Back in 2001, Central City Extra stumbled upon on a little-known fact: there are only four single-family homes left in the Tenderloin. Soon, however, the count may drop to three.
After purchasing the property at 611 Jones St. for $3 million in August (nearly 20 percent more than the original asking price), the new owner has submitted plans to raze the existing single-family home and construct a 13-story residential development with 17 units.
While the Preliminary Project Assessment application offers few clues as to the site's proposed future, the accompanying site plans by Kotas/Pantaleoni Architects include a rear yard, gym and bicycle parking on the first floor; eight floors of one-bedroom apartments ranging from 673 square feet to 727 square feet; two two-story lofts with three bedrooms each; and a roof deck.
Drawings: Kotas/Pantaleoni Architects
The property is located within an RC-4 District, which prioritizes high-density residential space supported by commercial use. However, the initial plans do not include commercial space. It also sits within the 80-T-130-T Height & Bulk District, meaning the Planning Commission will need to approve the proposed 130-foot height.
This is not the first time redevelopment plans have threatened the future of this single-family home. Central City Extra reported in 2007 that the previous owner of 611 Jones St., which also happens to be the only wood-frame single-family home in the neighborhood, had drawn up plans to demolish the building and construct a 10-story condo building with nine units.
While the project received the Planning Commission's approval, the combination of issues regarding its rear yard and the financial aftermath of 9/11 and the dot-com bust led to its abandonment.
The 109-year-old home's days may be numbered, but there's still time to spend the night inside a piece of Tenderloin history—if you have a bit of cash to spare. The home has been available as a vacation rental for years, and is still listed on Flipkey for $590/night, which is up from $450/night three years ago.
We'll let you know as soon as the Planning Department releases its analysis on these development plans.
