New apartments open in Presidio

by Paul Kozakiewicz

The old Public Health Hospital in the Presidio near 15th Avenue and Lake Street has begun taking deposits and moving people into its newly-renovated apartments.

Forest City, which was responsible for the rehabilitation of the long-closed site and for the leasing of its 154 apartments, began taking deposits at the end of July for its luxury accommodations. About 40 units are now ready for occupancy while finishing touches are put on the remainder before they hit the market.

Units at the former hospital, now called the Presidio Landmark, rent from $2,175 for a junior one-bedroom unit with approximately 400 to 600 square feet to $4,325 for a two bedroom unit with about 1,100 to 1,500 square feet. There are 37 different floor plans for the 154 units because of the challenge of converting an old hospital into a residential building.

Amenities at the 220,000-square-foot Presidio Landmark include a gym, yoga room, massage room, wine cellar, hot tub and assigned parking, one space for each bedroom in the historic 1932 building.

"This is a perfect way to blend the old and the new," said Craig Middleton, executive director of the Presidio Trust.

Middleton said the new apartment building had some of the "Presidio magic" that the Presidio Trust looks for when remodeling or leasing sites in the national park.

There are currently about 300 people on a waiting list to see the new apartment building. Private and group tours are now being given to potential renters.

According to primary architect Andrew Wofram, who works with the firm of Perkins & Will, said there were three main considerations in remodeling the Georgian Revival style building: learn from the history of the site to maintain a sense of continuity; update and modernize all of the electrical and other mechanics of the site to current codes; and highlight the views from the six-story building.

Two non-historic wings that were added to the hospital in the '50s were removed.

The original Merchant Marine Hospital was built at the site in 1875. The old Merchant Marine cemetery near the north end of the site has not been moved and a new plaque will recognize the area as sacred ground.

An official grand opening celebration at the site for the public is expected in the coming months.