Hayes Valley Apartment Project Goes Even Bigger, Now Totals 1,112 Units

Hayes Valley, well-known among San Francisco neighborhoods as a shopper's paradise, could be the site of the city's latest mega-apartment building, following the approval of a modification allowing a proposed project to expand to 1,112 units.

Crescent Heights' project at 10 South Van Ness Ave. was originally approved in 2020 as a 966-unit multifamily development. In addition to a boost to the unit count, the Jan. 19 modification approval by the San Francisco Planning Commission added 12K SF of residential space while removing 10K SF of retail.

Units will range from studios to two-bedrooms, according to The Registry SF. The project will also include 18K SF in retail space. 

Initial plans included 21 three-bedroom apartments, though this component was completely removed with the rest of the modifications. This was one of the main topics of discussion among the planning commission, according to The Registry. 

“The abandonment of larger family units is a concern,” Commissioner Katherine Moore said during the commission's meeting. “Partially so because we had all set a common goal in all buildings to support a mix of large family-oriented units and the smaller ones, which is the one-bedroom and studios. We are pretty much abandoning the three-bedroom units.”

Along with the development modifications, Crescent Heights sought and was granted an entitlement extension request of four years to align with requirements from the project's lender.

Jim Abrams, an attorney representing Crescent Heights, said the extension was requested due to the lender requiring entitlement extension per a condition of the loan. 

“The project sponsor is endeavoring to construct this project and build this project but it needs this extension to close a loan that’s expected to close in February,” Abrams said.