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Mapping 23 Casualties of SF's Car vs. Condo Deathmatch

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With developable land growing ever more scarce in San Francisco, it seems only natural that space-hogging gas stations in high-density locations should be prime targets. Indeed, developers keep guzzling up streetscape-deadening service stations, car washes, and auto-body shops and knocking them down in favor of new transit-friendly housing. If we didn't know better, we'd almost mistake this long-bubbling culture change for a sophisticated, multipronged attack on Sean Parker's America's Right to Drive. In this war of attrition, every new bikeway, every condo proposal with a skimpy parking allotment, every vacated gas station sends the auto-body count still higher. Can't find parking? Buy a $6,500 water bike. Nowhere to get your car fixed? You should probably just get rid of it.

To document these changes to the cityscape, we've mapped a grand total of 23 car-crushing condo and apartment developments now under way or coming soon, compiled with the help of the kind folks over at the San Francisco Housing Action Coalition. Know of any projects that deserve to be on our list? Drop us a line or let us know in the comments. Without further ado, here's our guide to the car vs. condo turf war.


· Cars-First "Restore Balance" Measure Funded by Ed Lee Backer Sean Parker [Streetsblog SF]
· I-280 Just Eye Candy for Future Condos with Skimpy Parking [Curbed SF]
· Stanley Saitowitz Development Rising in the Mission District [Curbed SF]
· New Mixed-Use Project in Dogpatch Looking for Approvals [Curbed SF]
· Empty SoMa Gas Station Site to Refuel with New Housing [Curbed SF]
· Donate Your Car to KQED [KQED]
· San Francisco Housing Action Coalition [Official Site]

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376 Castro

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The gas station at 376 Castro could soon be replaced by a mixed-use project designed by Sternberg Benjamin Architects. When built, the mid-rise will contain 24 residential units, consisting of 5 one-bedrooms and 19 two-bedrooms. The ground floor will host retail space and a community room.

1298 Howard

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The massive Chevron gas station at Ninth and Howard could make way for new development when its lease is up in five years. Its replacement may just be a 123-unit condo development by Levy Design Partners, which could include up to 13,000 square feet of commercial space and a pedestrianized alley.

585 Bryant St

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A series of auto repair shops could soon meet the wrecking ball in favor of a mixed-use project with 46,000 square feet of office space, as well as a residential component that could yield up to 112 new apartments. In total, the new building would rise 11 stories. The project is still in the early design phase and has yet to be approved.

650 Divisadero

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Developers have filed plans to replace Alouis Radiators with a new 16-unit condo building and three commercial spaces with room for two restaurants. Architect Forum Design is attached to the project, which could break ground next year.

198 Valencia

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An unknown developer is proposing to raze the Oil Changer at 198 Valencia and plop down 28 residential units in its place. The project would include 2,655 square feet of commercial space and 14 off-street parking spaces.

899 Valencia

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V20, an 18-condo building designed by Kerman Morris Architects, is on its way to the site of a former gas station at 20th and Valencia. The project broke ground last year, and quietly began pre-registration just recenlty. The condos are a mix of two- and three-bedrooms averaging 1,300 square feet.

1198 Valencia

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In September of 2012, JS Sullivan Development submitted plans for a 52-foot-tall building with 42 units and ground-floor retail on the site of an abandoned gas station at 23rd and Valencia. The project has been very slowly making its way though the design phase. Construction could begin within a year.

1298 Valencia Street

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The 76 Station at the corner of Valencia and 24th Streets may soon get axed in favor of a six-story condo building designed by Ian Birchall and Associates. If approved and constructed, the new building at 1298 Valencia Street will feature 35 new housing units and and 3,500 square feet of ground-floor retail space.

1490 Ocean Avenue

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The gas station at 1490 Ocean Avenue is slated to be replaced by a mixed-use development designed by Shatara Architects, containing 15 condos and 4,356 square feet of ground-floor retail. A construction timeline has yet to be set.

768 Harrison Street

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Ed's Autohaus at 768 Harrison Street in SoMa may soon be replaced by a nine-story mixed-use mid-rise designed by Ian Birchall and Associates. The new building would include 26 residential units, 5,000 square feet of office space, and a bit of retail.

490 South Van Ness

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If approved in September, the long-abandoned gas station at 490 South Van Ness may finally be replaced by a seven-story building containing 72 condo units. The project, by Forum Design and Smith + Smith Landscape, will feature 42 two-bedroom and 30 one-bedroom units over 655 sq.ft. of ground-floor retail and 48 parking spots.

1868 Van Ness

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A new, eight story mixed-use building with 35 units, 35 parking spaces, and 1,625 square feet of ground-floor retail is now well under construction at the corner of Van Ness and Washington. The Leavitt Architecture-designed building is replacing a gas station.

1501 Filbert

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Trumark Urban's Amero on Van Ness, which sits on the site of a former gas station, has topped out. The seven-story building will include 27 units, many of which will offer spectacular views of the bay.

3150 16th St

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Back in June, MX3 Ventures purchased the Superior Automotive shop at 3150 16th Street for $8.7 million. The company has plans to replace the structure with a five-story building designed by BAR Architects. The project could include up to 25 condos and 8,000 square feet of retail.

390 1st Street

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The 76 gas station on Rincon Hill may soon be replaced by a 13-story building with 165,000 square feet of residential space. A timeline for construction has yet to be set.

377 6th St

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The site of the abandoned gas station at Sixth and Harrison could one day host a new building with 116 very small units. Forty-seven are set to be two-bedrooms, with an average size of just 553 square feet. Twenty units would be below market rate. The plan also features 87 parking spots, a bike parking room, and ground-floor retail.

1394 Harrison

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Plans have been submitted to develop a five-story building on the site of the 10th Street Car Wash. The development is set to include copious amounts of bike parking, but no space for cars.

2198 Market

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The vacant lot at Market and Sanchez was once an unsightly gas station, and may soon morph in to an 87-unit rental building. Plans also call for 5,115 square feet of ground-floor retail, 34 off-street parking spots, and rooftop open space. Construction could begin within a year.

600 South Van Ness Avenue

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As proposed, Leavitt Architecture's 600 Van Ness would contain 27 rental units above ground floor retail. The project would replace a disused gas station.

75 Howard Street

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75 Howard is a 350 foot residential tower proposed for the site of one of the city's ugliest and best located parking garages. The project includes retail space as well as a new park at its base, but will only be built as planned if city officials approve a zoning variance allowing the tower to rise above 200 feet.

2230 Third Street

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Lee's Tire and Automotive may soon have to make way for yet another new condo project in the Dogpatch neighborhood. The proposed development includes 37 residential units with a mix of one, two and three-bedrooms. D-Scheme Studio is the architectural firm behind the colorful proposal.

346 Potrero

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An old car wash will soon be demolished to make room for a new mixed-use building designed by Handel Architects. The project contains 70 condos (38 one-bedrooms, 30 two-bedrooms, and 2 three-bedrooms), 1,600 square feet of ground-floor retail, and a massive roof terrace.

2175 Market Street

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Formerly a 76 gas station, 2175 Market will bring new housing units to transit-heavy Market Street. The building will house 88 one- and two-bedrooms spread over six stories. The development will also add 7,300 square feet of retail on Market Street. Construction is rapidly progressing, and the building has topped out.

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376 Castro

The gas station at 376 Castro could soon be replaced by a mixed-use project designed by Sternberg Benjamin Architects. When built, the mid-rise will contain 24 residential units, consisting of 5 one-bedrooms and 19 two-bedrooms. The ground floor will host retail space and a community room.

1298 Howard

The massive Chevron gas station at Ninth and Howard could make way for new development when its lease is up in five years. Its replacement may just be a 123-unit condo development by Levy Design Partners, which could include up to 13,000 square feet of commercial space and a pedestrianized alley.

585 Bryant St

A series of auto repair shops could soon meet the wrecking ball in favor of a mixed-use project with 46,000 square feet of office space, as well as a residential component that could yield up to 112 new apartments. In total, the new building would rise 11 stories. The project is still in the early design phase and has yet to be approved.

650 Divisadero

Developers have filed plans to replace Alouis Radiators with a new 16-unit condo building and three commercial spaces with room for two restaurants. Architect Forum Design is attached to the project, which could break ground next year.

198 Valencia

An unknown developer is proposing to raze the Oil Changer at 198 Valencia and plop down 28 residential units in its place. The project would include 2,655 square feet of commercial space and 14 off-street parking spaces.

899 Valencia

V20, an 18-condo building designed by Kerman Morris Architects, is on its way to the site of a former gas station at 20th and Valencia. The project broke ground last year, and quietly began pre-registration just recenlty. The condos are a mix of two- and three-bedrooms averaging 1,300 square feet.

1198 Valencia

In September of 2012, JS Sullivan Development submitted plans for a 52-foot-tall building with 42 units and ground-floor retail on the site of an abandoned gas station at 23rd and Valencia. The project has been very slowly making its way though the design phase. Construction could begin within a year.

1298 Valencia Street

The 76 Station at the corner of Valencia and 24th Streets may soon get axed in favor of a six-story condo building designed by Ian Birchall and Associates. If approved and constructed, the new building at 1298 Valencia Street will feature 35 new housing units and and 3,500 square feet of ground-floor retail space.

1490 Ocean Avenue

The gas station at 1490 Ocean Avenue is slated to be replaced by a mixed-use development designed by Shatara Architects, containing 15 condos and 4,356 square feet of ground-floor retail. A construction timeline has yet to be set.

768 Harrison Street

Ed's Autohaus at 768 Harrison Street in SoMa may soon be replaced by a nine-story mixed-use mid-rise designed by Ian Birchall and Associates. The new building would include 26 residential units, 5,000 square feet of office space, and a bit of retail.

490 South Van Ness

If approved in September, the long-abandoned gas station at 490 South Van Ness may finally be replaced by a seven-story building containing 72 condo units. The project, by Forum Design and Smith + Smith Landscape, will feature 42 two-bedroom and 30 one-bedroom units over 655 sq.ft. of ground-floor retail and 48 parking spots.

1868 Van Ness

A new, eight story mixed-use building with 35 units, 35 parking spaces, and 1,625 square feet of ground-floor retail is now well under construction at the corner of Van Ness and Washington. The Leavitt Architecture-designed building is replacing a gas station.

1501 Filbert

Trumark Urban's Amero on Van Ness, which sits on the site of a former gas station, has topped out. The seven-story building will include 27 units, many of which will offer spectacular views of the bay.

3150 16th St

Back in June, MX3 Ventures purchased the Superior Automotive shop at 3150 16th Street for $8.7 million. The company has plans to replace the structure with a five-story building designed by BAR Architects. The project could include up to 25 condos and 8,000 square feet of retail.

390 1st Street

The 76 gas station on Rincon Hill may soon be replaced by a 13-story building with 165,000 square feet of residential space. A timeline for construction has yet to be set.

377 6th St

The site of the abandoned gas station at Sixth and Harrison could one day host a new building with 116 very small units. Forty-seven are set to be two-bedrooms, with an average size of just 553 square feet. Twenty units would be below market rate. The plan also features 87 parking spots, a bike parking room, and ground-floor retail.

1394 Harrison

Plans have been submitted to develop a five-story building on the site of the 10th Street Car Wash. The development is set to include copious amounts of bike parking, but no space for cars.

2198 Market

The vacant lot at Market and Sanchez was once an unsightly gas station, and may soon morph in to an 87-unit rental building. Plans also call for 5,115 square feet of ground-floor retail, 34 off-street parking spots, and rooftop open space. Construction could begin within a year.

600 South Van Ness Avenue

As proposed, Leavitt Architecture's 600 Van Ness would contain 27 rental units above ground floor retail. The project would replace a disused gas station.

75 Howard Street

75 Howard is a 350 foot residential tower proposed for the site of one of the city's ugliest and best located parking garages. The project includes retail space as well as a new park at its base, but will only be built as planned if city officials approve a zoning variance allowing the tower to rise above 200 feet.

2230 Third Street

Lee's Tire and Automotive may soon have to make way for yet another new condo project in the Dogpatch neighborhood. The proposed development includes 37 residential units with a mix of one, two and three-bedrooms. D-Scheme Studio is the architectural firm behind the colorful proposal.

346 Potrero

An old car wash will soon be demolished to make room for a new mixed-use building designed by Handel Architects. The project contains 70 condos (38 one-bedrooms, 30 two-bedrooms, and 2 three-bedrooms), 1,600 square feet of ground-floor retail, and a massive roof terrace.

2175 Market Street

Formerly a 76 gas station, 2175 Market will bring new housing units to transit-heavy Market Street. The building will house 88 one- and two-bedrooms spread over six stories. The development will also add 7,300 square feet of retail on Market Street. Construction is rapidly progressing, and the building has topped out.