SAN FRANCISCO | Projects: Under Construction, Approved, and Proposed

[timbad]

kinda wish the setback on 2nd St started lower. As it is, it really overwhelms the older buildings.

agree. I've said this before, and still maintain that this one is overall too bulky for its location, but the massing just makes it look awkward no matter where it is. I like the skin, but seems like such a waste given these drawbacks that for me tip this one into the less-than-successful category. probably would have worked in a 350-Mission-type location where the bulk/massing would have been less noticeable/out of place.

[fimiak]

222 Second isn't the problem. The contrast of old and modern adds character. Once the lobby and sidewalk are finished I think the sidewalk/ground level will feel like that of any other large building.

Transbay Terminal

http://i.imgur.com/B4B2O9g.jpg


They are now working on expanding it west, I don't have a good picture of the new bus ramp overpass but major pillars are being rebar'd up.
http://i.imgur.com/rF4fiO7.jpg

SF Tower

http://i.imgur.com/gyN18kj.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/ktPwRv8.jpg

[jbm]

Looked like crane was coming down today at 1415 Mission.

[timbad]

crane was being set up at the little development (http://sf.curbed.com/tags/81-85-bluxome) on Bluxome earlier this week:


steel going up pretty quickly on this one:

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7618/16954073108_0e9fcfe99a_b.jpg

[timbad]

the concourse exhibition center has been fenced off and they have started demolition prep. seen workers in and on the building the last week or so.

going, going....

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7610/16954066988_f9344a5708_b.jpg

[chuckrim]

30 Van Ness announced: https://www.bisnow.com/san-francisco/news/commercial-real-estate/one-of-sfs-sexiest-projects-hits-the-market-44880?utm_source=Newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=tue-14-apr-2015-000000--0500_san-francisco-re

Would be interested to see the book for this one. Lots going on over there!

https://b256ec319b64095c3d1d-e19f06f73efdb5028989d1916204cd71.ssl.cf2.rackcdn.com/72961_1429034090_30van-large.jpg

[a very long weekend]

that's a placeholder render for marketing purposes, but it's really interesting that the city is moving ahead with the sale at this point, since it's timed both to the market at to their plans at the goodwill site.

zoned up to 400 feet (should be higher, but whatever) puts it at the same height as 100 van ness, which isn't too shabby. up to 600 units too. so emerald fund's three sites (101 polk, 150 van ness, 100 van ness) brings in over 1000 units, 1 oak would bring in just over 300, nema has already brought in over 750, the honda and goodwill sites will bring another 800 or so, then all the smaller projects (i count 9, including the trumark carwash site) combined bring in another 600 or so depending on what the union does with their lots next to honda. that's a ballpark of around 4000 units built in the area from 2010-2020. it's not toronto but for sf here it's pretty good.

incidentally, it was in the news too that the conservatory of music bought two important piece of real estate at the border of civic center/mid market:

http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/S-F-music-school-buys-expansion-parcels-on-Van-6184848.php

[minesweeper]

Speaking of Van Ness, J.K. Dineen has a rundown of projects a little further up around the CPMC site:

Betting that the 700,000-square-foot hospital will create huge demand for bedrooms and office space, opportunistic builders and property owners near Van Ness and Geary Boulevard are lining up development projects that will result in 2,000 new housing units, 1 million square feet of office space and possibly hundreds of hotel rooms.

The projects include the redevelopment of the KRON-TV building at 1001 Van Ness, where Oryx Partners is planning to build 165 units. On Geary just east of Van Ness, architect Michael Stanton has filed an application to build 130 apartments on a parcel currently occupied by the Opal Motel. The adjacent Opal Hotel would be retained and renovated as part of the project.

http://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/Huge-S-F-hospital-project-sends-shock-waves-6200097.php?t=c51bb7b1c400af33be&cmpid=twitter-premium

[a very long weekend]

here's a rendering of 524 howard, being brought forward by crescent heights, currently sitting at environmental review

http://i.imgur.com/QQr5eNk.png

[peanut gallery]

^Nice find. Looks a little more refined than the last one I saw.

I did a walking tour of Rincon Hill and Transbay projects yesterday and these are some shots that didn't fit in a particular thread, or combined several projects in one.

I know I have an early 2000's shot of Fremont St, but can't find it to do a proper comparison. It would be dramatic because it has changed as much as any street:
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7672/16534040123_1db8f0bd3e_z.jpg

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7684/16966332368_8b73d205e2_c.jpg

Sometimes, this entire area feels like one huge construction project:
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7601/17152588562_9b40f07711_c.jpg

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8777/17152495612_f0b6baa2a9_c.jpg

Here's one comparison I did find. Rincon Hill from 2006:
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1119/912794296_c1ed82248c_z.jpg

Rincon Hill from about the same spot, taken yesterday:
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7653/16966295178_3662764ffa_c.jpg

[peanut gallery]

Oh, and two shots of the plaza in front of 535 Mission. Putting these here since I hadn't noticed them on here yet and the 535 thread is closed.

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8700/17154058775_ae3a3b69fb_z.jpg

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8816/17154058595_a91ff08c09_z.jpg

Big improvement over the small street (basically a driveway) that was here before.

[tall/awkward]

All these 400-450 foot buildings proposed/under construction...they must really like the plateau look in this town!

At least salesforce and 181 Fremont will spike things up a little bit in their area...

[viewguysf]

All these 400-450 foot buildings proposed/under construction...they must really like the plateau look in this town!

It's going to look the same at Market and Van Ness with the six new towers, 100 Van Ness, Fox Plaza, and NEMA--nine buildings all around the same height.

[viewguysf]

here's a rendering of 524 howard, being brought forward by crescent heights, currently sitting at environmental review

The same company that brought us Jasper and the ragged, unfinished looking top of NEMA--I hope the third time for them is indeed the charm.

They're also doing the two towers on the site of the Honda dealership at Market and South Van Ness, and those will be very prominently situated.

[fimiak]

Posting from here right now.
http://i.imgur.com/QmNve3Uh.jpg (http://imgur.com/QmNve3U)

same view at night...iphone6 doesn't take night shots very well

http://i.imgur.com/rfJVqJ9h.jpg (http://imgur.com/rfJVqJ9)

[a very long weekend]

mediocre view.

jk

[viewguysf]

Great--nice to see that your roof is now open! I'm looking forward to seeing the street level completed too since I walk by there regularly.

[toxteth o'grady]

mediocre view.

Quit trying to read his e-mail!:rolleyes:

[peanut gallery]

Can't wait for the party on fimiak's roof. I'll bring the red wine. ;)

Saw this proposal on Hoodline (http://hoodline.com/2015/04/peaceful-poets-plaza-planned-for-vallejo-near-columbus) for a new piazza on Vallejo in North Beach. I like the idea.

https://hoodwork-production.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/story/featured_image/11646/Piazza_St._Francis_Rendering.jpg

Angela Alioto has a vision. Imagine, in front of the landmark National Shrine of St. Francis of Assisi at 610 Vallejo St., an Umbrian-style piazza closed to traffic.

Imagine that piazza inlaid with white and green granite, with the names of prominent poets and peacemakers in bronze in a circle right in front of the church. "Martin Luther King, the Dalai Lama, Mother Teresa, Nelson Mandela, Mahatma Ghandi," Alioto said. "People who are famous in the world for bringing peace."

And imagine sitting and sipping an espresso under olive trees without the roar of cars and motorcycles. The legendary Caffe Trieste is on the opposite corner of the plaza, long a "third place" for neighbors and thinkers to gather and discuss the world. On the northwest corner is La Porziuncola Nuova, a re-creation of the little church that Saint Francis rebuilt and where he founded the Franciscan Order of the Friars Minor in 1209. He named his little church the “Porziuncola," meaning “little corner of the world."

----snip----

The city has plans to start digging up the street in July and August to replace the water and sewer lines, she said, so this is a good time to get in cahoots for the bigger picture. She hopes to begin building the plaza in September 2015 and to finish by September 2016 for the peace conference.

I never realized that church was a re-creation of an historic St. Francis church.

[mt_climber13]

Sorry for blurry photo (and dirty windshield), but just wanted to add to the discussion of the flat table top of the Van Ness/ Mid Market skyline. A few more 400 foot towers will just add to the flatness. Hoping that some of the VN and Market towers are upzoned to 550'.

http://i.imgur.com/M3o3upv.jpg

[pseudolus]

I never realized that church was a re-creation of an historic St. Francis church.

IIRC, the re-creation is the very small building next door, at the corner

[Jerry of San Fran]

fimiak - nice view from 100 Van Ness Avenue. The residents of the Fox Plaza used to have a rooftop sun deck which was closed after the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11th. Wind was always fierce above the wall that protected the sun deck.

How is the wind at 100 Van Ness on the roof garden?

[peanut gallery]

IIRC, the re-creation is the very small building next door, at the corner

Oh, I totally misread that. Makes a lot more sense given the description. Thanks for clarifying.

[SF born and RAISED]

A random photo from last night after the Giants game at 680 Folsom. I love how the LED changes every night. This one is blue and gold for the Warriors.

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7618/16568571564_8d62c40d69_z.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/rf7g5Y)IMG_20150416_222856 (https://flic.kr/p/rf7g5Y) by luv2p0k3h3r (https://www.flickr.com/people/94743866@N05/), on Flickr

[fimiak]

The wind situation is surprisingly good, apparently they computer-modeled the top glass area specifically to cut down on the western wind. It is of course much worse after 3:30 until about 8:30, late night and mid-day the wind is hardly noticeable. The sidewalk is extremely windy. I will edit this post later and include some pictures of the second floor common areas.

edit: here we are

This will look very very different by 2020.
http://i.imgur.com/VOwNvBMl.jpg (http://imgur.com/VOwNvBM)

Floor 2 100 Van Ness
http://i.imgur.com/1Ij2j6Bl.jpg (http://imgur.com/1Ij2j6B)

Work in progress
http://i.imgur.com/mrKnu5hl.jpg (http://imgur.com/mrKnu5h)
http://i.imgur.com/DPhtS75l.jpg (http://imgur.com/DPhtS75)

Curved Samsung screen
http://i.imgur.com/r1fJxtXl.jpg (http://imgur.com/r1fJxtX)
http://i.imgur.com/ZqoCDHul.jpg (http://imgur.com/ZqoCDHu)
http://i.imgur.com/Cwi4cvxl.jpg (http://imgur.com/Cwi4cvx)

This overlooks the LePort School
http://i.imgur.com/S2Xr4iZl.jpg (http://imgur.com/S2Xr4iZ)
http://i.imgur.com/5QPmQBDl.jpg (http://imgur.com/5QPmQBD)

The Gym is larger than this picture shows, but that is Van Ness Ave outside.
http://i.imgur.com/W3kFKJcl.jpg (http://imgur.com/W3kFKJc)

[Jerry of San Fran]

fimiak - thanks for the great photos! I'm astonished at the decor in the public areas! The 2nd floor library? looks like Italian Baroque - who would have thought! I though the same thing when I looked at the view to the south - lots of highrise buildings will be in the view in a few years. A lot of people in the Fox Plaza will lose their view of Twin Peaks.

The apartment halls at the Fox Plaza are being remodeled. I will post a picture when the first one is done & you will see why we are jealous of the decor at 100 Van Ness.

[kdeff]

fimiak - thanks for the great photos! I'm astonished at the decor in the public areas! The 2nd floor library? looks like Italian Baroque - who would have thought! I though the same thing when I looked at the view to the south - lots of highrise buildings will be in the view in a few years. A lot of people in the Fox Plaza will lose their view of Twin Peaks.

The apartment halls at the Fox Plaza are being remodeled. I will post a picture when the first one is done & you will see why we are jealous of the decor at 100 Van Ness.

Is there a plan to rezone going on?

EDIT: nvm, looking South...for some reason I was thinking east.

[timbad]

quick clockwise walk around the massive 55 Laguna project, starting from the SW, more or less...

looking north up the west (Buchanan) side:

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7592/16977026889_56514514ec_b.jpg

looking into the Waller passageway from the west:

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7596/17163243225_9b239b993d_b.jpg

looking back south along the west side, where you can see one of the original buildings with facelift in progress:

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8689/17162630601_3988ee3fe1_b.jpg

another view of the restored building, looking toward the NW corner of the site:

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7722/16975700970_0b0dec1c5d_b.jpg

the north (Haight) side, from the NE corner (Haight and Laguna):

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7679/17162582981_819a3c6796_b.jpg

looking north along the east (Laguna) side:

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7644/16975461308_40dcf7f729_b.jpg

looking into the Waller passageway from the east (Laguna) side:

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8778/16977088259_42cd00232f_b.jpg

and the SE corner (Hermann and Laguna), with an original building before restoration:

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7638/17137266456_3629e23669_b.jpg

[timbad]

a while back we talked about the Oak St side of Central Freeway parcel P in Hayes Valley, specifically, whether the design had met an earlier-stated goal of varying the long block's facade enough so that it would appear to be a few different developments. I tried to get a few shots now that scaffolding is down in case anyone was still curious:

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7631/17161599872_35d7cb22db_b.jpg

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8823/17137283626_148fbe405f_b.jpg

from corner of Laguna:

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7622/16975676220_f69c60a4bb_b.jpg

here is the north side along what will either be a mews, or Hickory Alley, cant remember:

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7665/17163193055_0f1c81ba9c_b.jpg

[timbad]

the concourse exhibition center has been fenced off and they have started demolition prep. seen workers in and on the building the last week or so.

going...

https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5448/16985795977_3ee9174e9f_b.jpg

(this is actually a couple days old, which at the pace they were working is probably quite out of date)

[timbad]

the project at 650 Indiana (http://sf.curbed.com/archives/2014/05/01/major_dogpatch_housing_project_looks_for_approvals_today.php) in Dogpatch appears to have broken ground. looking north along Indiana:

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8707/17191590862_89af1b3075_b.jpg

and south

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8790/17005489948_faec81a4c8_b.jpg

[Jerry of San Fran]

Is there a plan to rezone going on?

EDIT: nvm, looking South...for some reason I was thinking east.

kdeff - the Fox Plaza business owner is spending $900,000 to remodel the 2 story business (loading dock for the United States Post Office, new restaurant) section, so there will be no highrise soon on that section. Because of the park in the front of city hall there will never be a very tall building on the east end of the Fox Plaza block as it would cast a shadow. There used to be a grandfather clause to build up to 12 stories there. A reminder, the Fox Plaza business section & apartment sections are owned by two different corporations.

There is no change of heights zoned in the neighborhood that I am aware of.

[viewguysf]

a while back we talked about the Oak St side of Central Freeway parcel P in Hayes Valley, specifically, whether the design had met an earlier-stated goal of varying the long block's facade enough so that it would appear to be a few different developments. I tried to get a few shots now that scaffolding is down in case anyone was still curious:

It looks like they didn't even try to do that. Was it value engineered away? This is an even bigger bait and switch than Trinity Place.

How do you think the complex looks in person Tim?

[combusean]

Is that wood work from 100 Van Ness's 2nd floor original, or was it done decades ago?

I can't imagine the craftsmanship that must've been involved with that, or even if it was still possible to do that in 2015.

[fimiak]

Seems like it was a good wallpaper job then :tup:

Unfortunately they did not actually invest in bringing trinity college's library to 100 Van Ness. Its a rental building after all.

[mt_climber13]

Someone in the planning department seriously loves taupe.

[timbad]

It looks like they didn't even try to do that. Was it value engineered away? This is an even bigger bait and switch than Trinity Place.

How do you think the complex looks in person Tim?

I think a few things:

- it looks close to what was shown in the renderings, which to me already showed that the block was not really going to appear like independently-developed projects. I was feeling a little betrayed when I first saw the renderings, but this does not really bother me like Trinity does. Trinity went from potentially really cool to super blah; this never had either extreme for me.

- the style is broken up at least a couple times on the block, but because the color palette for the whole block until the corner is so similar, what changes there are get drowned out visually.

- the western corner looks cheaper than the rest. the rest is not exciting, but to me it works fine.

- maybe the zoning prevented this, but seems just considering the surrounding neighborhood, the developer could have gotten away with a little more height at least in some segments, for a little variation.

[SFView]

Could there be another very slender tower next to 50 First Street? This one could be 24 stories tall.

Source of image and related story: http://www.socketsite.com/archives/2015/04/slender-project-could-block-views-and-vistas-of-penultimate-tower.html

http://www.socketsite.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/82-84-First-Massing.jpg

[fimiak]

Could there be another very slender tower next to 50 First Street? This one could be 24 stories tall.

Source of image and related story: http://www.socketsite.com/archives/2015/04/slender-project-could-block-views-and-vistas-of-penultimate-tower.html

http://www.socketsite.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/82-84-First-Massing.jpg

That concept is very unique. It would be a layering of towers that would look very nice. I imagine the construction would have to be very coordinated with 50 First. This is going to be the in the heart of San Francisco's 21st century business district.

[mt_climber13]

How would that even happen? Every window except for the crevices on Mission and 1st streets would be lot line windows. I smell a skunk.

[fflint]

It's a ploy to get 50 First to pay up a lot of money for the sight lines, I suspect.

[simms3_redux]

^^^I don't even think it's a serious ploy. That proposal must be feasible AND the owner must be willing and able to actually go through with entitling and developing it. You can't finance a future payout by another entity based on what you hope, so the owner would have to find financing to build that ridiculous little plan, and that plan has to actually be well thought out and underwritten by both lender and developer to work out to some sort of profit, and hotels are not provitable practically anywhere in the city right now, let alone on that ridiculous site.

So I bet the Chinese owners are laughing right now and the only thing that's making them stir uncomfortably is the price they paid for that land, with unapproved plans and talk of both Prop M and the next tech slowdown. Of course they weren't expecting Chinese returns here in SF, so they're probably fine :)

[a very long weekend]

hotels are unprofitable?

[simms3_redux]

^^^Hotel development. Not necessarily "unprofitable", but with an option to build condos, apartments, or office, it makes no sense to go through the brain damage of figuring out a new hotel (which is a very complex endeavor, arguably, relative to a new office/apartment deal).

Remember, Hyatt and Hilton aren't building the hotels - they are operating them. A developer backed by x kind of money through a partnership with a traditional fund(s) backed by pensions, high net worth, insurance companies, other funds, etc would be the group to pencil out and make a hotel development work.

By all accounts, aside from very small and random occurrences (the hotel going up on king or the one in Mission Bay or the small Hampton Inn opening in SOMA), a hotel development doesn't pencil in SF right now. And this spot would likely be more difficult than an empty lot on King or the empty lot in Mission Bay.

Loews bought the Mandarin Oriental for $1M a key. In the article that described the transaction adn interviewed the CEO of Loews, he said that they had looked at both acquisition and development opportunities for years and years, and development just has not been feasible in SF, and finally they found a deal to acquire an existing hotel that works for them.

[RST500]

Anyone know what happened to the Sir Francis Drake Hotel at Union Square?






It's shut off in these recent photos. It would a real tragedy if it were to be removed.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/tsaiid/15582637583/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/mbell1975/15981502573/in/photolist-qmenVP-rLBiAg-r3wwBk-qZmrvQ-q2kyvz-r8Qnfi-qUuKKT-rgq7hT-rjXrpq-qLfKzi-qLdYNP-rKSwpA-r1uAif-rKSybm-qWHZjf-qBW5WL-pE7hDw-rsdafp-q4K1mx-rZMLjz-qw1pvR-qieGTX-qnR57D-rYVenV-qr53Tx-qxvo69-qE6GCz-rJ6Usy-qyqsWm-qyqrUS-rgrUo2-q6Tzoc-quRmt3-qD7Lom-ruY4kE-pjC5kU-rgrTST-r4RzQS-pHuHEk-qy1r5n-qdhECz-rvH3Vx-quKCS1-pQiSpf-qnPKXX-ruEYCc-qZbn8Y-qZbn5S-rvzxSf-rvAK1N

https://www.flickr.com/photos/jrr/16375239609/in/photolist-qX2oep-rcbQNw-rcbRnh-rbtfAg-qUS4TE-qZMK7B-rTrQu7-rTzTwp-pk53DK-rWc7e3-qWUk6o-rcbQSj-qpZz7D-qpme6S-qLQheM-qC1hZP-r1rHsr-qmY4To-qjy3nX-qYGMvA-rjZjvc-pjQ59Y-qewZnS-r5zBYE-qs7CT7-pCGZDk-qhUsQu-qyntHA-s5f5kK-q2n5kv-qqibSy-qADDu4-pFWw1Q-s5f5ya-rtQPd6-qTwmnH-qmnAhb-rTyciu-q9prao-s9pyfw-rZe7mA-q7SXka-qzHA45-pXHeuo-pstebQ-rgomZ3-rTrRdw-psi8hL-rjErPc-qw7cAQ


This is what it looked like before.


http://cdn.partyearth.com/photos/162d91849ebf0ded7839740bb22d98de/harry-dentons-starlight-room_s345x230.jpg?1375205968

http://www.partyearth.com/san-francisco/lounges/harry-dentons-starlight-room-2/

[viewguysf]

Anyone know what happened to the Sir Francis Drake Hotel at Union Square?

It's shut off in these recent photos. It would a real tragedy if it were to be removed.
This is what it looked like before.

http://cdn.partyearth.com/photos/162d91849ebf0ded7839740bb22d98de/harry-dentons-starlight-room_s345x230.jpg?1375205968

The room is still open (at least it was very recently); maybe they're redoing/restoring the signage. That sign can easily be seen from Potrero Hill and other places. I noticed in the first photo that the star atop the hotel wasn't lit either.

As a side note, before Harry Denton, it was called the Starlight Roof.

[simms3_redux]

I heard they were remodeling the Starlight Room, which I think is a tragedy. If they even dare make it "upscale" or "trendy"...this town is getting boring as hell lol.

[simms3_redux]

Oh, and on that note, they will be remodeling the Top of the Mark, which is already "upscale" and bla but seriously needs a redo, mainly because of the "bla" part.

[RST500]

The room is still open (at least it was very recently); maybe they're redoing/restoring the signage. That sign can easily be seen from Potrero Hill and other places. I noticed in the first photo that the star atop the hotel wasn't lit either.

As a side note, before Harry Denton, it was called the Starlight Roof.

The sign is mentioned in this article but it's vague about whether its being removed. It should have historic landmark status.

http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/nativeson/article/San-Francisco-once-basked-in-glow-of-neon-5940296.php

[RST500]

On google maps street view from February of this year the sign is still there its just not lit up at night. Either they are repairing it or hotel guests were complaining about the light.

[RST500]

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7011/6588607193_b186751b29_z.jpg

http://www.flickr.com/photos/22866559@N00/6588607193/

http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4047/4686879569_085923060a_z.jpg

http://www.flickr.com/photos/crbinva/4686879569/


I noticed the sign from 2010 is complete but from 2011 it is missing a part. Hopefully they are repairing it.

[jbm]

The concourse exhibition center is completely gone. still cleaning up the mess and still need to tear up the old foundation. 1 henry adams, down the block, has just started going up though.

[edwards]

4.29.15
http://i.imgur.com/vEeAcYKh.jpg (http://imgur.com/vEeAcYK)
Also pretty impressed with the low light performance of the Galaxy S6.

[viewguysf]

Great shot! Lumina is just breathtakingly stunning--much better than the renderings. That's a refreshing change for this city!

[RST500]

The room is still open (at least it was very recently); maybe they're redoing/restoring the signage. That sign can easily be seen from Potrero Hill and other places. I noticed in the first photo that the star atop the hotel wasn't lit either.

As a side note, before Harry Denton, it was called the Starlight Roof.

I noticed the star is also turned off in all the recent nighttime photos from Union Square. Anyone been there recently?

[Jerry of San Fran]

View from the Essex Fox Plaza - the never ending concrete pours!

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8781/16751608593_5fb78f81b7_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/rwhnBP)Trinity Place - 05/04/2015 (https://flic.kr/p/rwhnBP)

[RST500]

I noticed the star is also turned off in all the recent nighttime photos from Union Square. Anyone been there recently?

These photos are from a few days ago.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/sftrajan/16750327853/in/photolist-sqQiEr-sseAaW-srC2zL-s9DGfr-ssYZB2-rwaNU6-ssNZVL-sqJNgd

https://www.flickr.com/photos/131394329@N06/17194555026/in/photolist-rhSXSZ-rRhtwz-sqJNgd-rX7v7L-saNTjA-rX6gm9-rYPRs7-ski3BZ-s21vvB-si3ALf-rfzYzX-scqAah

[minesweeper]

New details are out on the Giants' Mission Rock proposal:

Giants add affordable housing, shorten heights in building plan (http://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/Giants-add-affordable-housing-shorten-heights-in-6241939.php?t=7b1f08ce8e00af33be&cmpid=twitter-premium)

The Giants will submit a ballot measure to the city attorney Tuesday for Mission Rock, a 28-acre redevelopment that will include 1,500 units of housing, eight acres of parkland, 1.5 million square feet of commercial space and a new brewing facility for Anchor Brewing Co. The site, known as Lot A, is currently a vast surface parking lot that can hold more than 2,200 cars. The parking will be replaced by a garage on the southern end of the property.

[...]

After those votes, the Giants decided to lower heights of some of the buildings from 380 feet to 240 feet. Three of the buildings, all slender residential towers, will hit the 240-foot mark. New buildings are proposed for only 10 acres of the site, with heights ranging from 90 to 190 feet for office buildings and 120 to 240 for housing. Nothing will be constructed within 100 feet of the bay.

The team also decided to increase the percentage of below-market-rate units from 15 percent to 33 percent, which matches Mayor Ed Lee’s affordable housing goals.

[simms3_redux]

These photos are from a few days ago.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/sftrajan/16750327853/in/photolist-sqQiEr-sseAaW-srC2zL-s9DGfr-ssYZB2-rwaNU6-ssNZVL-sqJNgd

https://www.flickr.com/photos/131394329@N06/17194555026/in/photolist-rhSXSZ-rRhtwz-sqJNgd-rX7v7L-saNTjA-rX6gm9-rYPRs7-ski3BZ-s21vvB-si3ALf-rfzYzX-scqAah

I saw people dancing in the window up there the other night so it's still open. However, I have still heard that it will be redone.

[fimiak]

Transbay update. The first stretch over first street can be seen here. They are working fast!

http://i.imgur.com/qEUzufl.png

A timelapse of what happened can be viewed here. http://transbaycenter.org/construction-updates/construction-cameras/mission-camera

[Jerry of San Fran]

fimiak - thanks for the update & cool link. I see the bridge work is being done at night so as not to disrupt traffic. It is so strange to see the bridge over the street!

[DIESELPOLO]

View from the Essex Fox Plaza - the never ending concrete pours!

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8781/16751608593_5fb78f81b7_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/rwhnBP)Trinity Place - 05/04/2015 (https://flic.kr/p/rwhnBP)

Man, Trinity III seems like its been under construction for 3 years...and still not above street level.

[fimiak]

Picture dump

All by me today.

http://i.imgur.com/CBOrPgH.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/i0H3Kgu.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/u5LKL0p.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/GWwuMNs.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/Y8rp4zF.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/RCPT1AH.jpg


http://i.imgur.com/163tBl2.jpg

[timbad]

The concourse exhibition center is completely gone. still cleaning up the mess and still need to tear up the old foundation. 1 henry adams, down the block, has just started going up though.

accompanying pics... concourse exhibition center, from west:

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7660/17210588509_bb409bfaf8_b.jpg

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8705/17370857306_fa2b550925_b.jpg

from east:

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7799/17394827512_638e3411f3_b.jpg

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7756/17396456891_de242de0c0_b.jpg

1 Henry Adams, from SW corner:

https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5337/17396810235_bf746f52dd_b.jpg

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7710/17209256430_6f61a51736_b.jpg

[timbad]

this (http://www.dbarchitect.com/project_detail/155/Dr%20%20George%20W%20%20Davis%20Senior%20Building.html), plus the accompanying market-rate project, is progressing (as seen from Caltrain)

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8785/16774275584_2aba96e89e_b.jpg

[fflint]

^Where is that?

[timbad]

^Where is that?

sorry, shouldn't have left that behind the link. it's right behind 5800 Third Street, which was developed a few years ago, in Bayview

[fimiak]

Two interesting views.

http://i.imgur.com/qBW7Rh8.jpg


http://i.imgur.com/OhqpKxV.jpg

This is already quite a substantial structure, and right next door is Salesforce Tower! Makes all the years of wait worth it. It seems all variety of media suggest that San Francisco is in a renaissance, but we have yet to know what fruit the renaissance bears until the next 50+ projects are complete over the next five years.

https://youtu.be/XwozVKOkzz4

[mt_climber13]

http://i.imgur.com/i0H3Kgu.jpg



350 Fremont St. is turning out pretty sweet. Great pics

Is there anything planned for that parking lot on Harrison?

[spyguy]

Not sure if this rendering of the SOMA Hotel in Mission Bay was ever posted...
http://i60.tinypic.com/33xh9qd.jpg

[a very long weekend]

features almost every cliché of the current moment in design but at least the height hasn't been scaled down even more.

[fflint]

^Well, to paraphrase a comment in the Rotterdam thread, at least it didn't feature a facade in dark grey and orange with asymmetrical window patterns...

[mousquet]

^ :haha: I still happen to love that Euro trend which, I think, started in the Netherlands indeed. It might well be a little too common around here these days, a price to pay for success, but I think people should admit, it's been a huge contribution and improvement to contemporary modernism. When combined with other tricks, it's still great.

That being said, the building called in question above is ok, huh. They just can't reinvent everything for every single building.

[a very long weekend]

mousquet - this building is only the latest of this genre in that "neighborhood", truly the most sterile kilometer this side of vancouver.

[Jerry of San Fran]

This building fills in the path of the freeway that used to be over Hayes Street. Tearing it down removed a physiological barrier & allowed Hayes street to develop further up the hill. In a few years there will be few who remember it. I remember when it used to be a very scary area.

https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8720/17464687665_8986e4be72_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/sBi6bz)400 Hayes_2015_05_09 (https://flic.kr/p/sBi6bz)

[fflint]

In a few years there will be few who remember it. I remember when it used to be a very scary area.
I remember. I lived at Oak and Octavia in
'93-'94 and then right next to the freeway on Elgin Park near McCoppin from '95 to '98. There was lots of petty crime, homeless encampments, street hookers, and drug dealing going on all around and under the elevated freeway.

[Jerry of San Fran]

fflint - I had 2 friend who owned a building on Elgin Park, Ed & Paul. My twin in 1967 lived next to it at that location.

I remember. I lived at Oak and Octavia in
'93-'94 and then right next to the freeway on Elgin Park near McCoppin from '95 to '98. There was lots of petty crime, homeless encampments, street hookers, and drug dealing going on all around and under the elevated freeway.

[Jerry of San Fran]

Today the Dolby Building gets a large sign attached to it. Most people are not aware as to how much remodel has happened as they can only see the first floor construction. At night I can see the interior which has been completely remodeled & the patios that are now resurfaced with new plant containers.

There is no view of Trinity Place yet from the Essex Fox Plaza.

https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5331/17307009940_d53687ebe7_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/snmX67)The Dolby Building (https://flic.kr/p/snmX67)

[peanut gallery]

Regarding the Concourse Center, here are some details from the SF Business Times (http://www.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco/blog/real-estate/2015/05/equity-residential-soma-apartments-801-brannan.html):

The David Baker Architects-designed building has a "pleated" exterior to reflect the area's design history, as the neighborhood is still filled with furniture, rug and antique stores. The 449-unit complex will also lease 3,000 square feet of space to a non-profit organization that supports low-income chefs and startup food businesses.

-------

801 Brannan has 37,000 square feet of open space designed by CMG Landscape and includes a redwood grove and a garden pathway between Brannan Street and Bluxome Alley. For residents – likely to include many SoMa tech workers – the project will have a small gym, outdoor lounge, bike repair shop and outdoor barbecue spots.

And some renderings from architect David Baker (http://www.dbarchitect.com/project_detail/164/EQR%20801%20Brannan%20Street.html):
http://www.dbarchitect.com/images/dynamic/slideshow_images/image/21117_-_801_brannan_-_view_8_-_8th+alley.project_large.jpg

http://www.dbarchitect.com/images/dynamic/slideshow_images/image/21117_-_801_brannan_-_view_1_-_8th_and_brannan_corner_-_2.project_large.jpg

http://www.dbarchitect.com/images/dynamic/slideshow_images/image/21117_-_801_brannan_-_view_2_-_commercial.project_large.jpg

There's a rendering for One Henry Adams at the SF Business Times link.

[chuckrim]

Thoughts on what would happen if Salesforce sells? All rumors at this point, but interesting nonetheless. https://www.bisnow.com/national/news/technology/salesforce-remains-a-target-45633?&utm_source=MorningBrief&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=20150511_los-angeles_morningbrief

[ConstructDTLA]

Thoughts on what would happen if Salesforce sells? All rumors at this point, but interesting nonetheless. https://www.bisnow.com/national/news/technology/salesforce-remains-a-target-45633?&utm_source=MorningBrief&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=20150511_los-angeles_morningbrief

Also funny how they say that the building is near completion..

I'm interesting in this as well...

Some pics from the last week (more to come) :
https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8887/17527017142_59b9b89b06_h.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/sGNxyJ)222 2nd Street (https://flic.kr/p/sGNxyJ) by Hunter (https://www.flickr.com/photos/hunterkerhart/), on Flickr

https://c4.staticflickr.com/8/7701/16907283664_ffb91d4437_h.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/rL3foL)222 2nd Street (https://flic.kr/p/rL3foL) by Hunter (https://www.flickr.com/photos/hunterkerhart/), on Flickr

https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5467/17342264750_63abbb395c_h.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/sqtD7E)399 Fremont (https://flic.kr/p/sqtD7E) by Hunter (https://www.flickr.com/photos/hunterkerhart/), on Flickr

https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8760/17344042989_70ada59af7_h.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/sqCKHX)Salesforce Tower Site (https://flic.kr/p/sqCKHX) by Hunter (https://www.flickr.com/photos/hunterkerhart/), on Flickr

https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8776/17528095702_19e2a1770b_h.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/sGU5bA)Salesforce Tower Site (https://flic.kr/p/sGU5bA) by Hunter (https://www.flickr.com/photos/hunterkerhart/), on Flickr

[fflint]

The nearly complete tower being constructed for Salesforce is not to be confused with "Salesforce Tower," which will become the city's tallest upon completion. Two different buildings.

[peanut gallery]

Not sure the name of the skeleton tower under construction out there. Is it 388 Harrison?
https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5467/17342264750_63abbb395c_h.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/sqtD7E)388 Harrison? (https://flic.kr/p/sqtD7E) by Hunter (https://www.flickr.com/photos/hunterkerhart/), on Flickr

That's 399 Fremont (http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?t=118916). Great shot, by the way.

[ConstructDTLA]

That's 399 Fremont (http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?t=118916). Great shot, by the way.

Thank you!

[1977]

Great pics, DTLA! Looking forward to more.

222 Second St (the first 2 pictures) has never looked so good.

[ConstructDTLA]

Great pics, DTLA! Looking forward to more.

222 Second St (the first 2 pictures) has never looked so good.

Thanks!

I actually quite like 222 2nd. Each time I see it I like it more.

[chuckrim]

Great pics as always, Hunter.

Looks like 505 Brannan is a go - JV formed by TMG and Alexandria Real Estate. Already entitled and a Prop M allocation.

http://news.theregistrysf.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/505-Brannan-Rendering.jpg

SAN FRANCISCO (May 12, 2015) – TMG Partners, one of the San Francisco Bay Area’s largest mixed-use property developers, and Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc. (NYSE:ARE), a pioneering developer of urban science and technology campuses, today announced that they formed a joint venture and acquired 505 Brannan Street, a fully entitled development site complete with Prop M office allocation secured during late 2014.

“The project has everything tenants are looking for – large floor-plates, a side core design, surrounded by residential and retail amenities – and has great transit access with the Cal Train station a block away and a new Central Subway stop less than half a block away,” said Matt Field, Chief Investment Officer with TMG Partners. “We expect extremely strong demand for the project. We are also extremely excited about the opportunity to venture with Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc. They are a best in class owner and operator and we believe our combined skill sets will be extremely complementary.”

“Alexandria’s highly successful Mission Bay-SoMa cluster — comprised of 980,000 square feet of operating properties — is 100% leased predominately to investment grade tenants and its near-term development pipeline comprised of 723,000 square feet is also 100% leased to high quality disruptive technology companies,” said said Stephen Richardson, Chief Operating Office and Regional Market Director, San Francisco from Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc. “We are very enthusiastic to continue partnering with such client-tenants and believe 505 Brannan will be highly desirable.”

http://news.theregistrysf.com/tmg-partners-and-alexandria-real-estate-equities-acquire-505-brannan-in-san-francisco/?utm_source=The+Registry+Database&utm_campaign=618cbbe729-Thursday_5_13_2015&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_efa1d9206e-618cbbe729-79174653

[peanut gallery]

Another Transbay parcel is about to get auctioned off. This one is zoned for 750'. From The Chronicle (http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Auction-for-hot-land-near-Transbay-Terminal-SF-6259002.php):

Looking to generate cash quickly, the TJPA will hold a live auction for a parcel of land down the block from where the $1.9 billion Transbay Transit Center is rising at First and Mission streets.

The so-called Parcel F is entitled for a 750-foot office tower mid-block between First, Second, Howard and Natoma streets. The land is one of a dozen publicly owned parcels being sold to private developers to raise money for the transit center.

Although other Transbay properties have gone through lengthy requests for proposal processes — negotiations between the agency and developer have dragged on for more than a year in several cases — Parcel F will be handled with speed. Qualified bidders may ask questions in August and September, the auction will take place in September, and the deal will close no later than Dec. 1. The TJPA is offering the site “as is” — meaning the sale won’t be contingent on due diligence and the buyer will not be able to engage in negotiations after winning the live auction bid.

Maria Ayerdi-Kaplan, who heads the TJPA, said the decision to do an auction was driven by “the overwhelming number of inquiries we have received” from developers. “It s a very hot market, and we want to sell it while it’s hot,” she said.

The auction could smash records for San Francisco office land deals, say market observers, who expect it to top the $255 per buildable square foot Golub & Co. and the John Buck Co. shelled out for another Transbay site. Even if it only matches what Block 5 generated, the property would be worth more than $190 million.

Emphasis added by me. After the Salesforce tower site debacle, I'm very happy to read this.

[fimiak]

Parcel F! Once that is gone I don't think there are any more spots left for tall 600ft+ buildings. The Central SoMa plans had better give the city enough room to grow.

[SFView]

There was or still is this, although the zoning is now actually at 700 feet - same as 181 Fremont:

http://www.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco/stories/2009/06/08/story1.html?page=all

[fimiak]

Trinity!

http://i.imgur.com/77I7eq9.jpg

5th and Market - New Retail Mall!

http://i.imgur.com/xF9BmF7.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/ModYZE2.jpg

Transbay Terminal!

http://i.imgur.com/FFOOH6K.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/PiG1Ybg.jpg

[ConstructDTLA]

3rd & Mission, I believe this is the site of a few new Norman Foster buildings?

https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8740/17035823544_df85b00bc5_h.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/rXp3PA)3rd & Mission (https://flic.kr/p/rXp3PA) by Hunter (https://www.flickr.com/photos/hunterkerhart/), on Flickr

[Busy Bee]

That's not being demolished is it? It's gorgeous.

[ConstructDTLA]

That's not being demolished is it? It's gorgeous.

No, its being implemented into the incredible new design. There was a render in the window but I didn't take a shot of it.

[peanut gallery]

That project is 706 Mission (http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?t=179766). But the architect is Handel not Norman Foster.

It includes a new home for the Mexican Museum. The interior of that is being designed by Enrique Norten. A+D and Pfau Long Architecture are also working on the museum component.

[1977]

No, its being implemented into the incredible new design. There was a render in the window but I didn't take a shot of it.

Here (http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?t=179766&page=7)is the thread for 706 Mission (http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?t=179766&page=7). It is going to be a beautiful tower.

Nice shot as well!

***Beat me to it PG!

[a very long weekend]

the foster building is 50 first street, two blocks from the aronson building pictured above. still, the 50 first street site does have some pretty cool buildings sitting atop and i'll miss them very much.

https://goo.gl/maps/TD4vf

though i'm excited to see 50 first street rise, i love the feel of the old fidi and generally dislike everything past battery/1st street en route to the ferry building, everything that came up post war, basically (though with some big exceptions, including 1 front street, everything on sacramento and california north of front, etc. hate the SOM 1 bush and the phillip johnson buildings though for their contempt for market street and sf more generally) not because of any particular conservatism or nostalgia, but just because of the shit planning - appalling streetwall gaps, massive curb cuts and loading docks, terrible design with some exceptions, ludicrous private "public spaces" and de-activated streets (or walgreens). not to mention the wholesale demolition of great old buildings when we had thousands of acres of space to build intelligently. oh well.

if we're to lose a totally intact pre-war commercial streetwall, at least it's to something fairly impressive, rather than what's directly across the street at 55 first street, and similar atrocities issue of the 1980s.

[ConstructDTLA]

That project is 706 Mission (http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?t=179766). But the architect is Handel not Norman Foster.

It includes a new home for the Mexican Museum. The interior of that is being designed by Enrique Norten. A+D and Pfau Long Architecture are also working on the museum component.

Here (http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?t=179766&page=7)is the thread for 706 Mission (http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?t=179766&page=7). It is going to be a beautiful tower.

Nice shot as well!

***Beat me to it PG!

Thanks for the info :cheers:

[BuzzBuzzEva]

Thanks for the update simms!

Here's an another rendering, looking southeast from Jones, of 1066 Market:

http://www.sfhac.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/1066-Market.png
Source: www.sfhac.org

Gives you a better idea of the color palette that will be used, at least at the moment.

And in case you need a refresher (http://www.socketsite.com/archives/2014/01/the_designs_for_shorensteins_proposed_midmarkettenderlo.html).


Shorenstein has a new (cropped) rendering on their website (http://shorenstein.com/portfolio/investments/property?id=7182#prop_descr) of 1066 Market. You can check out all the renderings and stay up to date with the development by following it at http://www.buzzbuzzhome.com/1066-market-street

[peanut gallery]

the foster building is 50 first street, two blocks from the aronson building pictured above. still, the 50 first street site does have some pretty cool buildings sitting atop and i'll miss them very much.

https://goo.gl/maps/TD4vf

though i'm excited to see 50 first street rise, i love the feel of the old fidi and generally dislike everything past battery/1st street en route to the ferry building, everything that came up post war, basically (though with some big exceptions, including 1 front street, everything on sacramento and california north of front, etc. hate the SOM 1 bush and the phillip johnson buildings though for their contempt for market street and sf more generally) not because of any particular conservatism or nostalgia, but just because of the shit planning - appalling streetwall gaps, massive curb cuts and loading docks, terrible design with some exceptions, ludicrous private "public spaces" and de-activated streets (or walgreens). not to mention the wholesale demolition of great old buildings when we had thousands of acres of space to build intelligently. oh well.

if we're to lose a totally intact pre-war commercial streetwall, at least it's to something fairly impressive, rather than what's directly across the street at 55 first street, and similar atrocities issue of the 1980s.

I might quibble about some specific newer buildings, but I agree with your larger point. My favorite parts of the FIDI are the older sections/buildings. The detailing and especially the sense of history that just smacks you in the face are very appealing to me. And YES, 55 First (aka: 455 Market) is awful.

On 50 First, keep in mind that the best buildings in that stretch will remain (unless that longshot, bizarre hotel proposal comes to fruition). I will miss 62 First and maybe 40, but the best buildings on that block IMO are 78 and 88 First. I'm very much looking forward to the renovations planned for 88 (the corner building, which will be integrated with the 50 First plan).

78 First (staying) on the left, 62 First on the right (leaving):
https://c2.staticflickr.com/4/3035/2764951942_638fe045ed_b.jpg

I like the detailing and the scale of 78 First (thin and relatively tall for its width):
https://c2.staticflickr.com/4/3049/2764952872_db165bf2b2_b.jpg