By Meghan Hall
A new hotel could be coming to San Francisco’s rapidly evolving South of Market (SoMa) Neighborhood if the City Planning Commission approves a proposal submitted by Reuben, Junius & Rose, LLP, a Bay Area-based real estate law firm working on behalf of an entity called Newco 2017 LLC, which is associated with London, UK-based hotel developer Ennismore and New York-based SkyBridge Capital, which purchased the property in November of 2017 for $22 million.
The East SoMa neighborhood where the subject property is based, is adjacent to downtown San Francisco, and is a seven minute walk to AT&T Park. It is also known for its diverse neighborhood, vibrant nightlife and rich history.
The proposed site, located at 424 Brannan Street, sits at the intersection of Brannan Street and Ritch Street, and is surrounded by a combination of industrial, office, mixed-use and residential buildings. Popular food joints and businesses such as Black Hammer Brewing, Blue Bottle Coffee and Coin-Op Game Room are within walking distance.
The site is also close to Interstate 80 and Interstate 280, while the 4th and the King Street bus station and trolley stations are minutes away. Stores such as Walgreens and Safeway are also within walking distance.
Plans for the site would demolish the existing 21,348 square foot, surface parking lot and construct an eight-story, 85 foot tall mixed-use building. Totaling 105,989 square feet, the building would be home to a hotel with 239 guestrooms. Roughly 8,000 square feet of open space for hotel guests would be available on the six through eighth floors of the hotel, while 5,000 square feet of public space would be accessible through a mid-property passage connecting Zoe Street and Ritch Street. Plans also include nearly 7,000 square feet of ground floor commercial retail space and restaurant uses.
The project proposal for the City does not include any parking alternatives for the 64 parking spaces that will be demolished with the construction of the new building.
The site is part of the larger Central Soma Plan, which aims to create a socially, economically and environmentally sustainable neighborhood by increasing the area’s job and residential capacity by 2040. The project site is located in the eastern portion of the Central SoMa Plan Area, which is bounded by Market Street, Townsend Street, 2nd Street and 6th Street.
There is currently no clear timeline for completion of the project, as the issuance by a Preliminary Project Assessment letter by the City of San Francisco does not mean the City has approved the proposed plans. Prior to approval, the plans must undergo an Environmental Impact Review. A Building Permit Application, Large Project or Conditional Use Authorization must be submitted prior to June 2019 for the project to proceed.
According to a number of reports, Handel Architects has been tapped as the designer of the project.
Neither the City of San Francisco nor Reuben, Junius, & Rose, LLP, responded to a request for comment.
