The doors of San Francisco’s newest boutique luxury condo building, One Hawthorne, finally opened to the public on May 2nd.

One Hawthorne is located at Howard and Hawthorne Streets on the edge of both South Beach and the San Francisco Financial District. The area is a perfect embodiment of San Francisco: a brand new elegant building placed against an historic backdrop.

Businesses and residents of nearby luxury high rises have greatly anticipated the opening of this 25-story amenity building. It’s one of the few new developments to have opened during the financial crisis. The fact that it has maneuvered through the city’s red tape means it may very well be the stone that will pave the road for future developments in the area.

INITIAL IMPRESSIONS
The developer obviously has an appreciation for art, and has hand-chosen and adorned the building with his tastes. Finishes in and out of the the units show the true appreciate for craftsmanship, as impeccable stones and various exotic woods have been used throughout.

In my opinion the floor plans flow very well. Walking into the units I toured, the angled layouts allows for an immense sense of natural light (which can be scarce at other condo buildings). The bathrooms of the larger units are spacious and spa-like. The junior one bedrooms are the ideal pied-a-terre, as some of these units are on higher floors offering city views. Eastern buyers may struggle with the layouts as they are not easily conducive to Feng Shui alignments.

The homes are appointed with gas ranges, central air and heat, and clever ways of accessing fresh air without compromising sound transfer.

POTENTIAL DRAWBACKS
As I have advised my clients, beware of one caution regarding One Hawthorne: the parking allotments. Parking as we know has become a rarity for new developments, and this building is no exception. Sadly, the building has only 0.75 spaces per residence, and some owners will have the “opportunity” to purchase a license to park in the building (valeted) at $305/month. This is on top of your HOA dues – which range from $487/mo to $750/mo – and valet is the only option if you end up with a space. This is one of the few hindrances with the offerings at One Hawthorne. 

CONCLUSION
One Hawthorne can be perceived as the newest addition to the urban sophistication of residences built in the last few years. They truly are a solid option for those in the new condo market.

If you are interested in purchasing within this building or have general questions regarding future plans of this area please contact me, Stasi Martin, at 415.901.2765 or smartin@mcguire.com.