There I was at the Presidio Landmark apartments the other day only to find out that that Philip Ferrato from Curbed SF already beat me to the punch. His metaphorical footprints were all over the place. No matter, let’s take another gander.
And who knows, maybe you’ll have the coin to sign a lease. (And included in that, you’ll get an assigned parking space* for each bedroom(!) you rent. Shhh… don’t tell the StreetsBlog.)
Here it is, as it looked yesterday, with Presidio Trust Executive Director Craig Middleton out front talking about what constitutes “Presidio Magic.”
Click to expand
Hey, didn’t this building used to be a hospital?
A hospital for merchant marines and sailors?
So it would seem.
And hey, wasn’t this place filled with graffiti not too long ago?
Oh yes, but things are all cleaned up now. See? Here’s the very same staircase:
O.K. then.
Now, realize that developer Forest City wants you to come by (by appointment, there’s a waiting list just to see the place, I think) and move in. Look at the greeting you’ll get:
Building 1801 will soon be open for business. (How many tripods do you see in this shot?)
Now, let’s head up on the famous staircase. You won’t find a doorless, open design like this in a SoMA skyscraper owing to fire code regulations. The LandMark will make use of an emergency water curtain setup:
But look here, the old metal handrail assembly was just plopped onto the marble way back in 1932, can you see? No matter, a little rust never hurt no one. This building doesn’t deny its history, that’s for sure.
Now, let’s check out the rooms.
This is part of a one-bedroom that has about 1050(!) square feet. (This particular unit would be used as a three-bedroom in most any other part of the 415.)
And here’s your view. Can you see Mount Sutro? Yes, barely.
But hey, where would former San Francisco mayor Willie Brown hang his red socks to dry after handwashing if he were to live in this building – which is the nicest unit? How about this suite? The entrance is extra long, good for displaying your art, non?
And here’s the kitchen, complete with island and hood for indoor BBQ.
One of these wings is not like the other/ One of these wings just doesn’t belong…
Right, it’s a three-story add-on! See it on the left? If this building is “anchor-shaped,” you’re looking from the ring down the shank and towards the left fluke. (This will all be clear the next time one of the satellites from Google’s fleet passes over to update the Google Maps.
And there’s a hot tub! It has benches in there so you can face those sitting in the deck chairs.
That’s the tour.
So, here’s the old Public Health Service Hospital back as she was in 1935. (Note just one GGB tower back there.)
And here’s how she was not too long ago with the ugly wings out front:
You’ve come a long way, PHSH.
People are moving in August 1st or something. Will you join them?
*Or you can get a credit for foregoing each parking space, but it won’t be all that much, I’m sure.
