SF New Developments

Dan Levy, Chronicle Staff Writer

Sunday, February 1, 2004

When R.E.M. sang about shiny, happy people, the band could have been talking about the target audience at San Francisco”s new Metropolitan condominium towers at First and Folsom streets.The sales force answers the phone by saying, “It”s a fabulous day at the Metropolitan.” Of course it is. If you”re going to throw down $665,000 for a two-bedroom condo a shade over 1,000 square feet, you”d better feel good about it. The Metropolitan is the latest residential high-rise to hit the downtown market, but it won”t be the last. The 22-story north tower, nearly sold out, will be joined soon by a 27-story south tower, and then, pending city approval, by four Rincon Hill high-rises. Both Metropolitan towers, 342 units in all, will share lobby space, a fitness center, a pool and a hot tub big enough to fit a water polo team. As lavish as those common amenities are, it”s the sleek interiors that will likely make or break the deal for home buyers looking for an elegant urban nest. Cloaked in the clean, contemporary aesthetic associated with tech-era projects, the Metropolitan”s standard package includes light oak hardwood floors, buff-colored marble bathroom tiles, black granite kitchen tops, stainless steel appliances and double-weave carpets. All of these finishes can be upgraded with the help of an on-site design consultant. Prices in the Metropolitan increase the higher you go in the tower ($340, 000 for a lower-floor studio, $1.2 million for a penthouse), and the views vary depending on which “stack,” or condo model, you choose. For instance, the 01 Stack faces west and has a view out to the ballpark and Twin Peaks. The 02 and 03 stacks face north and have views of the Financial District. From the 07 Stack, you can see the Bay Bridge and Yerba Buena Island. In Unit 504, the minimalist, 2-bedroom, 2-bath model unit presented by Vancouver designer Mitchell Freedland, you enter down a hallway that has a bathroom to the left and a bedroom straight ahead. At the end of the hall, you turn right into the open-plan kitchen and living room, which has a large rounded corner and a custom-designed sofa that fits snugly in the space. Beyond the floor-to-ceiling glass, there are stunning views of the Financial District. I liked the hallway approach and the little turn, which I suspect will keep its feeling of surprise and discovery even if you”re coming home after a long day at work. It”s not quite the same experience as coming out of the Waldo Tunnel with mouth agape and seeing the Golden Gate Bridge, but the idea is the same: The view will get you every time. Unit 505 is a 1-bedroom, 1-bath unit with downtown and South of Market views. The marketing folks are calling it a perfect bachelor pad. At 778 square feet, it”s cozy. At $525,000, it”s pricey. This unit does not have the rounded window element in the living area. Maybe the sharper angles do give it a more masculine vibe. Homeowner association fees are steep — almost $600 per month for the smaller units and approaching $700 for the larger units. That”s enough for rent in some parts of the Bay Area. But then again, being a shiny, happy person doesn”t come without a cost.