Plans for a 4-story addition to rise atop the historic two-story garage at 1650 Pacific Avenue, which was designed by the O’Brien Brothers and built in 1921, adjacent to Harris’ (which was built in 1919), are in the works.

And as envisioned by Feldman Architecture, a “contrasting and muted addition,” with a limited and set-back street presence, would serve to emphasize the existing historic structure (which would be preserved and restored).

The addition, which is likely to face some pushback from owners in the relatively new building across the street with Bay views, would yield 12 new condos, including 11 two-bedrooms and three-bedroom penthouse unit, atop 8,600 square feet of renovated commercial space, with a ground-floor retail space and a 10-car garage.

We’ll keep you posted and plugged-in.

11 thoughts on “The Plans for a Residential Addition Atop This Historic Garage”
  1. Pacific is flat right there, and all of the buildings are low. If the neighbors wanted views, they should have bought on a hill/incline.

  2. These historic garage buildings in the Van Ness corridor are the weirdest bit of historic preservation. With a few execptions, there’s no reason to save most of these buildings as faux-historic facades.

    1. You might not think much of them as “historical resources” but they provide some texture for neighborhoods that are becoming increasingly homogenized and lacking in character. I say keep the facades.

    2. Agreed. Just tear it down and start over. Any historical interest is so niche that whoever is really going to be heartbroken about it has already taken photos and compiled them into a book, and that’s plenty.

  3. UPDATE: While the preliminary plans for the project were submitted to Planning, and feedback secured, a formal application to secure entitlements for the project has yet to be filed or reviewed (much less approved). But the garage, which was purchased for $8 million in August of 2019, has just returned to the market with the preliminary plans attached and a $10 million price tag.

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