adding more links with more research..Turns out the whole building was CBS studios and many other albums recorded there, including I think Fly Like an Eagle. It's not a parking lot anymore, but condos, see google streetview...I think those condos were built maybe 10 years ago

http://tinyurl.com/5ul2qba

there's a wiki link too on automatt now

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Automatt

there's even a Santana bootleg recorded at the same studios with a song called Folsom street, never on any album

http://soundcolourvibration.com/2011/02/05/lds-026-santana-iii-rehearsals-and-outtakes-at-wally-heider-and-columbia-studios-san-francisco-1970-1971/

Ha, I live in this neighborhood and didn't know half this stuff till today...BTW, right around the corner was Bill Grahams offices, and that building is still standing but scheduled to be demolished sometime..That is on 5th street between Folsom and Howard, which is also a block away from the demolished Mars Hotel,...so the Mars Hotel was only 1 block from the automatt...Howard is one block from Folsom

Thanks for your comment and that picture Jeff!

It was demolished in the 70's, or maybe 80's to make way for a big convention center. One single photo of the real mars Hotel exists and I finally put it together

http://www.bluoz.com/blog/index.php?/archives/1297-The-Mars-Hotel-at-4th-and-Howard.html

Bowie also uses a clip of him in front of the mars hotel in the "rebel rebel" video...check it on you tube...its only for a few seconds