Newly filed building and demolition permits signal continued progress for a nine-story residential development at 842 California Street, located near Huntington Park in San Francisco’s Nob Hill area. The updated permit application shows a modest but notable increase in scale, with the addition of one floor and a revised total of 33 condominium units. The project is being led by Acme Development, which secured planning approvals for the site in late 2024.
Rising approximately 97 feet, the building is designed to deliver roughly 46,950 square feet of total floor area. Residential uses will account for about 40,950 square feet, while the remaining 6,000 square feet will be dedicated to parking and building services. A subterranean garage will provide space for nine vehicles, supplemented by bicycle parking for 36 bikes, aligning with San Francisco’s transportation and sustainability goals.
The unit mix reflects a range of housing options, including four studios, 14 one-bedroom units, 11 two-bedroom residences, and four three-bedroom homes. Five of the 33 units will be deed-restricted as affordable housing and will serve as replacement units for previously existing, now-vacant residences on the property, ensuring compliance with local housing preservation requirements.
Cass Calder Smith Architecture + Interiors is overseeing the architectural design. The building will feature a dark concrete podium at street level, supporting upper floors clad in terracotta tile. Glass railings are planned throughout, contributing to a contemporary aesthetic while maintaining visual permeability along the narrow Joice Street frontage. The massing and height made possible by the proposal rely on California’s State Density Bonus Law, which allows developers to exceed standard zoning limits in exchange for providing affordable housing.
Situated at the intersection of California Street and Joice Street, the site occupies a compact but highly visible parcel within a block bounded by Powell Street and Sacramento Street. The surrounding area is characterized by a mix of historic hotels, residential buildings, and institutional uses, making the project part of a broader pattern of incremental infill rather than large-scale redevelopment. Public records show the property last sold in 2020 for approximately $5.2 million.
Construction is anticipated to take around 24 months from groundbreaking to completion. Once delivered, the project will introduce new ownership housing to a centrally located neighborhood, contributing to San Francisco’s broader efforts to increase residential density, replace aging housing stock, and expand the supply of both market-rate and affordable homes in transit-rich areas.
Originally reported by Andrew Nelson in SFYimby.
