NNN Brokers USA – San Francisco Commercial Real Estate Brokers: "The Scoop"

Another day, some more red tape. We missed this last week: the Castro Trader Joe’s planned for January 2011 has hit a snag with testy Radio Shack owners who don’t want to move across the street like they said they would months ago. A month after they were to move, everyone still seems confident that Radio Shack will clear out so Joe’s can move in, but we’ll be watching this one closely from here on out. [NBC Bay Area]

[elevation crime maps via Doug McCune.]

What would the city look like if neighborhood landscapes were defined by people, rather than nature? Doug McCune has reimagined crime data within neighborhoods and mapped those peaks and valleys with visually arresting results. Not surprising: many of the peaks, especially narcotics, warrants and robbery are located in the heart of the Tenderloin and extending over into the crime mountain range that includes downtown and SoMa. A little surprising: the starkness of the prostitution graph, which shows the vast majority of prostitution arrests happen along a skinny stretch of Mission, between 16th and 24th.
· If San Francisco Crime Was Elevation [Uptown Almanac]

Comment of the week, and it’s only Monday! We don’t usually like to reward the anons, but when one of you inquired about “a name that refers to that part of the Inner Mission” that’s become a moneyed foodie haven, anonymous helpfully chimed in: Hipster Ditch. Consider it coined. [Curbed Comments]

The Chronicle’s Sunday cover feature about Mid-Market’s oh-so-long-awaited come back won’t be online until tomorrow morning, but we can guess at its coverage of the neighborhood. It was great, but now it’s not! Public transportation, a lack of housing and a conglomeration of social services keep it not so great! But now Mayor Newsom is channeling funds to repave the street, bike lanes, extra sidewalk space, green pods, keywords, gentrification, arts and theater district, developers frothing at the mouth at the prospects — whoa, sorry, we almost caught it too!

The Chron isn’t alone in their newfound obsession with last year’s neighborhood of the year. Gannett’s online venture the Bold Italic were out in full force over the weekend at 6th and Market for an upcoming feature. But the Bold Italics were reporting on some less PR-friendly aspects of the Mid-Market scene, from knife fights to needle exchanges to Hells Angels. (Full disclosure: I am contributing a small piece to the Bold Italic’s coverage.)

But instead of dwelling on these other reports, we’ve got one of our own. To be fair, there is some great stuff coming to Mid-Market in the long view. We’re most excited about the daily art and antique markets planned for underutilized U.N. Plaza, which now hosts the twice-weekly Heart of the City farmer’s market. Also expect more public art aimed at getting pedestrians to slow down a little bit and appreciate Mid-Market’s unique… charm?

· Enduring woes on Market [SF Gate]
· 6th and Market Tweets [the Bold Italic]
· Mid-Market Prominent in New Budget [Curbed SF]
· Second Time’s the Charm for Mid-Market Plan, Sans Stubborn Supe? [Curbed SF]
· Another Magnifying Glass on the Various Failures of Mid-Market [Curbed SF]

[Oh my. That ain't fog. Via Curbed SF Flickr photog Justin Beck.]

· Studying the Marina natives.[Uptown Almanac]
· Muni signage is not so helpful. [Burrito Justice]
· Neither is the Muni computer system. [SF Civic Center]
· Church double-parking: yes, it still happens. [SF Appeal]
· And it’s tough out there for a Berkeley renter. [Berkeleyside]

The weekend open house slog is nigh, and we’re here to help! Agents, have a listing of your very own? Hustle!

Location:200 Clayton Street, Panhandle
Size: 5 bedroom, 3.25 bath, 4,330 square feet
Price: $1,750,000
Pitch: “This Grand Victorian Home is an incredible piece of San Francisco’s Unique Architectural Heritage. A big WOW factor. Well preserved Queen Anne Style house with exquisite original details: Gold Leaf Exterior Details, Stained Glass Windows, Handpainted Bathroom Tiles, Original Carved Wood and Tile Fireplace Surrounds and so much more.”
Open House: Sunday, June 6, 2-4 p.m.

Location:1236 Mason Street, Nob Hill
Size: 3 bedrooms, 1 bath, 1,470 square feet
Price: $599,000
Pitch: “It doesn’t get any better than a 1470 sq ft 3BR Nob Hill Flat w/ parking for $599K. On Mason near Washington-perfect location w/ short walk/Cable Car to the restaurants, shopping, & nightlife of N. Beach, Russian Hill, Nob Hill & Downtown. New custom kitchen hardwood floors, 2 gas fireplaces, formal dining room, new in-unit gas washer & dryer, new water heater, & views of the Transamerica bldg. Assigned storage & tons of closet space. Ellis Acted in ’04 – can now be rented. Sterling frac. loans.”
Open House: Sunday, June 6, 2-4:30 p.m.

Location:275 28th Street, Noe Valley
Size: 3 bedroom, 2 bath, 1,433 square feet
Price: $739,000
Pitch: “This top floor floor flat has 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, a spacious chef’s kitchen featuring a large island with pendant lighting, beautiful honed “leather” finished stone counters, stainless steel appliances, and cherry cabinetry. Gorgeous luxury bathrooms showcase contemporary ceramic & glass tile, granite counters, and polished chrome fixtures. This residence features soaring high ceilings, beautiful walnut floors, wonderful Edwardian period detail, and a stunning landscaped exclusive use garden. This flat is part of a 2 unit building and offers possible fast track condominium conversion. This amazing property is ideally located in the heart of Noe Valley, just steps from wonderful restaurants, cafes, and boutique shopping on bustling Church Street.”
Open House: Sunday, June 6, 2-4 p.m.

It seems San Francisco’s single largest residential taxpayer is trying to trim his bills a bit. John V. Sperling, son of University of Phoenix founder and veep in its publicly traded parent company, snapped up some of the city’s priciest properties over the last decade: a Presidio Heights manse for $15.5 million, Russian Hill’s $14 million “Stevenson House,” and a $32 million uncompleted Pacific Heights property that’s still “unfinished” and has been for sale since 2006 at $65 mill. That wasn’t hoarding, folks, it was love! From a 2007 Chron piece on the Sperling family’s holdings: “They do not buy homes to flip them. They do not buy properties to make a profit. They buy homes for the preservation of good architecture, for the location, and for their true love of beautiful homes.”

But it appears love wasn’t enough to make up for$800K in annual property taxes, so the mogul is looking to downsize. The Stevenson House is up for grabs at $18.8 million, and the Presidio red-brick abode is priced at $19.5 mill. We’re impressed by Sperling and his broker David Barrett’s optimism on those pricepoints. Barrett says, “The market is probably perkier right now than most people think.” Oh really, sir? He then added: “I sound like a goofy optimist.” Yes, well, we didn’t say it.

· City’s Top Taxpayer Looks to Unload Mansions [Bay Citizen]
· Flipping Limestone [Curbed SF]
· Housing for Billionaires [Curbed SF]

A new TJ’s is opening next Friday in Berkeley, and with the parking restrictions to match its new neighborhood. The Berkeley City Council unanimously approved a plan to restrict street parking to residents only. The new store at University and MLK has only 48 parking spaces for customers. The store takes up the ground floor of a $40 million mixed-use project, with 148 rental units above and 107 parking spaces for residents. [Oakland Tribune]

Last night the Planning Commission narrowly approved the environmental impact report for Lennar’s massive Hunters Point development. This was clearly not an easy decision: while Redevelopment approved the thing unanimously, Planning was split 4-3 — a better representation of the peevedconcerned neighbors who point to the difficulties of cleaning up such a toxic area. Still, at a time like these, the promise of jobs means more than the promise of pollution. Said Planning Prez Ron Muguel, “This project has a long way to go… And it’s about time it got started.” Brace yourselves, NIMBYs, this one is going to take a while — and Lennar is here to stay.

· Panels approve Hunters Point shipyard report [SF Gate]
Happy Hunters Point Day [Curbed SF]
· Lennar-Commissioned Report Says Hunters Point Will Make Bank [Curbed SF]
· Lennar’s Community Benefits Promises Do Impress City Officials [Curbed SF]

["Make Your Bad Dreams Come True" in Hunters Point via Flickr photog Troy Holden]

· Would you upload graffiti pics to the cops if you could? [Examiner]
· What constitutes a decrease in services from your landlord? [SF Appeal]
· Is there new hope for Californians facing foreclosure? [San Jose Mercury News]
· And will the supes really reject Muni budget? [SF Gate]