A historic building, an oddly configured site, tough city and state regulations, and the interests of three nonprofit organizations were among the elements that made the Scott Street Senior Housing complex a challenging undertaking from any perspective. Holliday Development’s experience and skill led to an outcome that pleased all the parties. Jewish Family and Children’s Services (JFCS) and Mount Zion Health Systems conceived the complex in 1996, to serve the needs of the elderly and provide a permanent home for the JFCS offices. To make the center a reality, the nonprofit Scott Street Housing Corporation contacted BRIDGE Housing’s Donald Terner, Rick Holliday’s friend and mentor, who agreed to find a developer to manage construction. After Terner’s tragic death in a plane crash, Holliday Development stepped in as the fee-developer to manage the project. Among the challenges: San Francisco’s sunshine ordinance, which forbids any shading of the adjacent park; state requirements for nursing homes; city building codes for office buildings and parking lots; rules for rehabilitating historic buildings; and the separate interests and needs of the JFCS and Mt. Zion Health Systems. The resulting complex, 100% privately funded and known as Rhoda Goldman Plaza, offers services and facilities that foster an independent lifestyle. The seven-story building has 155 well-designed rental units including one- and two-bedroom residences, studios, and alcove apartments. Residents have easy access to art museums, shopping, and the full spectrum of San Francisco’s cultural activities.
Completed: 2000
Project value: $37 million
Number of units: 155 (plus office space)
Project area: 200,000 square feet
Site area: 0.8
Average unit size: 500 square feet
Average unit rent:
Current average unit price:
Density per acre:155 units/acre
Parking: 82
The Jewish Family and Children¹s Services (JCFS) and Mout Zion Health Systems were looking to serve the needs of the elderly and provide a permanent home for the JCFS offices. Among the challenges: San Francisco¹s sunshine ordinance, which forbids any shading of the adjacent park; state requirements for nursing homes; city building codes for office buildings and parking lots; rules for rehabilitating historic buildings; and the separate interests and needs of the JFCS and Mt. Zion Health Systems.
Given the complexity of the project, it was effectively managed and was fully completed in 30 months. The resulting development, 100% privately funded and known as Rhoda Goldman Plaza, offers services and facilities that foster an independent lifestyle. The seven-story building has 155 well-designed rental units including one- and two-bedroom residences, studios, and alcove apartments. Residents have easy access to art museums, shopping, and the full spectrum of San Francisco¹s cultural activities.
Holliday Development¹s experience and skill led to an outcome that pleased all the parties.
