March 7, 2016

Re: 875 California Street and 770 Powell Street

Dear Neighbor,
Thank you so much for your interest in Grosvenors proposed residential development at the corner of California and
Powell Streets. As I hope you have experienced, we take our responsibility for this iconic Nob Hill corner seriously, and
are very pleased about the high level of interest in and support for the project encountered to date. As you know, we
are proposing a Robert Stern Architects designed residential building to replace the existing surface parking lot and
adjacent parking structure. The classically-inspired building features forty-four new homes and has been designed to
both fit in and complement the surrounding area.
We appreciate your participation in the planning process, whether it was attending one of the public open houses over
the past two years or speaking to us on an individual basis in order to convey your views. We are thankful for the input
and insight of the community which has helped us to envision the best possible building for the neighborhood.
Accompanying this letter are four documents that will further your understanding of the final proposal. These include
a briefing pack which illustrates the contemplated design and key metrics of the project, a set of frequently asked
questions and answers to issues raised during our public and individual meetings, an outreach overview that shares our
philosophy and history of meeting with the community, and an article which features 875 California by the San Francisco
Chronicles urban design and architecture critic John King.
After almost two years of the City planning process, the project is scheduled to be heard before the Planning
Commission on April 7, 2016. We hope we have earned your support for this project. If you do feel we have met that
goal, please consider writing a letter to the Planning Commission sharing your support. Letters from the community in
which a project is proposed are invaluable and will be integral to the projects approval.
Letters should be addressed to all of the contacts below:

Rodney Fong, Planning Commission President, planning@rodneyfong.com

Jonas Ionin, Planning Commission Secretary, Commissions.Secretary@sfgov.org
Marcelle Boudreaux, Planner, Marcelle.Boudreaux@sfgov.org
We would be grateful if you could also send a copy of the letters to us at 875california@gmail.com.

A member of our team is available to answer any questions you may have about support letters or the project generally.
Should you wish to meet, have any specific questions, or would like assistance with submitting a letter, please dont
hesitate to contact us at 875California@gmail.com or to call me directly at 415-268-4068. We look forward to hearing
from you and are committed to staying in touch as we continue to work on this important project.
Thank you very much indeed,
Amelia Staveley
Grosvenor Americas

875 California
Frequently Asked Questions
What is 875 California Street and 770 Powell Street?
These two adjacent lots currently comprise a surface parking lot and a two-story parking structure. The site will be
redeveloped by Grosvenor Americas into a boutique residential building situated in San Franciscos iconic Nob Hill
neighborhood. Located at the corner of California and Powell streets, at the intersection of two cable-car lines, the
unique infill project will deliver a mix of studios, one, two, and three bedroom homes.
Who is Grosvenor Americas?
Grosvenor Americas is a San Francisco-based real-estate development and investment company with a focus on
residential and mixed-use development. Grosvenor leverages 40 years of local experience and 350 years of operating
experience to expertly develop and manage a range of properties throughout San Francisco and California.
Will the building obstruct views of the sites neighbors?
The buildings height will be kept within the prescribed 65 foot limit and the project is less dense than what is currently
allowed. Great care was taken to ensure the scale of the building fits its surroundings and compliments the local
neighborhood. Obviously putting a building where none currently exists will impact the view of some of our neighbors,
but we believe that the addition of a thoughtfully designed, classically-inspired building will enhance the local aesthetic.
The rooftop will be landscaped so that those looking down on the property will see a series of small gardens rather than
the existing parking lot and parking structure.
Will the project cast shadows on Huntington Park or other neighborhood recreation spaces?
A shadow study conducted by The City of San Francisco Planning Department indicated that no new shadow impacts will
be created on the parks in the vicinity due to the restrained height and location of intervening buildings.
What size units are you planning?
We are predominantly aiming to provide a mix of studio, one and two-bedroom units, with a few three-bedroom units
contemplated on the upper floors.
Will the project provide any public amenity?
It is very important to Grosvenor to have a positive impact on the neighborhoods in which it builds. We expect the
world-class design will improve the site compared with the existing condition of the parking facilities. We also think the
incorporation of a small garden space on the corner of California and Powell Streets and maisonette entrances along
Powell will be positive additions to the pedestrian experience by providing new street activation and adding green space
where none currently exists.
Has the project changed at all since the open house in fall 2015?
Based on feedback received at the open house, the design team reexamined the corner entrance. The primary change
was to make the garden at the front corner of the building at California and Powell Streets more visually accessible to
the public by both lowering the sidewalk-adjacent seating wall and increasing its transparency.

Will there be retail?

No. Current zoning does not permit retail in this location unless it is accessed from within the building - meaning no
direct entry is allowed from the street.
What is the timeline for the project?
The planning application for the project was submitted in late March of 2015, after our first community meeting. If the
project is approved by the Planning Commission at the upcoming hearing in April and no unexpected delays are
encountered, construction should begin in 2017 and would be completed in 2019.
How will you manage construction staging given the tight quarters of the site?
If the project is approved, a local, high quality professional builder will be engaged and there will be significant focus
placed on developing a logistical plan to minimize disruption to local residents and traffic. Hours of construction are
expected to align with the city standard, which generally is between 7 am and 6 pm. A separate permit would need to be
sought for any evening or weekend work. Grosvenor is committed to a high level of ongoing communication so we can
quickly be made aware of and address any concerns which may arise.
How are you addressing the private walkway on Powell directly adjacent to the site?
Our proposed design ensures that the private walkway is retained.
How much parking do you propose?
We will provide 48 parking spaces for the proposed 44 units. The Planning Departments feedback has encouraged only
one space per unit which is the minimum required for the site.
Grosvenor is proposing 72 bike parking spaces for 84 bedrooms. This is generously above what City code requires.
Did the project have to undergo environmental review?
An Environmental Evaluation application for the project was submitted late in 2014, which began the review process.
The City of San Francisco has since completed its environmental review. This analysis will be considered during the
upcoming Planning Commission hearing in April 2016.
What environmentally friendly features will be included in 875 California?
Grosvenor will aspire for LEED-gold status. 875 California will include drought resistant plantings, water efficient
irrigation, and high-efficiency plumbing fixtures to help conserve water use.
Are you concerned about pedestrian safety at the intersection of Powell and California Streets?
We do not anticipate affecting pedestrian traffic or circulation at California and Powell due to our project's small size.
However, we believe the corner garden setback will provide generous sightlines for both pedestrians and vehicles
coming from both directions.
Are you concerned about conflicts with or noise from the California cable car line?
Being served by the cable car is part of what gives Nob Hill and this site its charm. All ingress and egress to the building
has been designed to ensure there is no interference with the operation of the cable car line and windows will be
designed for maximum noise filtering.

How will you manage delivery trucks and loading?

We are going to seek a white zone on California Street which can be used for delivery and other trucks which need to
service the building.
Will the parking proposed as part of the project be available for non-residents?
For security and privacy purposes, the parking is exclusively for residents of the building.
Who can I talk to for more information?
Please email the project team at 875california@gmail.com to receive updates as they become available, or to request a
meeting with the project team. We are eager to get neighborhood feedback and to answer any questions and will be
available to meet with parties interested in the project.

875 California
Outreach Overview
The focus of Grosvenor Americas the project sponsor of 875 California and 770 Powell Streets has been to propose
and build a residential development that resonates with Nob Hill and is deserving of its prestigious corner location. This
focus applied not only to design, but also to height, scale, and density to ensure the building both fits in and enhances
the local neighborhood.
From the outset we have been committed to transparency and thorough community engagement. Outreach began with
a series of individual meetings with neighborhood groups including The Nob Hill Association, nearby businesses,
adjacent hotels and any individuals who requested information about the project. As the plans were refined and the
process advanced, two public open houses were held in March and October 2015. Feedback from every meeting
large and small provided important opinions, questions and ideas for the project team and has resulted in a thoughtful
design that we believe incorporates this welcome input. In total, more than 1,000 residents and property owners and
over 20 businesses and community institutions were invited to join the conversation.
We thought it might be of interest to you to understand the extent of our outreach to-date. Please therefore find below
a summary timeline of our engagement with the local community.
September 2014

The project team met with Nob Hill Association leadership to introduce the project and share early information.
The Nob Hill Association provided initial feedback, and both sides committed to work together to deliver the
best and most appropriate building for the neighborhood.
Throughout September and in the months and year to follow, the project team met with and spoke to
leadership from many of the surrounding hotels, institutions, businesses, and other interests. These
organizations included:
o The Fairmont Hotel
o The Masonic Auditorium
o The Stanford Court Hotel
o The Powell Place Hotel
o 851 Residence Club (ownership and management)
o The University Club
o The Mark Hopkins Hotel
o Representatives from 750 Powell Street

October 2014

City Park - a local parking facility operator was engaged to improve the existing site conditions and to continue
operations at the existing parking garage and structure during the planning process.
The project team spoke with representatives of Minerva and Menlo Capital Group operators and owners of
851 Residence Club.

A PowerPoint presentation was provided to the Nob Hill Association for internal discussion at the groups
quarterly meeting.

November 2014

A working lunch was held with the leadership of the Masonic Auditorium to provide a project update and
answer questions. The Masonic provided feedback and made corresponding recommendations.
The project was introduced to the San Francisco Housing Action Coalition.

February 2015

The project team previewed an updated design for interested members of the Nob Hill Association and its Board
of Directors.
Over 1,000 community members were invited to the projects Pre-Application meeting. Invitations were
mailed to the community; these included an introductory letter and a site map. Additionally, personalized
invitations were extended to relevant neighborhood groups, the district Supervisor, nearby businesses and
institutions, and other key stakeholders and property owners.

March 2015

An introductory meeting was held with the Supervisor for the local district.
Follow-up conversations were pursued with adjacent stakeholders, businesses, and individuals to ensure preapplication meeting invitations were received.
Approximately 40 representatives of the Nob Hill Association attended a member presentation and Q&A
session.
The Pre-Application community meeting was held. Approximately 50 community members attended the
presentation and asked questions of the project team.

July 2015

The project team continued outreach to nearby stakeholders, including multiple offers to immediate neighbors
to meet on a one-on-one basis in order to provide detailed information about the design and likely project
timing.

August 2015

Grosvenor provided notification to approximately 25 immediate neighbors and nearby stakeholders of

upcoming drilling at the project site to test for geological and seismic stability. The letter detailed projected
impacts such as noise and dust, hours of operation, and provided contact information should any community
members wish discuss the letter. No complaints were received.

October 2015

The project team sent invitations to over 1,000 Nob Hill residents, building owners, businesses, other
stakeholders, and neighborhood groups for the projects second open house. The invitation included current
project information and an updated site map.
Individual invitations were extended to the district Supervisor, the Nob Hill Association, nearby hotels,
institutions, businesses, and other immediate neighbors.

Approximately 30 residents and other stakeholders attended the fall open house. Updated plans and models
were presented and the attendees asked questions and made helpful recommendations.
The project team presented updated plans to the San Francisco Housing Action Coalition Endorsement
Committee. The Committee asked questions and made recommendations for improvements. Following the
presentation, the committee voted to endorse the project.

November 2015

A briefing call was held with the Minerva operations team.

December 2015

The project team continued engagement with representatives for the property owner of the adjacent property
at 750 Powell Street.

February 2016

Letters were sent to approximately 45 residents and building owners immediately adjacent to the project site.
The letters contained the dates for the projects planning commission hearing, project team contact information
and an offer to meet should they have any further questions.

March 2016
Updated project materials, renderings, and site plans will be provided to the Nob Hill Association, project
neighbors, and other interested stakeholders in advance of Aprils Planning Commission meeting.
Neighborhood invited to informal meet and greet with project team on March 23 at University Club.

875 California
In the News

Nob Hills new development: crucial

time for landmark corner
By John King
October 26, 2015 Updated: October 26, 2015 10:08am

Photo: Rendering By Michael McCann, Robert A. M. Stern Architects

The architects seek to make the six-story building fit in with its early 20th century neighbors without mimicking them.

Nob Hill, more than any other San Francisco neighborhood, conjures up images of the genteel upper crust, a district at
once stately and urbane.
How appropriate, then, that an architecture firm nationally known for its buttoned-down approach is working on plans
for a six-story, 44-unit condominium building on the one corner of the city that every first-time tourist sees.
The site in question includes a parking lot at Powell and California streets, where the cable car lines intersect one block
below the regal summit of Nob Hill. The firm is Robert A.M. Stern Architects, led by the 17-year dean of the Yale School
of Architecture, with an expertise in traditional styles and a fastidious attention to detail.

On a block where the youngest neighbor is from 1931, with masonry landmarks from 1908 and 1911 to the north and
west, the shock of the new isnt needed. Sterns firm is following the conservative route, judging by presentations at a
neighborhood meeting last week, and its headed in the right direction but only if the journey results in a building that
is loving rather than leaden, deferential but not dull.
Meeting the neighbors
The meeting was held at the stone-clad Stanford Court Hotel, across from the site purchased last year by Grosvenor
Americas at the steep crest of Powell Street. The two dozen or so neighbors who attended could choose from a trio of
Napa wines as they studied scale models and then sat through a slideshow of plans and renderings presented by Dan
Lobitz, one of 16 partners in the New York firm.
We dont want to make a statement that says this is today, Lobitz said. Were trying to create a building that fits into
the character and texture of the neighborhood.
The details at this point are as gauzy as the watercolors showing how the proposed 875 California would add to a
context that includes an eclectic array of neighbors some masonry, some stucco, some wood culminating in the 19story Mark Hopkins Hotel one block uphill to the west.
Details to come
The six-story structure would fit within the 65-foot height limit, lining the steep sidewalks but scalloped back from the
corner to create an entry garden while preserving pedestrian views. The level along the street would be cloaked in
granite, carved with horizontal strokes to emphasize shadows and depth. Up above would be stucco topped by a
textured band of granite. Bays would emphasize the corners, stopping at the fifth floor; three maisonettes entered
from the street would emphasize the residential scale.
The fine-grain specifics are what lie ahead: the details of the garden wall, for instance, or the hue of the stucco and
granite. We want something warm, pretty light, Lobitz said afterward. Theres sure to be plenty of back-and-forth with
neighbors and city planners before Grosvenor Americas and Stern make their pitch to the Planning Commission in six
months or so.
At the meeting, the only real note of concern involved the loss of parking in a small, thoroughly nondescript garage from
1919 that is part of the site. The overall approach met with approval with one neighbor going so far as to say for me,
you can make it as traditional as you want.
A flavor of the past
But the most promising aspect right now is that it isnt too traditional. If they avoid the cutting edge, the designs also
steer clear of historical pastiche that on this corner would be as convincing as Paris Las Vegas. The gestures to the past
are atmospheric, not literal.
Were trying to convey a flavor rather than a cut-and-paste homage, said another Stern partner on hand, Graham
Wyatt. We spent a lot of time walking around Nob Hill, taking photographs, soaking it all in.
The next steps are crucial.
Sterns most prominent Bay Area project is the Gap headquarters on the Embarcadero, 15 overscale stories of limestone
and brick that want to be majestic but feel like a mausoleum instead. By contrast, the firms update of the 25-story 100
Montgomery from 1955 was an exercise in imaginative rebirth, including a skin of crystallized white glass to replace the
original marble. One is a dutiful exercise in architectural gimmickry, a SoMa warehouse topped by a knockoff of the
Ferry Building. The other fine-tunes a treasure that we never knew we had.
The challenge at Powell and California is to evoke, not imitate, and bring the corner into focus as a truly special place.
This wont be easy, given the proposals stocky dimensions. It takes more than bays to mask the overall girth. There
needs to be an air of taut elegance, conservative but crisp.

Trivia note: Until 1970, the corner held a five-story building owned by then-Mayor Joseph Alioto and his wife, Angelina.
They tore it down with plans to sell the site to a developer to replace it with a modern apartment structure. The plans
fell through, and the family sold its temporary parking lot in 1973. In other words, theres no telling what might
happen next but the current proposal is a promising start.
John King is The San Francisco Chronicles urban design critic. E-mail: jking@sfchronicle.comTwitter: @johnkingsfchron