24-Story Apartment Tower Proposed for Downtown San Rafael

The following post takes a look at a preliminary application from a Berkeley developer who wants to build a 24-story apartment tower in downtown San Rafael. If the city approves it, this would be the tallest building in Marin’s largest city.

That’s bound to stir up even more talk about density, traffic, parking, and open space—all hot topics as Marin towns try to keep up with growing housing needs.

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Table of Contents

San Rafael’s Downtown Skyline Under Consideration

The plan calls for a 24-story, mixed-use tower that would wrap around an already approved eight-story building at 900 A St. It would combine six parcels on Fourth and Third streets.

Altogether, the project seeks 533,310 gross square feet of floor area. That includes about 25,000 square feet of commercial space—possibly a market hall, though the exact use isn’t nailed down yet.

Key numbers at a glance:

Height: up to 260 feet. That’s way over San Rafael’s usual 60‑foot downtown limit.
Housing: 345 apartments, thanks to a 100% density bonus. That’s 172 more units than baseline zoning would allow.
Affordability: 26 very‑low‑income units and 26 moderate‑income units proposed to qualify for the density bonus.
Open space: The city requires 3,089 square feet of civic open space, but the plan doesn’t currently offer any for the tower itself.
Parking: About 350 spaces are planned for residents and commercial tenants.
Regulatory path: The developer claims a statutory CEQA exemption under Assembly Bill 130 and filed under SB 330 to lock in current rules for 180 days.

Across Marin County, towns like Mill Valley, Sausalito, and Novato are watching closely. A San Rafael decision could ripple through the region’s planning debates and shape future developments along the Highway 101 corridor.

What would be built: The 4th Street Market Hall and Residences

The L-shaped footprint would wrap around six parcels on Fourth and Third streets. It would also envelop the nearby, previously approved eight-story structure at 900 A St.

The proposal asks for waivers to the city’s historical height cap, parking, and civic open space rules. Marin communities often wrestle with these kinds of tradeoffs as they try to balance density with neighborhood character.

Developer Paul Goldstone wants a 100% density bonus to maximize housing. He’s presenting a plan that puts a big residential core alongside a smaller commercial component—maybe a market hall that could become a downtown anchor.

The project would push San Rafael’s housing stock upward and test how the city—and Marin County as a whole—handles large-scale development near transit and downtown amenities.

The site would connect and intensify a wave of development pressure in San Rafael’s Fourth Street corridor. Folks in nearby towns like San Anselmo and Fairfax are watching, especially as safety and traffic get debated.
Public-realm issues, especially civic open space, remain a sticking point. Officials want to blend new construction with existing parks and plazas, like those in Larkspur’s Ferry Building district and Corte Madera’s Town Center area.
With lots of parking and a hefty residential component, the project raises questions about the street network, on-street parking turnover, and impacts on commuter routes to the San Rafael Transit Center and beyond to Tiburon and Kentfield.

San Rafael is working through the 180-day window created by SB 330. Interim city manager Paul Navazio said the city is still figuring out how to handle impact fees and studies for several big projects at once.

That ongoing debate could shape how other Marin communities—from Sausalito to San Geronimo—handle growth and infrastructure funding in the future.

Implications for Marin County Residents and Planners

Supporters say the proposal could bring much‑needed housing and new energy to downtown San Rafael. Opponents, though, worry about more traffic, parking headaches, and losing the small-town feel along historic streets.

This decision will shape San Rafael’s skyline. It’ll probably set a local precedent for density bonuses, waivers, and how Marin County balances market pressures with public benefits.

Neighborhood groups in San Rafael and nearby towns—like Fairfax and Fairfax Station—are gearing up for strong public input. They’re following the pattern seen in places like Corte Madera and Novato, where people debate how to grow without losing what makes their communities unique.

In the coming weeks, Marin residents can expect a lively public process. San Rafael will have to figure out how to meet state housing requirements while still looking after local interests.

What happens here might ripple into nearby communities. Sausalito’s dockside districts, Mill Valley’s hillsides, and Larkspur’s waterfront all face their own questions about housing and infrastructure in a region that never really stands still.

Here is the source article for this story: New 24-story San Rafael apartment plan proposed

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Joe Harris is the founder of MarinCountyVisitor.com, a comprehensive online resource inspired by his passion for Marin County's natural beauty, diverse communities, and rich cultural offerings. Combining his love for exploration with his intimate local knowledge, Joe curates an authentic guide to the area featuring guides on Marin County Cities, Things to Do, and Places to Stay. Follow Joe on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.