As I write this column, the first half of 2023 is just about over. Each year has its own challenges and this year we have been dealing with rising inflation, higher interest rates, a volatile stock market and the seemingly never-ending battle with crime, homelessness and drugs in San Francisco. So where is the real estate market at? 

The announcement of a proposed 50-story, 712-unit skyscraper at the Sloat Garden Center location by the SF Zoo this past month stirred up quite a bit of debate on whether this is appropriate for the neighborhood and the west side of town. To put that into perspective, it will be approximately 600 feet tall, about the height of the Embarcadero Center Towers near the Ferry Plaza.