-poms, and silver rivets. With its 6-foot long head, it takes 100 people to carry the Dragon along the parade route.
Golden Dragon in the 2009 parade. Image courtesy of David Yu photography.
Beginning at Second and Market Streets, meandering around the perimeter of Union Square, heading north on Kearny Street, the parade finishes at Jackson Street. Bleacher seats are available for $30 at various points along the route but many attendees opt to stand along the streets. Whether you sit or stand, it is best to arrive between 3:30 and 4pm. Public transportation delivers riders very close to the parade route but if you are driving, parking south of Market is your best option.
Map of the Chinese New Year parade route.
A wonderful place to call home, San Francisco is an amazing city filled with culture, art, and diversity. Learn more about The Costa Group and how we can help you buy or sell in San Francisco.
Will Trumark Urban’s The Pacific Live Up To The Hype?
In 2016, Trumark Urban’s The Pacific, one of San Francisco’s most-anticipated luxury condominium projects will give residents (likely some top tech-company executives) stunning views of the Golden Gate Bridge.
It is being constructed in Pacific Heights, one of the city’s most luxurious neighborhoods, where new projects are a rarity.
Click image to view more renderings of The Pacific.
The building Realtors are already speculating that the best units could go for $3,000 a square foot, right up there with top Manhattan properties.
