November 6, 2009

Behind The Door Of 25 Hotaling (And The Street)

25 Hotaling Place (SocketSite.com)

Down the alley from Villa Taverna and above Aventine, what was once a "bathhouse, saloon, warehouse and denim overall factory" is now the nine condos of 25 Hotaling Place.

Originally called Jones alley, the small street that runs between Jackson and Washington Streets started life as an alley servicing the warehouses of old San Francisco’s bourgeoning waterfront. In the early 20th century it was given its present name—Hotaling Place— commemorating one of the Gold Rush-era’s most successful entrepreneurs.
Anson Parsons Hotaling arrived in San Francisco in the mid-1850s and founded A.P. Hotaling & Company, a distributor for Cutter’s Bourbon Whisky. During the 1906 Earthquake and ensuing fire, sheer luck and a change in wind spared Hotaling’s warehouse. This led to one local commentator to pen the following lines that are now etched in the city’s folklore: "If, as they say, God spanked the town for being over frisky, Why did he burn the churches down and save Hotaling’s Whiskey?"

A plugged-in tipster reports on the development:

They finally put up a decent website for [25 Hotaling] which has been selling quietly for a couple of months. They claim they've already sold one of the nine units.

25 Hotaling Place Interior

Photos look interesting, but there's a suspicious lack of square footage info and on the floorplans [see links below] the units look small.

25 Hotaling Place Kitchen

In addition to nice details, every unit has one or more shortcomings; it's a great neighborhood, though.

Pricing and monthly HOA dues for the Hotaling nine:

∙ 25 Hotaling #A (1/1) - $629,000 ($399/mo HOA)
∙ 25 Hotaling #B (1/2) - $649,000 ($424/mo HOA)
∙ 25 Hotaling #C (1+/2) - $859,000 ($469/mo HOA)
∙ 25 Hotaling #D (1/1) - $589,000 ($383/mo HOA)
∙ 25 Hotaling #E (2/1.5) - $889,000 ($469/mo HOA) [MLS]
∙ 25 Hotaling #F (1+/1) - $639,000 ($399/mo HOA)
∙ 25 Hotaling #G (1/1) - $669,000 ($396/mo HOA) [MLS]
∙ 25 Hotaling #H (1/1) – "SOLD" ($384/mo HOA)
∙ 25 Hotaling #I (1+/1) - $689,000 ($399/mo HOA)

And yes, all listed parking is leased.

25 Hotaling [25hotaling.com] [Floor Plans: A/D/F/G/I | B/C/E]

First Published: November 6, 2009 5:30 AM

Comments from "Plugged In" Readers

look cute. how big are they?

Posted by: ester at November 6, 2009 6:51 AM

I checked these out yesterday. They say unit B, the one pictured above, is also in contract now. Sizes range from 600 to 1100sf, so prices run from about $800-$1,000/sf. They're all small without much living/dining space, and in most units the windows aren't too large. But there's decent ceiling height and in the 3rd floor units, skylights add a lot of natural light. The kitchens & finishes are very nice, and each unit has separate HVAC, both a gas furnace and A/C. Closets are small but supposedly there's deeded storage. No parking. They overlook either Washington and the base of the pyramid (they're directly across the street) or Hotaling. Aventine has gotten popular among the happy hour set, so I do wonder about noise on weekend evenings. But if you're looking for something modest in scale, yet upscale, these units stand out.

One other unique thing is in Unit C, the vestiges of an old mural that dates to the period of the Coit Tower murals and seems to reference them visually. So possibly done by one of those artists or someone inspired by them. It's a collection of studies or sketches, rather than a finished artwork, and it's pretty faded, but it's still a neat touch and a real piece of SF history.

Posted by: sunnyvalesteve at November 6, 2009 9:29 AM

is that the former Belli law offices? ... going on 20 years (since the quake) in scaffolding?

Posted by: hugh at November 6, 2009 9:40 AM

I've been wondering about the Belli building, too - what gives with that? It never really seems to make any progress.

Posted by: zzzzzzzz at November 6, 2009 10:06 AM

is that the former Belli law offices?

Nope, but stay tuned for an update next week.

Posted by: SocketSite at November 6, 2009 10:22 AM

From the Hotaling website.

During the 1906 Earthquake and ensuing fire, sheer luck and a change in wind spared Hotaling’s warehouse. This led to one local commentator to pen the following lines that are now etched in the city’s folklore:

"If, as they say, God spanked the town for being over frisky, Why did he burn the churches down and save Hotaling’s Whiskey?"

I wonder where Hotling's descendants are. Did they sell-out (sic) and allow this to happen to Hotling's historic building ?? Is Hotling turning in his grave at this ?

Posted by: Chad at November 6, 2009 11:51 AM

This is a great project with great finishes and unique plans. Unfortunately the fireplaces in the third story units severely limit furniture placement and take up much needed floor area.

Posted by: RED at November 6, 2009 12:50 PM

I toured Hotaling when it came on the market. Very nice location & design. The units are very small; there is really no dining space. And parking is leased at best. But it's a great option for someone who wants a San Francisco pied-a-terre.

Posted by: insidesfre at November 6, 2009 5:05 PM

What's the story with that gentleman's club a few doors down on Hotaling? Exactly what type of gentleman's club is it?

Posted by: auden at November 6, 2009 10:25 PM

I showed a client this building a few weeks ago. We both loved the location and pricing. It's an opportunity to live in a charming multi-million dollar quaint art and antiques neighborhood of the Barbary Coast. It's enough to off set no parking. I guess I could tie my horse up outside.

What I noticed (primarily because I have bad knees) is that someone who is handicapped or elderly could live in the townhome floor plans because they have doors on both levels that access the central hallway where the elevator is.

What a concept! I wish more elevator buildings with muli-level units had this design. The elevator goes to each floor anyway. Why not put a door out on the secondary level as well? I'd think in case of an emergency it's a plus too.

The only negative my client saw for her was the zebra wood cabinets in some of the units. I'm sure that it's expensive but they are not for the faint of heart. Do not enter the kitchen with a blazing hangover!

Overall, the design and quality was well thought out for their size and price.

Posted by: RSVP at November 7, 2009 9:43 AM

Barbary coast? Come on, let's use real names instead of joke realtor districts. This is financial district right? (or is it technically north beach)?

Posted by: realist at November 9, 2009 12:12 PM

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