District 9 Modern Homes + Lofts
If hip, contemporary architecture is your style, you might want to check out real estate in San Francisco's District 9. Once an industrial area full of warehouses and shipping yards, South of Market (SoMa) has undergone a major transformation and is now a patchwork of hot nightclubs, swanky restaurants, and upscale lofts and condominiums. In fact, some of the hottest trends in San Francisco real estate are the condos and lofts that can be found in the area.
South Beach and Mission Bay are two up and coming neighborhoods featuring some very exciting contemporary-design real estate. From Arterra, which is San Francisco’s first LEED-certified high-rise, to the glittering new luxury condominiums that are redefining the San Francisco skyline, change is in the air. Among the stunning newcomers to the city’s skyscape are One Rincon Hill, which upon completion will be the tallest all-residential tower in California, The Infinity, and the luxurious 60-story Millennium Tower. Located on the waterfront, Radiance at Mission Bay is another newcomer that offers a clean, modern aesthetic with spacious accommodations.
Perhaps the some of the more interesting properties in SoMa are the lofts that can be found throughout the area. Many lofts are live/work conversions that retain their original character while offering modern amenities, including the historic Oriental Warehouse at 650 Delancey, the prestigious 650 2nd Street Lofts, and The Cape Horn Lofts in South Beach. Other prominent conversions include The ClockTower Lofts, 355 Bryant Lofts, and 601 Fourth Street Lofts, all designed by award-winning architect David Baker.
Not all SoMa lofts are conversions, however. Many are new, ground-up construction combining the best of loft living with contemporary aesthetics. 52 Sumner (part of the Mullen Buildings group) is a new loft complex that offers a modern industrial aesthetic on a quiet, tree-lined street. Stanley Saitowitz | Natoma Architects have also created several ground-up, award-winning loft designs including the Yerba Buena Lofts at 855 Folsom and a unique live/work infill project at 2002 Third Street in the Potrero - Central Waterfront area.
Many single-family homes in District 9, particularly in the “downtown” area, are custom-built, contemporary residences constructed as infill on awkwardly shaped city lots. Some of these homes are tall and lean, as the Heinser/Corson Residence designed by Richard Stacy; while others feature multiple buildings, as does the Friedlander Compound located next door to the owner’s contemporary furniture studio, Limn. The one thing these San Francisco homes have in common is that they are truly one-of-a-kind.
While the transformation of District 9 has favored the development of lofts, condos, and unique dwellings, there are still communities of single-family homes to be found. Potrero Hill is an example. Developed in the 1950’s, Potrero Hill is a neighborhood of mid-century design – some good, including homes designed by mid-century modern architect Francis Joseph McCarthy – and others that will offer you the opportunity to purchase some mid-century architecture at a reasonable price (by San Francisco standards) and do some renovation.
SoMa is the place to be if you are looking for hip, modern, contemporary architecture. Here you will find neighborhoods in transition. While prices aren’t cheap – nothing is in San Francisco – many of these homes offer some of the best ”bang for the buck” to be found in the City. Don’t dally, however, as the area grows so will the prices.
| District 9 Homes for Sale | District 9 Lofts + Condos for Sale |
| Under $500,000 | Under $500,000 |
| $500,000 - $750,000 | $500,000 - $750,000 |
| $750,000 - $1,000,000 | $750,000 - $1,000,000 |
| $1,000,000 - $2,000,000 | $1,000,000 - $2,000,000 |
| $2,000,000 - $5,000,000 | $2,000,000 - $5,000,000 |
| Over $5,000,000 | Over $5,000,000 |
Contact the team at San Francisco Modern Real Estate, Architectural Realtors in San Francisco, for assistance buying or selling a loft or other modernist dwelling in District 9 or anywhere else in San Francisco, California.