Up, Up, and Away…. Mission Dolores House on the Move!

The project involving the old parish building at the corner of Dolores and 15th looks to finally be on the move….  except it appears it’s the house that’s moving first?!

It’s been years since the lot where the old Baptist church once stood was sold along with the dilapidated old parish building (2002).  Since that time, developers have presented plans for a large condo complex with an underground parking structure.  The number of parking spaces was debated along with claims that the parish building was a historical building.  Then the parking issues were resolved and the developers agreed to incorporate the old structure into the plan (see below).

We drove by today and noticed that the old parish house is now up on crates and is adorned with signs for “Solares House Moving”.  So our question is — did the developers succeed in moving the house off the lot? Or are they scooting the house over to the property line to make room for the larger development that will be attached? Maybe they are just lifting the house to make way for a new foundation?  Perhaps the house is being moved off site while they build the parking garage underneath and then it will be set back down in place??!  Check out the photos below and let us know your thoughts on our Facebook page.

Below:  The original “First Southern Baptist Church” in 1953.  According to reports, the progressive Baptist church allegedly received a letter in 1993 from a member of the Aryan Brotherhood who disagreed with the church’s views.  The church was burned to the ground the next day by an arsonist.  Whether or not the two things are related or not seems to have never been made certain.

Below: Photos of the vacant lot and the building as it appeared for almost 10 years after the fire.  Signs at one time promised “Condos coming Fall 2010″.

Below: Plans that were distributed a couple years ago showing the parish house being preserved and the new complex sitting adjacent to the historical structure.

Below:  The house as it appears today, jacked up and ready for the house movers to do their thing, whatever that thing may be!

Hayes Valley is having a moment

While everyone’s been fussing over the Valencia Corridor’s latest crown jewel, sleeper hit Hayes Valley has been blowing up.

Off the Grid just began a Wednesday night food truck meetup at Proxy, the urban shipping container project that has revitalized the area with gems like Smitten Ice Cream and Suppenkuche’s Biergarten. 7×7 touted Nojo, Boxing Room, and Schulzie’s Bread Pudding in their article about the new reasons to hit up SF’s artsiest ‘hood. Building on the hallowed pre-Symphony options like Absinthe and Jardiniere, these new restaurants mark Hayes Valley as an everyday destination. And the hits keep coming – rising star chefs Sarah & Evan Rich plan to open a new restaurant on Gough, adding yet another feather to Hayes Valley’s culinary cap.

Besides the food, Hayes Valley is a haven for haute design, showcasing local designers, clothing boutiques and interior decor. Couple that with the cultural richness supplied by the nearby Opera, Ballet and Symphony – not to mention its walk score of 93 – and it emerges as an iconic San Francisco nabe you’d never need to leave.

SF real estate market heating up in anticipation of Facebook millionaires

San Francisco is already one of the most expensive housing markets in the country (and one that has stayed relatively stable throughout the national crisis). The Facebook IPO, however, will generate a veritable army of millionaires, many of whose first order of business will be staking their claim in San Francisco real estate.

While the IPO is probably a few months away, and employees must endure a lockup period before they can cash in on their newfound wealth (typically 180 days), we’re already seeing a significant surge in energy in the real estate market. Without a crystal ball, we can’t know if this is just momentary or if it’s truly a sign of an improving market in light of recent tech news. What we do know is that inventory is currently low and there are a lot of buyers in the wings. This has certainly created more energy in the market than we’ve seen in quite a while.

READ MORE

New app promises to find you the best handyman

Bay Area start-up company Redbeacon offers an innovative new way to pair homeowners with service contractors like plumbers, painters or carpenters.

Post your need on Redbeacon.com (or use their iPhone app) and within 48 hours you’ll receive 4 bids detailing not only a price comparison, but also reviews so you can be confident in the quality of the work done. Even better, Redbeacon increases efficiency by allowing you to upload a video of what needs fixing, eliminating the contractor’s need to make a site visit first.

Of course, if you prefer to choose a provider the old-fashioned way – by referral – don’t hesitate to contact us. We have a long list of contractors with whom we’ve worked and can highly recommend, and we’d be happy to share it with you.

READ MORE about Redbeacon

Love the Giants? Live like one: Tim Lincecum’s apartment is on the market

Timmy’s old apartment is a two-story, 3BR/3BA, 2,790 square foot bachelor pad between the Mission & Potrero. In true baseball star style, it has panoramic views of the ballpark and a private roof deck – not a bad way to watch the Blue Angels buzz the stadium on Opening Day. The apartment has made the news several times thanks to Lincecum’s notorious parties, and there are rumors of damages to the residence inflicted by the pitcher, but perhaps the right buyer might just consider that to be “World Series memorabilia.”

SEE MORE PHOTOS

Potrero Hill, Western Addition may benefit from SF’s “Green Connections” project

Several agencies have partnered together to launch San Francisco’s Green Connections initiative. Its mission: “Green Connections will increase access to parks, open space and the waterfront … [creating] sustainable corridors that enhance mobility, green neighborhood streets, and improve pedestrian and bicycle access to community amenities and recreational opportunities. Green Connections will result in a Citywide network of green streets that can be built over time, improving pedestrian and bicycle access to parks, open space and the waterfront.”

Lucky neighborhoods Potrero Hill and Western Addition are among the 6 areas projected to benefit from this project. If the recommendations are implemented, it could have a significant positive impact on real estate values in those neighborhoods.

Want to learn more? The Green Connections kick-off event takes place Wednesday, February 15 from 5:30 to 7:30 PM @ the LGBTCommunity Center, Rainbow Room, 1800 Market Street, San Francisco.

MORE INFO

S_LD!: Zynga founder Mark Pincus’ Cole Valley home

While it’s true that the Words With Friends & FarmVille founder’s Shrader Street home has sold for $1,890,000, it appears that his Washington Street home in the Presidio is still on the market. With the interior design done by his wife, One Kings Lane founder Alison Pincus, both houses are exercises in modern simplicity. The 2,875-square foot Cole Valley 3BR/3BA property is a 1940′s house that was opened up and fully remodeled.  It started out with a listing price of $2,189,000 before being reduced to $1,970,000 and finally selling at $1,890,000.  While the location is great and the wide open floor plan on the main level is appealing, the design aesthetic was very taste specific (perhaps even trendy) and may have affected the buyer pool.

Home Buying FAQs: Commissions and Contracts

Real estate in San Francisco can present some pretty unique issues. Here at Domicile, we strive to keep you informed. Today our expert agents answer your questions, helping you make smart, confident decisions.

“How do you get paid?”
The seller pays the commission for both their listing agent and the buyer’s agent. In San Francisco, it’s typically a 5% commission of the selling price of the home and is split equally between the listing and buyer’s agents.

“How do we work together? Do I need to sign a contract?”
In San Francisco it is not customary or required that buyers sign a contract defining their relationship with an agent until they actually write an offer on a property. We and any other agent worth their salt define the relationship by working hard and smart for their buyers.

Have more questions? We’re happy to answer them all. Leave a comment on our Facebook page, contact us directly or schedule a meeting to learn more about the San Francisco real estate market.

Maximize Each Square Foot

In San Francisco, living space is at a premium. Simple remodeling projects can help you optimize each square foot. “For a few hundred to a few thousand dollars, you can make your place “live” bigger without actually making it bigger,” says architect Sarah Susanka, a small-space specialist and author of “Not So Big Remodeling.” From bringing the laundry upstairs to opening up the floor plan, these affordable tricks will make your house feel more spacious.
READ THE FULL ARTICLE.

Photo credit: Jason Hindley

Tips on Preparing to Buy a New Home

Getting Started:

Start your search here, see what’s currently available with our Neighborhood Search tools.

Contact Us to discuss your unique needs and get you started on the right track.