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

[migol24]

Originally Posted by Busy Bee

This is sad guys. Stop being mean.

what are you referring to? just wondering.

[peanut gallery]

Heard from BT that a tower crane was going up this past weekend at the new PUC building at Golden Gate & Polk. So glad that one is moving forward. Here's a rendering I don't think I've seen before even though it's been around for months.

From The Architects Newspaper:


http://www.archpaper.com/e-board_rev.asp?News_ID=3997
And courtesy KMD Architects.

[CityKid]

My boyfriend has been working at the court and took these photos of the SFPUC under construction when he saw the crane go up. He gave me permission to post these. Looks like they're still working on the foundation?

[Jerry of San Fran]

Peanutgallery - nice rendering - a handsome building

City Kid - great vantage point of the construction site. Thanks for the view.

[Jerry of San Fran]

A picture of the San Francisco Civic Center with a view of the SFPUC construction crane. The photo is from the north end of the Archstone Fox Plaza, 27th floor.

Photo taken by me 08/04/10

[peanut gallery]

Thanks for the photos, guys!

Jerry -- it's a good thing you have friends on other sides of the building.

[Jerry of San Fran]

Originally Posted by peanut gallery

Thanks for the photos, guys!

Jerry -- it's a good thing you have friends on other sides of the building.

Actually I do have friends on the west side of the bldg. and the view from the laundry room on the 14th floor. The picture was taken from the fire escape!

[viewguysf]

Originally Posted by Jerry of San Fran

Actually I do have friends on the west side of the bldg. and the view from the laundry room on the 14th floor. The picture was taken from the fire escape!

Very nice! Please take other pics of the City in different directions too!

[peanut gallery]

^Yes! I love your shots of SOMA. Post some looking toward the FiDi and toward Russian, Nob and Telegraph.

You could do the same, viewguy! I'm so envious of the city views you guys have.

[tommaso]

222 Second Street Gets First Approval
Friday, August 13, 2010, by Sally Kuchar

The Planning Commission was split, but decided to give the go-ahead for a 26-story office building at 222 Second Street at Howard Street. This is a huge upset for the families in the local residential luxury towers who fear that the building's 430,000 square footage is "too massive" and the traffic it would bring would "endanger their children." The $100,000,000 building is replacing a parking lot that's on a piece of land that's already earmarked for high-rise office construction and meets almost all of the city zoning requirements. The final vote was 4-3. NIMBYs get another opportunity to vent their frustrations about the project when it hits the desks of the Board of Supervisors for approval of the height and bulk exceptions (many exceptions were granted). If all goes as planned (which it won't), the project could be completed by 2013.
· Draft Environmental Impact Report PDF [SF Planning Commission]
· Second Street high-rise office building gets planners reluctant OK [City Insider]

http://sf.curbed.com/archives/2010/08/13/222_second_street_gets_first_approval.php

[peanut gallery]

FYI: 222 Second has it's own thread under proposals.

[CityKid]

Another SFPUC construction update courtesy of my boyfriend.

BT, ask and you shall receive.

[peanut gallery]

Thanks for the update, CityKid. It looks like there will be two elevator cores, but I wouldn't think it necessary on a building this size.

[peanut gallery]

Remember 8 Washington, the proposal to redevelop the Golden Gateway Tennis & Swim Club? They've reworked the design to stagger the height down from the taller towers behind with dramatic results:







All sourced from the 8 Washington project website.

[peanut gallery]

BTW, the proposal calls for about half as much tennis court space and a huge increase in the amount of public space.

[peanut gallery]

Any thoughts about this weekend's article on the city's America's Cup proposal?

From the San Francisco Chronicle:

San Francisco's plan for hosting America's Cup
John Coté, Chronicle Staff Writer
Saturday, September 4, 2010

...if city officials are successful in their plan to host the next America's Cup, the drab Piers 30-32 would be transformed into a striking bayfront amphitheater and sailing showplace - a focal point of a revived waterfront stretching from the Bay Bridge to south of AT&T Park - all without tapping taxpayer funds.

Under a proposal that Mayor Gavin Newsom's administration recently presented to race organizers, the city would provide free land and future development rights on the property in exchange for the America's Cup event authority paying $100 million to $150 million to shore up the piers, dredge the area around them, and install new breakwaters and utility lines.

The Port of San Francisco would retain ownership of the property. Future development would be under a long-term lease and still require governmental approvals. Structures to house team headquarters, a public amphitheater and new mega-yacht slips would be temporary and paid for by race organizers.

(more at SFGate)

When they say the amphitheater is temporary, I wonder if they also mean that sail-like cover? I have to believe so if they are turning over development rights. Otherwise, the eventual developer will be limited in what they can do on 30-32. Too bad because I like the look of that on this part of the waterfront. But the real benefit to the city comes in the form of infrastructure improvements, which should make these piers much easier to redevelop. As it is, getting those piers in a condition to use is just too expensive to get anything moving.

[Jerry of San Fran]

Peanut Gallery - I found the design concept quite dramatic. So far I think the city has done a good job on the waterfront and if the proposal advances it would make it even more of a destination. I have no interest in the sailboat races, but recognize that it would have some very positive effects on the city a win win.

[dr_strangelove]

Did any of you notice that they are painting Fox Plaza white? I'm surprised this hasn't been mentioned.. I will try to get a photo of it to post.

[peanut gallery]

^Jerry posted a photo of a test area a month or two ago. I haven't checked it out myself, so a recent photo would be great.

And speaking of Jerry -- yeah I'm pretty excited about the America's Cup proposal. I wish more of the visible improvements were permanent, but just shoring up the piers will be a huge step toward revitalizing that stretch of waterfront.

[Jerry of San Fran]

Thanks for reminding me of the update photo. This photo was taken on 09/11/2010. The paint job on the western side of the building is about 80% done. I'm surprised that the effect is not as radical as I had thought it would be.

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