Join Green architect/EBCOHO member Greg VanMechelen for a visit to a San Francisco site that is approved for development. The (entitled) condo project didn't work out in the financial crisis -- but it could work for cohousing with some changes, at moderate prices by SF standards. A developer we're working with has an ownership stake in this property. NOTE NEW DATE -- NOW SATURDAY, NOT SUNDAY! We'll offer a full refund to anyone who signed up for the old date and can't make it now.

We'll meet at a DogPatch neighborhood space, close to the T-Third MUNI and CalTrain, get to know each other, and then carpool over to explore the site. We've invited some folks from the local neighborhood association to join us, to get to meet you as well as to provide their feedback on visions for the site.

The land is on the south slope of Potrero Hill, and features (according to Greg):

• just over a half acre (+/-23,300 sf),
  
• fronts on dead end streets on the east and west,
  
• partial views of the Bay and the East Bay
  
• great solar access
  
• has a walk score of 78
  
• feels somewhat un-City like - it is away from the hustle and bustle of downtown and The Mission.
  
• moderately steep with about 40 feet of slope from frontage to frontage, high on the west, low on the east.
  
• to the south are modest lots, with a mix of old and new single family and some newer 3 story flat buildings (including some that the developer built a few years ago); across the street to the east are some light industrial buildings, one story and set lower so they don't obstruct the views too badly; to the north is open space, I think it was a quarry at some point and would be hard to develop because of the rough terrain; to the west is a public housing project - relatively low density rowhouse blocks that are being revamped as part of a larger project.

• there was an approved project for 28 units of high density housing
  
• podium garage with 4 stories above
  
• very dense, maxed out the site to the legal limits
  
• mostly stacked 2-story rowhouses (most units are 2 br, 2.5 ba), with some one-story flats for filler
  
• access primarily through 2 courtyards, either at grade or through a 3rd story continuous open balcony.
  
• small amounts of open space - the courtyards, a shared roof deck,
  
• some units have side yard access, either 7 x 18 or 10 x 18
  
• all units have balconies, most are about 5 x 6 - not big enough to use for much.
  
• would have to be all site-built, and with the garage would have significant excavation and massive concrete work, which makes the construction costs fairly high.

• obviously the approved project could move forward, the permits may have expired by now, but it is probably easy in this climate to revive them
  
• Greg did a quick sketch that showed that 3 blocks of rowhouses, cascading down the hill, could fit. 
  
• 2 courtyards in between, one 33' x 133', mostly parking, one 27' x 100', completely landscaped
  
• Up to 20 units, 15' x 40', 600 sf per floor, typically 2 stories with some partial 3 stories.  This would fit 2 br, probably 1.5 baths
  
• Parking would be underneath units or on grade.
  
• this plan had no common house - could be accommodated by reducing the number of units, or stacking units taller, or making smaller units. Of course, that changes the equations
  
• there is an adjoining single family property with well-worn shack that might be available, could be common house. But that means more money would be required to acquire the site.
  
• A developer who invested in the project estimates that if the group financed this from the start it could come in for around $500K per unit. (since this is what we technically call a WAG (Wild-Assed Guess), and depends a lot on the design and # of units, figure this could be off significantly - it is useful as a design target, not a promise -- and because of the embedded assumptions, it may not be directly comparable to "retail" prices)

Site visit will start at a Dogpatch neighborhood coworking space, The Hat Factory, introduce ourselves, discuss the site and its history, and then carpool up to visit it. We will reconvene at the Hat Factory for discussion, followed by potluck lunch.

$30 per household (Single? Bring a friend! Just $20 for EBCOHO Supporting Members - upgrade your membership today for the best deals and first dibs on these opportunities). Advance payment recommended - limited space available.

We'll send you details on where to gather and/or carpool link once you have rsvp'd and arranged payment. Wear comfortable shoes for outdoor walking in mud and dirt on the hilly site!