65 Ocean Avenue Site

As we outlined two years ago, nearly to the day:

The designs for a 125-unit development to rise up to five stories in height upon the former Crayon Box/Little Bear preschool site at 65 Ocean Avenue, between Cayuga Avenue and Alemany Boulevard, have been newly rendered by rg-architecture and the formal application to move forward with the development has been submitted to Planning.

In addition to the 125 residential units, which are primarily a mix of (59) studios and (50) two-bedrooms, the refined plans for the Balboa Park development, which is designed to wrap around the existing Midas shop on the corner of Ocean and Alemany, include 7,750 square feet of commercial space fronting Ocean Avenue, an underground garage for 132 cars and 134 bikes with its entrance on Cayuga and a 10,000-square-foot interior courtyard for residents.

And as we first reported [back in 2016], the development team still isn’t planning to invoke the State Density Bonus Law to build above the 45-foot height limit for which the 65 Ocean Avenue parcel is effectively zoned but 20 percent of the units are expected to be offered at below market rates.

The proposed development, however, has since been redesigned. And while the project team still isn’t planning to invoke California’s Density Bonus Law, it is now seeking to leverage San Francisco’s HOME-SF program to build up to 55 feet in height upon the site and effectively triple the zoned density limits for the parcel as newly rendered below.

As such, the bigger plans for the development would now yield 193 residential units, 48 of which would be offered at below market rates (BMR), with a basement garage for 121 cars and 149 bikes, and a 5,900-square-foot child care facility on the building’s ground floor.

And if approved next week, as is being recommended by San Francisco’s Planning Department staff, the project team is aiming to break ground in the third quarter of 2020 and targeting a lease-up date in the fourth quarter of 2022.

19 thoughts on “Bigger Plans for Ocean Avenue Development Closer to Reality”
  1. So, basically, the city is just going to keep stuffing more new development in every area except those where the oligarchs of SF live. When are we going to see a little development in Presidio Heights?

    1. You must be confused. District 9 has had basically zero development in the past 20-years. District 7 has really only built Avalon Ocean back in 2011. Pretty sad for a city in a housing crisis.

    2. there’s plenty of development, but it’s only for a few silk shirt people… who may or may not enlighten us with their presence a few weeks a year…

    3. 3333 California and the CPMC site will add approx 850-1000 units (depending on whether 3333 California goes with the all residential or res/office mix variants) in Presidio Heights.

    4. Thought it was important to add: the city isn’t doing much of anything – private developers are purchasing land where it is available/the cost supports development and working with architects, lenders, etc. to design and build the new housing.

  2. As someone who lives not too far from this location and pass by on a near daily basis, I’m in full support of the project. However, why doesn’t the developer just buy out the owners of the Midas site? Seems silly to have the new project wrap around it rather than fill out the corner.

    1. The developer tried to buy that site, but there is a long term lease and the tenant wasn’t interested in leaving. But the design allows for the future incorporation of that site if/when it becomes available.

  3. Expect lots of howling from all the suburban car huggers. In my opinion this is a perfect example of moderate-density urban infill.

    1. The site would be perfect for new ground floor retail and walking improvements to link mission to ocean and balboa park station. neighbors I believe opposed the retail… the other retail in adjacent corners will need to be amped up especially the well liked Beijing restaurant…. they need a planned project as well… the other two corners need new facelifts for the buildings and the bookstore (Stevens books unfortunately closed) however with more adjacent housing hopefully the corner Midas shop will sell and improved transit will occur sooner…. Geneva Harney comes to mind with the other D11 sites… I would support a taller building if they could do the retail on the 1st two streetside floors… (D11 resident)

  4. Beautiful project. Love to see 25% affordable achieved without city subsidy. The one thing is, a lack of ground floor retail on such a big site seems unfortunate. Not even a small storefront at the corner of Ocean and Cayuga?

    1. Neighbors seemed to nix the retail, though it would be an improvement to the intersection and help link the pedestrian connection to Balboa Park Station and Ocean Ave. There is also the need to make it more inviting to WALK between Mission and Ocean, so this project could very well do both.

  5. In case the developers ever read this: As someone who lives nearby, please get Trader Joe’s and a gym. Why aren’t there any public gym’s within walking distance for the mission terrace neighborhood?

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