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

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Was: $1,495,000
Now: $1,449,000
You Save: $46,000

Aw, yes. Contemporary new construction in San Francisco. Medium-grey exterior paint, a spot of wood, and of course an abundance of larger-than-life windows and brushed metal. Let’s not forgot the bright and bold rectangular tile in the bathrooms, and the dark cabinets with contrasting white countertops (but not Carerra marble) in the kitchen. Also: white walls… everywhere. This particular textbook version of contemporary has been sitting on the market for 63 days without a bite. So, what to do? Send it to the chopping block, of course. The details: It’s a 3-bed, 3.5-bath, 2,373 square foot home that hit the market back in early June with an asking price of $1,495,000. Shoot forward to today and they’ve skimmed a little off the top, bringing the new price to $1,449,000. Did we mention that this 3-story home has an elevator? Because it does. The home faces East so you’ve got views (from your roof deck, schwing) of the Bay Bridge and Treasure Island. The property is also kitty-corner to a park with tennis courts. But really, an elevator for a 3-story house?
· 698 Arkansas [Redfin]

On the 13th (next Friday), the district’s Board of Directors will officially accept the $5M that was recently pledged to help design the Golden Gate Bridge’s suicide deterrent system. The project has been in the works since 2008, but one cocktail fundraiser won’t pull in the necessary $50M buckaroos that it’ll take to complete the project. Thankfully, the ball has started to role with the $5M pledge, bringing down the “monies needed” meter to $45M. [Under the Dome]

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Holy smokes, do we have some pedigree real estate news for you. 2121 Broadway, a small and exclusive building, just listed a full-floor apartment for $2,995,000. Listing information states that the 2,722 square foot humble abode features 4-beds and 4-baths. This is a co-op, so it’s not like you can just write a check for whole amount (rumor has it that this is a cash only building) and nab this place. You have to partake in a new owner interview (no grubby t-shirts and flip-flops, you 20-something dot com billionaires) and then the board has to give you its approval. Ah, the life of keeping up with the Joneses. The apartment itself is perfectly done up with all the regal glam you’d expect from a property of this type. It features what appears to be an onyx fireplace, ornate hardwood flooring, a questionably pink but still likabe bathroom, and a kitchen jam-packed with all the beautiful stainless appliances you’ve been lusting over for years. The unit also has two parking spots in the building’s covered garage. The monthly HOA due is $1,500 which is fine for a property of this stature. Bonus image in the gallery is floorplan porno.
· 2121 Broadway #5 [Redfin]

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Actually, it would probably be easier to stroll right in. On and off the market since 2008 and originally priced at $1.26M, this small but renovated three-bedroom/three-bath prison-adjacent waterfront cottage is now looking for $989K after being relisted on July 7 for $849K.

The Post Office says we’re in San Quentin, and apparently it’s a nice little enclave of about a hundred residents just outside the gate, but Google says Larkspur. And we know who’s going to win that one. The prison, the star of film noir and the current home to about five thousand men, is just “steps away”, as the realtors might say. Otherwise, the place looks both dreamy and tiny, and we like that the living room seems to be upstairs with the best view and a great deck. Definitely for the kayak-before-breakfast crowd, especially if you work in Marin or Contra Costa Counties. You just may not get to know all your neighbors.
· 42 Main Street, Larkspur [Redfin]
· Would you spend over 1 million to have San Quentin as your neighbor? [Sweet Digs]
· Point San Quentin Village [Marin Magazine]

If all goes as planned, Saturday morning at 12:15a.m. the last AC Transit bus will pull out of the Transbay Terminal, forever. And then the building will get sealed up and prepared for demolition. Crews will start razing the old terminal and the ramps immediately after closure. Demolition of the terminal itself will probably begin in about two months. Thanks for all the good times, Transbay Terminal. [SF Gate]

And that’s a wrap: Yesterday evening Ike’s Place in the Castro was given an eviction notice by San Francisco Superior Court Judge Peter Busch. You may recall that NIMBYs above the shop complained about the long lines, noisy customers and “persistent smell of fried bacon.” Opportunities to fix the problem of the “persistent smell of bacon” were avoided, says Julian Lastowski, an attorney who represents residents living above the shop. Like the opportunity to shell out $800,000 to the upset neighbors, or $300,000 and a restriction in the restaurant’s hours of operation. Ike Shehadeh, owner of Ike’s, made extra efforts to please his neighbors by having his employees wait until 8:30a.m. to start work, increased trash pickup and asked people waiting in line to be quiet. “I don’t see the problem,” said Marc Dyer, 31, another customer. “It is 4 in the afternoon, a bunch of people are waiting for sandwiches.” Local folks, like Steve Adams, president of the Merchants of Upper Market and Castro, are sad to see Ike’s Place go. He, along with several other Castro residents, are helping Shehadeh find other locations for his business in the area.
· If You Pay Us, We Will Go [Curbed SF]
· Ike’s Place in the Castro gets eviction notice [SF Gate]

[A Tale Of Two Runways via Curbed Flickr Pool/bats...]

· NIMBY madness in Laurel Heights [City Insider]
· Target apologizes for donation to conservative Republican [Target]
· Befriend your regular MUNI commuters [Fog City Notes]
· Famed Arco station still causing problems for bikers [SF Citizen]
· Dude, there will be a rocket at Pier 14 today [LiveSOMA]

[SF Cityscape via Curbed Flickr Pool/kapshure]

· Hate your neighbors? Here’s a handy guide on how to upset them [Gawker]
· Christmas comes early in the Tenderloin (NSFW) [Tenderblog]
· Firewood potentially available in Western Addition [SF Citizen]
· Prop8 celebration celebrated in many different ways [Daily Nail]
· San Francisco: it’s hilly (and extremely beautiful) [sfhaps]
· Home decor latest justification for gambling addiction [CMYBacon]
· Scammed by Rachael Smith? Meeting tonight to discuss situation [SFist]

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Listed in the beginning of July, and re-listed three days ago, the Spring Mansion in Berkeley has been reduced to $4.95M from $6.495. You’ve saved over a $1.5M on this eight-bedroom, six-and-a-half-bath replica of a palace on Corfu. Although they’re more like second-cousins-once-removed than twins. It was designed forJohn Hopkins Spring and built in 1912 from designs by John Hudson Thomas. We have no idea if anyone involved had actually been to Corfu, or whether both houses were made of poured concrete, but the Berkeley version apparently has a concrete roof.

The house later became a private progressive school renowned for its interpretive dance classes, and then a private residence again. It’s unclear if the pricechop is an actual reduction or if the property has been subdivided and the new price is a reflection of that.

Spring’s best known for his life as a early, local Donald Trump-like character. He began the development of the Thousand Oaks and laid out Albany, was involved early on with the Claremont Hotel and owned property in San Francisco. His career and fortune really took off after the earthquake in 1906 when his holdings in the East Bay became more valuable overnight. Amazingly, Spring is believed to have built another version of this house in Los Gatos for his second wife.
· 1960 San Antonio Avenue, Berkeley [Redfin]
· John Hopkins Spring Estate [BAHA]
· John Hopkins Spring: splendor, strife & shenanigans [BAHA]
· So Green: Berkeley Cottage with a Sod-roofed Garage [Curbed SF Archives]
· Achllion Palace [Galen Fry Singer]

Click the image above to view the full photogallery.

You know the drill. It brightens your day when you see a Curbed post about that beautiful property in your favorite neighborhood that just hit the market with an asking price that seems low to you. You click the image gallery. It’s got that Sub-Zero fridge you’ve been lusting after. Also, a pond in the slate patio in the backyard. As expected, you fall in love. “Gosh, San Francisco really does have some beautiful homes!”

What you don’t see are all the horrible, terrible listings we have to sort through to find your dream homes. This week we’ve collected some of the worst photos, and put them all together in a gallery for your enjoyment. Happy Thursday!