A Berkeley-based developer, Goldstone Management, just filed preliminary permits for a bold 24-story, 260-foot mixed-use tower in downtown San Rafael at 924 3rd Street. If this thing gets built, it’ll be Marin County’s tallest structure by a long shot and would totally change the skyline from Larkspur and the Marin Headlands all the way to Mill Valley and Sausalito.
The proposal mixes housing, retail, and parking on a pretty tight 1.4-acre site wedged between 3rd and 4th Streets. They’re really leaning into affordability here, using state density bonus programs to make it happen.
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In the bigger picture of Marin County’s growth, the San Rafael project sits at this weird crossroads where urban density, transportation, and community character all collide. Folks from Novato to Fairfax are keeping a close eye on what happens next.
What this proposal means for San Rafael and Marin’s skyline
The 24-story tower would clock in at about 545,000 square feet, with 345 residential units and just under 25,000 square feet of market-hall retail. Plans include a 350-car parking garage.
Six low-slung commercial buildings and some surface parking would get demolished to clear the way for this new development, right along a busy corridor just north of downtown San Rafael’s Greco hardware legacy. It’s also not far from the Civic Center area, which sees plenty of action from folks in Mill Valley and Corte Madera.
Studio KDA is handling the architecture, and Rhoades Planning Group is on board as planning consultant. They’re bringing a Southern California–style density approach to a Marin County spot that already draws foot traffic from Hamilton and the Greenbrae corridor.
If this gets the green light, it’d totally change the city’s downtown look—from today’s low-to-mid-rise vibe to a high-rise landmark that’s sure to get noticed from Novato and beyond.
City leaders and neighborhood groups in San Rafael, plus nearby towns like Larkspur and Tiburon, will probably dig into the project’s impact on traffic, parking, transit, and neighborhood scale. Marin’s towns have always argued about how to balance growth with keeping waterfront views, historic storefronts, and walkable streets—stuff that matters from San Anselmo’s downtown to Fairfax’s mid-county retail strips.
The project’s footprint on 3rd and 4th Streets lands right where downtown San Rafael meets the newer civic campus area. How this plays out could ripple into future projects in Sausalito and even across the county line in Corte Madera.
- Height and scope: 24 stories and 260 feet—would be Marin County’s tallest building if it goes through.
- Total size: About 545,000 square feet of mixed-use space.
- Residential units: 345 homes, with 52 units set aside as affordable.
- Retail space: Close to 25,000 square feet for market-hall style shopping.
- Parking: 350-car garage for residents, workers, and visitors.
- Affordability structure: 52 affordable units—split between very-low-income and moderate-income—using density bonuses from state law AB 1287.
- Regulatory path: The team’s aiming for a 100% density bonus and a CEQA exemption via AB 130.
Housing, affordability, and policy context
The plan’s 52 affordable units are really the heart of the strategy, letting the developer snag a 100% density bonus under California’s Density Bonus law and Assembly Bill 1287. They’re trying to balance a massive project with a real commitment to affordable housing—a hot topic in Marin County, whether you’re in San Rafael’s more diverse neighborhoods or up in Mill Valley’s hillsides and Sausalito’s waterfront.
They’re also pushing for a CEQA exemption under AB 130, which is all about speeding up development. Environmental groups and urban-planning advocates across Marin, including folks in Ross and Fairfax, are watching closely—especially when it comes to new projects near open space or transit hubs.
Architectural design and the Marin context
Design renderings show a podium-and-tower setup with metal panels, brick veneer, ornamental tiles, glass-railed balconies, and a copper-clad Art Deco accent. The tower features several setbacks and a 10th-floor cantilever.
The southern podium is supposed to look like a movie-theater frontage, with a double-height glass lobby and a 30-foot kinetic wall. Along 4th Street, the façade breaks up into what looks like a bunch of smaller buildings stacked above a single retail base—a move that could change how people experience downtown San Rafael on foot.
In towns like San Anselmo and Novato, streetscape upgrades often go hand-in-hand with transit-oriented projects, so maybe this’ll set a trend.
Marin County’s planning scene really values pedestrian-friendly ground floors, energy efficiency, and careful massing near historic areas. Officials in Corte Madera and Larkspur are keeping tabs on how this project handles height limits, shadow impacts, and the rhythm of street life.
All of these things play into how Marin’s urban centers grow, but also keep the character that makes places like Fairfax and Sausalito feel special—at least, that’s the hope.
What remains before a decision
No one’s shared the construction cost or timeline yet. The regulatory process looks tricky, full of state and local hurdles.
If the city approves the tower, it could shake up downtown San Rafael’s economy. New residents might shop and eat in Marin’s urban core, much like what happened after housing popped up in Mill Valley and Tiburon along Highway 1.
Right now, folks in Marin are keeping an eye on what planners in San Rafael decide. They’re juggling a landmark project with Marin’s love for scenic views, small footprints, and lots of community voices—especially from the Romeo-heavy districts in the north and east.
Here is the source article for this story: Marin County’s Tallest Building Proposed for 924 3rd Street, San Rafael
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