The Evolution of The East Cut, San Francisco’s Newest Neighborhood

Three years ago, The East Cut, one of San Francisco’s most dynamic and desirable neighborhoods, wasn’t on the map. Today, this 20-block waterfront hub is amongst the city’s fastest-growing neighborhoods, and is home to a number of head-turning skyscrapers, world-class architectural feats, unique public art and cultural attractions.

Known primarily for its luxury condominiums and esteemed tech tenants —including Salesforce, Google, and Facebook— The East Cut was officially rebranded in 2017 in a major civic engineering project led by its very own community of residents and businesses.  

The East Cut earns its name from the historic leveling of Rincon Hill, one of the city’s original seven hills. Before its “cut” in 1869, the original Rincon Hill was a ritzy hotspot for some of San Francisco’s most glamorous inhabitants. Today, the name is both a nod to the neighborhood’s geographical history and a vision for what the area’s former glory could look like in the 21st century. 

The ongoing project is more than a matter of building up and branding anew — it’s been a grassroots initiative for the local community to forge a connection to the space they’ve carved out over the years. Defined by inimitable local landmarks such as the lush flora of Salesforce Park and the glittering backdrop of the Bay Bridge, the area has assumed its own distinctive cosmopolitan character among the cities’ other districts.

One of the neighborhood’s most distinguishing features is its vertical growth, which stands out in a region with historically low-profile architecture. Following its initial  “cut,” the area became a low-rise industrial site for seafaring businesses — before modern structural engineering, San Francisco communities tended to sprawl rather than rise. 

While the Salesforce Tower has taken the spotlight as the city’s tallest building, it is accompanied by several skyscraping luxury condominiums, which have also made their mark on The East Cut. Notable residential developments include The Harrison, a 49-story luxury residential high-rise developed by Maximus and designed by celebrated interior designer Ken Fulk. Now nearing sell-out, The Harrison is just one example of how those seeking to relocate to the city have been drawn to The East Cut’s unique development vision.

Spearheaded by the converging visions of locals, engineers, and developers, the evolution of The East Cut has come a long way from its Gold Rush glory days. The progressive ideas that propelled the area into its newfound identity will continue to flourish among the city’s best and brightest, and Maximus is proud to be a part of that civic vitality.