SAN FRANCISCO | Railyards Project | 850 FT | TBD FLOORS

[38 Geary]

Mega-development could transform S.F. railyards into cluster of towers — one 850 feet tall
By J.K. Dineen, Reporter
Jan 8, 2025



The 20-acre Caltrain railyards at the junction of Mission Bay and the South of Market could become San Francisco’s second-densest transit-oriented development hub, with a new train station and a cluster of high-rises anchored by an 850-foot tower, according to preliminary plans being developed by the property owner and no fewer than eight public agencies.

More than a decade after the late Mayor Ed Lee floated the idea, property owner Prologis is preparing to submit an application this spring for one of San Francisco’s most complicated development projects, part of a $8.25 billion downtown rail extension now called the Portal.

...

The site — bordered by Fourth, King, Seventh and Townsend streets — is currently Caltrain’s northern terminus, as well as an active maintenance yard. Prologis, a global real estate investment trust that specializes in industrial property, owns the underlying land, and Caltrain holds a perpetual easement to operate rail on the site.

https://www.sfchronicle.com/sf/article/railyards-850-foot-tower-20018214.php

[38 Geary]

SF Railyards Project
The SF Railyards Project envisions the Caltrain railyards at 4th and King as a regional transit center with a new rail station, added Caltrain service, and neighborhood with housing, office and public spaces. The project will first identify potential track layouts and development concepts for the SF Railyards site.

...

Caltrain/Prologis “Business Case”
By 2040, Caltrain envisions running trains every 7.5 minutes at rush hour and express service all day. Caltrain and Prologis are now evaluating options for the Railyards site that can meet the operational needs of this vision, while also supporting feasible development at the Railyards.
Deliverable: Track layout and development concept recommended for further detailed development (expected in Summer 2023).

...

Why does this project matter?
Redesigning the SF Railyards is an opportunity to:
- Increase Caltrain service and connections to High-Speed Rail, Central Subway, and other SFMTA lines
- Support future Caltrain service operations and public benefits
- Create transit-oriented development to increase access to regional jobs, housing, and destinations
- Reduce climate impacts by replacing car trips with more regional transit options
- Connect neighborhoods to the waterfront, schools, and open spaces
- Increase the resilience of the station and neighborhood in preparation for earthquakes and sea-level rise

https://sfplanning.org/project/sf-railyards-project

[38 Geary]

And some renderings:

Originally Posted by obemearg

Lots of details from the community meeting (Youtube link):

Potential skyline impact:



A few different concepts for what the cluster could look like:

Sculpted Mound:



Bookends:



Slope:

[ChiND]

I thought that Silcon Valley was moving lock, stock, and barrel to Raleigh, NC.

This looks great.

[HyperPower]

I wish they could finish Foster's Tower: Oceanwide Center

https://www.fosterandpartners.com/projects/oceanwide-center


https://www.railyards-sf.com/

What is the status of the project and how can the public weigh-in?
Caltrain and Prologis have recently completed their evaluation of various potential rail and development scenarios through what is called a “Preliminary Business Case” (PBC). The PBC process is an evidence-based decision-making framework to evaluate the trade-offs and performance of development concepts. This process helped to optimize rail operational needs while supporting feasible mixed-use development.

Now that the PBC is in its final stages, we are in a major community engagement and outreach phase to develop the vision for how the site can be transformed. We are looking to hear from you and your community as we develop plans for the site. Sign up for project updates below, and return to this page for updates on upcoming engagement events.

[NYguy]

Nice. Cities need more of this.

[BuildThemTaller]

San Francisco's own Hudson Yards. Or the Metra Tracks in Chicago. Take your pick. Cap and build for the win!

[Busy Bee]

Yes please.

DTX still should have been under Mission or Howard though.

[bayvibes]

Slowly making some progress. I really hope this comes to fruition.
https://www.sfchronicle.com/sf/article/housing-towers-railyards-caltrain-21967855.php

[38 Geary]

First look at plans to turn S.F. railyard into high-rise neighborhood with thousands of homes
By J.K. Dineen, Laura Waxmann, Staff Writers March 10, 2026



The owner of the Caltrain railyards at the junction of Mission Bay and the South of Market in San Francisco is slated to file an application Tuesday for a development proposal that would turn the 20-acre property into a dense high-rise neighborhood with a new Caltrain station below an 850-foot skyscraper, thousands of homes and millions of square feet of commercial space. Prologis, the property owner, is proposing a redevelopment that would total as much as 8 million square feet, with as many as 2,500 housing units and four million square feet of commercial space. It calls for the tower on the corner of Fourth and King Streets, and another high-rise at Seventh and King streets. While Prologis anticipates a 15- to 20-year build out, the 2.5 million-square-foot first phase will include both planned towers. The project will be developed with a combination of private capital and public money.

The first phase is expected to include housing and office space, but the exact mix will depend on a number of factors, including interest rates, office tenant demand and investor interest. The project could also include a hotel. The application comes more than a decade after the late Mayor Ed Lee floated the idea to redevelop the active railyards as part one of San Francisco’s most complicated development projects, the $8.25 billion downtown rail extension now called the Portal. The Portal project would extend Caltrain’s service from its current terminal at Fourth and King streets to the Transbay transit center, which would allow it to accommodate future high-speed rail service. The first phase of the railyards project, however, can be completed before work starts on the Portal, which is currently not funded. It will include a new plaza in front of the redeveloped train station, with retail and restaurants and a children’s play area.

...

“The SF Railyards project application comes at a pivotal moment for transit in the Bay Area. Caltrain and our fellow transit agencies are navigating real near-term financial challenges — but this project points toward a different future,” said Michelle Bouchard, executive director of Caltrain. “This visionary, multi-phased project is a bold bet on San Francisco and on the long-term value of connecting people, housing, and jobs through great transit.” The application marks the beginning of an environmental review and approval process which will likely last between one and two years. During this process, the San Francisco Office of Economic and Workforce Development will work with Prologis and Caltrain on a project agreement that spells out the mix of community benefits the project will include, from affordable housing to open space. “This is all about improving Caltrain’s facilities, integrating with the future station for the Portal, improving street safety and street circulation,” said Leigh Lutenski, who heads up development for the Office of Economic and Workforce Development. “Transportation top to bottom, under every definition, is the singular focus of this one.”

https://www.sfchronicle.com/sf/article/housing-towers-railyards-caltrain-21967855.php

[38 Geary]

And the renderings:







https://www.sfchronicle.com/sf/article/housing-towers-railyards-caltrain-21967855.php

[sentinel]

Build it

[Busy Bee]

Glad to see this moving forward.

Shouldn't that sign read Fourth/Townsend Station though? For a project entirely built around the promise of the DTX becoming reality, it doesn't instill a lot of confidence by showing renderings of it being the terminal.

[theskysthelimit]

I foresee SF not much different 15-20 years out than it is today. Lots of variables involved.

[gillynova]

I hope we see another 800 ft+ building in the next 15-20 years tbh

[38 Geary]

Originally Posted by gillynova

I hope we see another 800 ft+ building in the next 15-20 years tbh

Hey gilly! Welcome back!

We've actually got a few 800+ footers in the pipeline assuming they can come to fruition. The compilation can be viewed on the first page of the SAN FRANCISCO | Projects: Under Construction, Approved, and Proposed II thread.

But here's a sneak preview:

Approved
530 Howard Street - 843 ft - 72 floors
10 South Van Ness Avenue - 820 ft - 67 floors

Proposed
77 Beale Street - 1,225 ft - ? floors
SF Railyards - 850 ft - ? floors

On Hold
50 First Street (Oceanwide Center) - 910 ft - 61 floors
550 Howard Street (Parcel F) - 806 ft - 61 floors

[fimiak]

It looks like they are planning for nine buildings, with an average of 500 units each so 4500 total. If we include other central SoMa developments in the immediate area of 9000 units, that makes about 13,500 housing units, enough to be 30,000 new people in just a few blocks.

[38 Geary]

Some more details are out.

The specs for 700 4th St (SF Railyards):
- 9 buildings ranging from 350-850 ft
- 4 million sq ft of office space
- 2,500 residential units

The site:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/PVMHYTSjyYPho99W9 (4th St side)
https://maps.app.goo.gl/NDDN2hBV6TLNSwmEA (7th St side)

Deep Dive Into Caltrain’s San Francisco Railyards Redevelopment



By: Andrew Nelson 5:30 am on March 12, 2026

Preliminary plans have been submitted for the potential redevelopment of the Caltrain San Francisco Railyards at 4th and King Street in SoMa, San Francisco. The trove of documents filed earlier this week shows a few variants for transforming the 18.6-acre property into a high-density extension of the city’s urban environment, with the tallest tower potentially reaching 850 feet. The plan is a joint venture with Prologis and Caltrain. According to Prologis, the firm expects to construct between 7 and 8 million square feet at full build-out, including approximately 4 million square feet of commercial office space and roughly 2,500 dwelling units. The tallest tower would rise at 4th and King Street, with the new Caltrain Station at its base. The first phase of construction is expected to see 2.5 million square feet on the blocks at 4th Street and 7th Street. Prologis and Caltrain anticipate funding the project with a combination of private and institutional capital sources for vertical development and public sources for infrastructure and transit-oriented development. The ambitious project aims to construct a world-class destination transit below a high-density mixed-use development and over four acres of public open space spread across a grand urban promenade and parks.


...

The Caltrain redevelopment is expected to start with phase one, which includes moving the existing railyard platform and tracks “away from 4th Street to the southwestern border of Block 1, to create space for the initial vertical development on Block 1,” according to the project description. Once the new temporary train station is finished, further construction will require the completion of The Portal and an off-site train storage and maintenance facility. Throughout the construction process, Prologis and Caltrain are expected to maintain the existing rail traffic volume. The preliminary application is intentionally vague, providing insight into the general scale of potential redevelopment at the start of the planning process for the city’s planning department and for the public. The first two variants are descriptively labeled the “Maximum Commercial Scenario” and the “Maximum Residential Scenario.” For both scenarios, the general height and structure count are similar. Most new buildings are expected to rise between 350 and 600 feet, with the tallest at 850 feet. Given the information provided by Prologis, the developers will pursue a more evenly mixed variant than the scenarios described in the application. The project will involve four parcels spanning 18.63 acres bound by Townsend Street, 4th Street, King Street, and 7th Street. The site has been part of the city’s railway infrastructure since the late 19th century, with the Southern Pacific Railroad building the initial rail terminal and freight storage facility on Townsend Street between 3rd and 4th Streets in 1873. By 1914, the first temporary passenger station was built in preparation for the Panama-Pacific International Exposition. By 1975, the old depot was replaced by another temporary station, which still exists today.

...

The team expects the phased construction to last 15 to 20 years, with a groundbreaking date yet to be set. Documents estimate that if construction can start by 2029, full build-out might occur as early as 2041 or 2042.

https://sfyimby.com/2026/03/deep-dive-into-caltrains-san-francisco-railyards-redevelopment.html

[38 Geary]

And the renderings:

















https://sfyimby.com/2026/03/deep-dive-into-caltrains-san-francisco-railyards-redevelopment.html

[Busy Bee]

The Portal's(DTX) "portal" should be moved south to before Mission Bay Dr or ideally before 16th St so the entire alignment is below grade from the Pennsylvania Ave tunnel to Transbay. I don't understand why they're designing it like this having a couple thousand feet of at grade running instead of a trench or tunnel. Plus the DTX ramp wastes a bunch of space with this development.