SAN FRANCISCO — Brookfield Properties plans to break ground this summer on 5M, a four-acre mixed-use project in downtown San Francisco. In partnership with Hearst Corp., Brookfield is transforming empty parking lots and underutilized warehouses into a mix of residential, office and retail space, as well as restoring historic buildings and public open spaces. Scheduled to break ground this summer, 415 Natoma St. will feature 640,000 square feet of Class A office space, plus ground-floor space for retailers and restaurants. Additionally, Brookfield will break ground on a 302-unit apartment building with 91 affordable units. The two buildings and ground-level open space is slated to open in mid-2021. Upon completion of the full project, 5M will features 702 residential units, including units designated for middle-income households, seniors and formerly homeless families. Also included in the plan are more than 50,000 square feet of parks, rooftop gardens, play areas and open space programmed to include community arts and cultural events. The historic Chronicle Building will be renovated and the historic Camelline Building and Dempster Building, a former printing house, will be repurposed as signature features on the site. Hearst will retain full ownership of the existing Chronicle and Examiner buildings, which will continue …
