The 519 Walnut St proposal would bring a 5-story, 61-unit building to the former UCSF Laurel Heights campus in Presidio Heights. The site remains occupied by a vacant mid-century office complex and extensive parking awaiting redevelopment.
The project forms part of Presidio Highlands, a larger redevelopment planned by Prado Group. The master plan calls for 744 apartments, approximately 38,100 square feet of retail, a 175-seat child-care facility, five acres of open space, and parking for as many as 820 cars and 839 bicycles, according to SFYIMBY.
Prado Group and SKS Partners won unanimous Board of Supervisors approval for the 744-home redevelopment on November 13, 2019, after project opponents appealed the plan. Opposition also included a campaign against removing hundreds of mature trees. In January 2020, the Laurel Heights Improvement Association sued San Francisco, alleging that the approval violated the California Environmental Quality Act.
The city advanced an infrastructure-financing district in January 2026. The Chronicle reported that future property-tax growth could help fund utilities, parks, affordable housing, and other upfront project costs. Prado Group said the first three buildings were expected to begin construction in late 2026 and collectively add 152 homes, retail, and public open space.
The 519 Walnut St permit was filed in February 2026 under the AB 2011 ministerial pathway. The August 2026 dossier update shows the application remains in review. The parcel has 7 prior permits and no dead planning records. A feasibility model tests 60 units and estimates a 4.2 yield on cost against a 6.5 requirement, leaving the proposal 228 basis points below the modeled threshold. The broader neighborhood pipeline contains 27 projects and 740 units.
Bottleneck Watch: Planning
Planning currently has open comments after 3 round(s) of review. This is the longest-running unapproved station and is the most likely gating item for the next permit issuance window.