S
andhill O'Farrell, a Palo Alto-based developer, is seeking a meeting with city officials to discuss plans for a 17-story apartment building at 550 O'Farrell Street in San Francisco. The project would replace a century-old parking garage that's considered a historic landmark. In May, the developer increased the height of the building by four floors and added 30 units using Senate Bill 330, which freezes planning codes.

    The new application includes a state density bonus to boost the capacity to 141 units, with 19 apartments set aside as affordable housing. The proposed high-rise would feature 79 one-bedroom, 32 two-bedroom, and 30 three-bedroom apartments above ground floor shops and restaurants. It would have parking for 149 bicycles but no cars.

    The project was initially approved by the Planning Commission in 2021 under a different developer, Presidio Bay Ventures. The current design, led by HGA, features terra cotta cladding on the first three floors and precast concrete above. The building would rise from a quarter-acre lot between Leavenworth and Jones Street.

    The historic parking garage, built in 1924, may be eligible for listing under Criterion 3 as an example of Gothic Revival style architecture. Sandhill O'Farrell was founded by Prabhas Kejriwal in 2004, but it's unclear what other developments the company has undertaken since its inception.