Key Takeaways
- • The San Francisco Planning Department is scheduled to open the CEQA environmental review process for the Caltrain Railyards mixed-use development at 700 4th Street in SoMa, with the meeting set for October 14 at 5:30 PM at 49 South Van Ness Avenue.
- • Prologis, described as the world's largest industrial real estate company, is the project sponsor for the 18.6-acre site, which includes the existing Caltrain Station, tracks, platforms and maintenance equipment.
- • Two maximum-build scenarios are under consideration: a commercial-heavy case of 5.6 million square feet of commercial space and 1,765 residential units, and a residential-heavy case of 5,834 residential units and 1.59 million square feet of office space.
- • Most new buildings are expected to rise between 350 and 600 feet, with the tallest reaching 850 feet, and phased construction is projected to take 15 to 20 years.
- • Public comment is being accepted on the notice of preparation for the Draft Environmental Impact Report to help define the report's scope.
Summary
The San Francisco Planning Department is scheduled to begin the environmental review process for the Railyards mixed-use development, a project at 700 4th Street in SoMa. The meeting, set for the evening of October 14, will address the notice of preparation for the Draft Environmental Impact Report under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), giving the public an opportunity to submit comments that will shape the report's scope. According to San Francisco YIMBY, Prologis, the world's largest industrial real estate company, is the project sponsor.
The proposal covers 18.6 acres and encompasses the existing San Francisco Caltrain Station, railroad tracks, platforms and maintenance equipment within the Railyard. The master plan includes housing, commercial offices, institutional space, retail, parking, open space and circulation improvements. Its stated objectives include the full replacement and modernization of the station and railyards, an offsite train storage and maintenance facility for Caltrain, and a new mixed-use vertical development across the site. Each of the two maximum-use scenarios places the future Caltrain Station hall in Block 1. The commercial-heavy scenario would feature 5.6 million square feet of commercial space, 1,765 residential units and 172,600 square feet of retail. The residential-heavy scenario would include 5,834 residential units, 1.59 million square feet of commercial office space and 160,000 square feet of retail. Per the publisher's reporting, Prologis indicates the developers will pursue a more evenly mixed variant than either scenario described in the application.
Building heights are broadly similar across both scenarios. Most new buildings are expected to rise between 350 and 600 feet, with the tallest reaching 850 feet. Prologis and Caltrain anticipate funding the vertical development with a combination of private and institutional capital, while public sources would fund infrastructure and transit-oriented development. The project aims to deliver a transit station beneath high-density mixed-use development and more than four acres of public open space, including a grand urban promenade and parks.
The team expects phased construction to last 15 to 20 years, and no groundbreaking date has been set. Project documents estimate that if construction can begin by 2029, full build-out could occur as early as 2041 or 2042. The Draft and Final EIRs will inform potential project approval.
The proposal covers 18.6 acres and encompasses the existing San Francisco Caltrain Station, railroad tracks, platforms and maintenance equipment within the Railyard. The master plan includes housing, commercial offices, institutional space, retail, parking, open space and circulation improvements. Its stated objectives include the full replacement and modernization of the station and railyards, an offsite train storage and maintenance facility for Caltrain, and a new mixed-use vertical development across the site. Each of the two maximum-use scenarios places the future Caltrain Station hall in Block 1. The commercial-heavy scenario would feature 5.6 million square feet of commercial space, 1,765 residential units and 172,600 square feet of retail. The residential-heavy scenario would include 5,834 residential units, 1.59 million square feet of commercial office space and 160,000 square feet of retail. Per the publisher's reporting, Prologis indicates the developers will pursue a more evenly mixed variant than either scenario described in the application.
Building heights are broadly similar across both scenarios. Most new buildings are expected to rise between 350 and 600 feet, with the tallest reaching 850 feet. Prologis and Caltrain anticipate funding the vertical development with a combination of private and institutional capital, while public sources would fund infrastructure and transit-oriented development. The project aims to deliver a transit station beneath high-density mixed-use development and more than four acres of public open space, including a grand urban promenade and parks.
The team expects phased construction to last 15 to 20 years, and no groundbreaking date has been set. Project documents estimate that if construction can begin by 2029, full build-out could occur as early as 2041 or 2042. The Draft and Final EIRs will inform potential project approval.
Go deeper than the headline
Research every firm in this story, track the ones that matter and get the daily briefing — free for 7 days.