I've lived in Yerba Buena Lofts (YBL) for six months now and so far, I'm loving it!
YBL is a condominium building in the heart of San Francisco, right in the Yerba Buena District of SoMa. The complex was designed by famed architect Stanley Saitowitz and finished construction in 2002. It has received dozens of accolades from architecture experts around the world.
There are 200 units in the building and 89 layouts - there's only two of most layout designs, and four of a few. Personally, I looked at quite a few, but it wasn't until I found mine that I fell in love. Every design offers something different. All have balconies and some (on the fifth floor) have huge 500 square foot patios! All have very open floor plans, but some have enclosed bedrooms in addition to the loft. Some have spiral staircases, others have a straight staircase. The top floor units all have skylights and slightly higher ceilings. The ground floor units have front and back entrances and are zoned for live/work. Most units have at least one parking space deeded to them, which also offers a safe place to lock your bike.
My unit still has the original appliances - the GE Profile series. It's unbelievable to me that are still working perfectly after 16 years - they must have been the best quality available at the time. In fact, most of the units I looked at have original finishes - which is to say, nothing breaks! It's incredibly how high the quality of everything is - appliances, fans, faucets, sinks, bathrooms, flooring, lighting, etc.
One thing I think all the units have in common (as far as I can tell) is being incredibly sound proof. I've never heard any of my neighbors, and as far as I know, they've never heard me (phew!).
The people in the building are awesome. My neighbors are all friendly and considerate. I've become close friends with several already. Phyllis and her team take great care of us at the front desk. They not only keep us safe, but they brighten up our day! I've never been in a building that has such consistently friendly and upbeat front desk staff. Of course, they also take care of packages, mail, and a lot more! Diane is the building manager, and she does a great job keeping everything running smoothly. I don't know the maintenance or cleaning staff's names yet, but I also appreciate their work and friendly smiles. The elected HOA also seems quite strong. In my diligence of YBL and many comparable buildings, YBL had the most clean financials, no assessments, and plenty in reserves.
There's a lot of construction in the neighborhood now, but that's going to pay off big time in 2 years or so (2020-2022). The 4th Street muni will have a stop right on the corner, which will offer direct access up to BART, financial district, and China Town, or down to Caltrain, Dogpatch, AT&T Park, or the new Warriors Stadium.
The location can't be beat:
-- Safe, walkable neighborhood
-- Yerba Buena park 2 blocks away
-- Metreon (mall + movie theater) 2 blocks away
-- Westfield Mall 2 blocks away
-- Whole Foods Market 1 block away
-- Zero Zero, Oola, Jamber, Subway, Mr. East, Vitality Bowls, Contraband Coffee and more across the street, and dozens more restaurants within walking distance including Marlowe, Benu, Cockscomb, CoinOp, Chipotle, etc
-- Several hotels nearby, including Virgin Hotel, with a beautiful rooftop bar (opening soon)
Transportation couldn't be closer:
-- BART 2 blocks away
-- CalTrain 3 blocks away
-- MUNI at the corner (completing 2019)
-- 80/101 South onramp 1 block away
-- 80 Bay Bridge onramp 2 blocks away
-- 280 South onramp 3 blocks away
I could go on and on! So glad to be living here - I hope you'll join me! read more