SAN FRANCISCO | 1500-1540 Market Street (One Oak) | 437 FT | 40 FLOORS

mt_climber13 · #1 Posted **Apr 26, 2012, 4:00 PM**

Images credit to SCB Snohetta architects

Architects: SCB, Snohetta
Height: 420 feet (128 meters)
Floors: 40
Use: Residential 304 units

1977 · #2 Posted **Apr 26, 2012, 4:08 PM**

I love this tower! Market and Van Ness should look like the major intersection it is, and this definitely looks like a step in the right direction.

peanut gallery · #3 Posted **Apr 26, 2012, 4:45 PM**

That is one sexy tower! Perfect location for it too. The Market/Van Ness cluster will look so different once all this is built out. I just hope it doesn't suffer the same fate as 8 Washington. One good thing, it's already zoned for 400' so they don't have to worry about special approvals for that.

mt_climber13 · #4 Posted **Apr 26, 2012, 4:51 PM**

My boyfriend goes to the Conservatory of Music, and the parking lot across the street is very sketchy and out of place for such a dignified intersection. Unfortunately, the All Star Donut shop remains in the plans, however, hopefully by the time this is built, that plot will be purchased and razed.

I really like the flatiron look as it sits on a trapezoidal lot. The fact that it has been rezoned to 400' means that opposition should be very limited. It also is on top of a subway station, so what's not to love?

peanut gallery · #5 Posted **Apr 26, 2012, 4:59 PM**

Exactly. Plus, it will stand out quite nicely from most directions, so it should be beautiful and, dare I say, iconic. Think about how great this will look from Twin Peaks. It will really attract your attention, in a good way.

minesweeper · #6 Posted **Apr 26, 2012, 6:03 PM**

It's interesting that they're calling it "One Van Ness" even though that dinky donut shop is technically cutting it off from Van Ness. Hopefully they can buy them out eventually.

I hope this one can survive the planning process. It's eye-catching, it meets the height requirements, and I don't think there are any parks nearby that would be shaded.

The design bears some resemblance to the sketches for 50 First St.

patriotizzy · #7 Posted **Apr 27, 2012, 12:59 AM**

Really digging the design!

CityKid · #8 Posted **Apr 27, 2012, 1:37 AM**

Beautiful building. It reminds me of the building that was proposed near North Beach that never got built due to its height. I think this location would present less opposition for all the reasons that everyone else has stated. Hope it gets built.

fflint · #9 Posted **Apr 27, 2012, 1:45 AM**

Am I seeing this correctly--the closure of Oak Street at Van Ness?

http://imgs.sfgate.com/c/pictures/20...0110288881.jpg

peanut gallery · #10 Posted **Apr 27, 2012, 3:03 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by CityKid

Beautiful building. It reminds me of the building that was proposed near North Beach that never got built due to its height.

555 Washington - First thing I thought of as well. Not a bad consolation prize!

Quote:

Originally Posted by fflint

Am I seeing this correctly--the closure of Oak Street at Van Ness?

Good eye, fflint. I re-read the Chronicle piece and it definitely isn't mentioned. Am I crazy, or do I correctly recall something about re-routing that whole roundabout way you get to southbound Van Ness from Oak? Could it have something to do with that?

mt_climber13 · #11 Posted **Apr 27, 2012, 4:51 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by fflint

Am I seeing this correctly--the closure of Oak Street at Van Ness?

http://imgs.sfgate.com/c/pictures/20...0110288881.jpg

The entrance to the Conservatory of Music is on that alley, so it wouldn't make sense to close it off completely or to have it served only for private residential use. I noticed that initially too.
Somewhat off topic- the Conservatory has excellent recitals that are free to the public- a good way to hear live classical chamber music in one of the best symphonies in the world (but I'm probably biased), so closing that off like that would be a horrible plan.

Reminiscence · #12 Posted **Apr 27, 2012, 2:17 AM**

What a beautiful and elegant design this is! I was reading about it in The Chronicle today. I hope it gets built, we need more buildings with these flowing designs. A pleasant surprise it was to me!

SFView · #13 Posted **Apr 27, 2012, 6:32 PM**

Sampled from: http://imgs.sfgate.com/c/pictures/20...0110288881.jpg

Could this be an opening?

CyberEric · #14 Posted **Apr 27, 2012, 6:44 PM**

I don't really get what is going on right there, and are they actually going to leave the building on the corner? That would look so damn funny next to this elegant new tower, which I am pretty excited about.

spyguy · #15 Posted **Apr 27, 2012, 6:49 PM**

Nice proposal. Reminds me of the Bitexco Tower in Vietnam.

minesweeper · #16 Posted **Apr 27, 2012, 7:19 PM**

I'm guessing that's just a flub in the rendering, or they're proposing something that will get removed during planning. It sounds like this one is mostly conceptual at this point.

There's still a long, long way to go, and if this ever gets approved, it probably won't look too much like these renderings.

shakman · #17 Posted **Apr 27, 2012, 7:21 PM**

Nice design and excellent location for this tower to stand out.

mt_climber13 · #18 Posted **Apr 30, 2012, 6:48 PM**

I have not seen it mentioned yet but the most important point of this tower would be that it would be the tallest tower west of Van Ness. At 299', Cathedral Hill Tower is currently the "tallest in the west:"

At 400' this would be a quarter taller than that. It would be 50' taller than Fox Plaza and obfuscate it when viewing from the west (a huge plus in my book!)
I know that Post St. tower was planned at 407', but I haven't heard news on that one in years. Are the plans still active?

Grantenfuego · #19 Posted **May 1, 2012, 10:17 AM**

I love this proposal, and bravo to the designer, but from looking at the renderings it seems that not much if any improvement for pedestrians are being made. This intersection is completely centered around auto traffic and can be frightening for peds. obviously I'm speculating, since there's not a ton of detail on the ground floor of the rendering, I'm just hoping that improvements are being considered.

jbm · #20 Posted **Jul 18, 2012, 4:11 AM**

I went to the better market streets presentation tonight, and spoke with a couple of the people from one of the consulting or planning groups that are working with the city on the market st plan. I was generally discussing the market x van ness intersection (not development or high-rise specific) and both of them separately brought up this building. I take that as a positive that this project seems to be very much on the city's radar.