What was once an abandoned Ford dealership is now one of the first completed projects in South San Francisco’s Downtown Station Area plan, and the first new Class A residential property in the city’s downtown in over 20 years. The Cadence community is designed to serve as a “catalyst” for vibrancy in the downtown core, according to developer Sares Regis Group of Northern California—both as a model for new development and a source of new residents available to patronize local restaurants and businesses.
Due to the lack of comparable luxury units in the area, the SRGNC team did extensive market research to determine the preferences of the likely demographic. This led the team to target active working professionals in the rapidly growing San Francisco employment market with high-end residential amenities and finishes they could not afford elsewhere in the area, including stainless steel appliances, in-unit laundry, on-site management, and garage parking.
The site required extensive remediation, including the cleanup of underground storage tanks, extension of the city’s limited storm drain system, and removal of contaminated soil and soil gas left over from the dealership. In addition, while proximity to the freeway provided visibility for the site and convenience for resident commuters, it also required the developers to install window sound attenuation for units that faced the busy road.
TCA Architects designed the community’s two buildings to form an “iconic and appealing visual” for South San Francisco’s downtown. The large window placements are arranged to maximize the site’s sunlight exposure and provide views of the San Francisco Bay, San Bruno Mountain, and downtown South San Francisco’s historic architecture. The two-level townhome units open onto the street level, alongside streetscape improvements intended to entice residents to spend time in the community.
Amenities include a club room with a demonstration kitchen and game section, a private conference room, landscaped courtyards with lounge areas and grilling stations, a state-of-the-art fitness center, a maker space for crafting, and a rooftop deck lounge. A number of “touchdown” work areas also provide residents with space to work from home when necessary.
The buildings have achieved a LEED for Homes Silver certification, exceeding the building code’s energy efficiency requirements by over 10%. The heating and cooling systems feature SEER 16 condensers, the insulation system meets the California High Quality Insulation Installation standards, and the ductwork was tested to confirm less than 7% leakage. All units and building spaces also include low-flow water fixtures, low-VOC finishes, and motion-sensing lighting systems.
The developer recently closed on five land parcels that will become the second phase of Cadence, adding 195 apartments to the community.
