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

[chris08876]

[kdeff]

Originally Posted by fimiak

This is the bocce ball court covered by un-deployed furniture.

Very nice pics!

I always wonder why SF doesn't have more rooftop bars/restaurants. Not just on skyscrapers, even low rises around SoMa and the Mission. They're popular in NYC, and in SF they could actually be kept open year round!

[AndrewK]

Originally Posted by kdeff

Very nice pics!

I always wonder why SF doesn't have more rooftop bars/restaurants. Not just on skyscrapers, even low rises around SoMa and the Mission. They're popular in NYC, and in SF they could actually be kept open year round!

It's a weird legality thing. In many neighborhoods in SF it is illegal to have a restaurant or bar above the second floor of a building.

[hruski]

Originally Posted by AndrewK

It's a weird legality thing. In many neighborhoods in SF it is illegal to have a restaurant or bar above the second floor of a building.

Classic SF shooting itself in the foot.

[Dogpatch]

I've often wondered about that myself. Seems like a real missed opportunity. Especially with the views here. Dumb.

[simms3_redux]

A Sunday rooftop brunch/party scene would be nice. I guess a little too much to ask for though. There's actually a fair amount that seems to be a variance to the "law", if there is that law. Take into consideration all the bars/restaurants in hotels. The department stores. Places like the lookout. Etc It's no New York, but it's not like these places don't exist.

[mt_climber13]

Jones Restaurant



And Medjool



Come to mind.


edit: I found out Medjool closed down. WTF San Francisco!

[fimiak]

The Renoir hotel renovation was/is supposed to have a rooftop bar.

[timbad]

SFHog posted renderings of the hotel going up on King St across from the ballpark. do my eyes deceive me, or is that façade... orange and black?

[simms3_redux]

^^^That's some great infill. In my opinion.

[fflint]

Originally Posted by wakamesalad

edit: I found out Medjool closed down. WTF San Francisco!

It's still a restaurant, now called Lolinda.

[viewguysf]

Originally Posted by simms3_redux

A Sunday rooftop brunch/party scene would be nice. I guess a little too much to ask for though. There's actually a fair amount that seems to be a variance to the "law", if there is that law. Take into consideration all the bars/restaurants in hotels. The department stores. Places like the lookout. Etc It's no New York, but it's not like these places don't exist.

Not to be one to bemoan what has disappeared, but we used to have a great selection of bars and/or restaurants at the top of hotels and tall buildings with killer views. Most of them were converted to meeting room and banquet spaces since that was apparently more profitable. Some that come to mind: the entire top floor of the St. Francis tower with the dance bar Oz (later becoming a private dance club) on the north side and Victor's, the hotel's best restaurant, on the south side; the Crown Room on top of The Fairmont tower (with the most spectacular glass elevator anywhere); the Carnelian Room on the 52nd floor of the Bank of America building (with the fastest express elevators); S. Holmes on top of the Holiday Inn Union Square (later the Crowne Plaza Union Square and now a Marriott); Cityscape on the top floor of the Hilton tower; Equinox, revolving on top of the Hyatt Regency; OneUP restaurant and lounge on the top floor of the Grand Hyatt Union Square. At least the Starlight Room (formerly the Starlight Roof) at the Sir Francis Drake, The View Lounge on top of the Marriott Marquis, and The Top of The Mark remain, but most of the rooms with the dazzling views are now closed to the public or gone.

[simms3_redux]

^^^That's true. When my parents came to town, we were a bit hard-pressed to find places. We'd been there done that with the Top of the Mark, which I found overrated. We'd done Starlight Room, and I continue to go there about once a quarter and always have a good time. We'd done the View Room. I guess that IS it. We tried to go up the Hyatt, and learned it's banquet open for events only. I read as we were exploring where to go that whatever is on the Hilton was the same - closed.

Too many lobby restaurants/bars without windows or views. It would be nice to have indoor/outdoor party space on tops of buildings. There is no shortage of that in New York and they have a much better scene because of it (looking forward to some of the Mid-Market renovations). Sunday Funday is always rooftop there. I just spent an entire day in the Gaansevort's roof - had it almost to myself and friends all day while it snowed.

Anyway, I digress.

[mt_climber13]

Still the best view of downtown and overview of all the new development IMO: Transbay Tower construction cam



Hi res version

[Busy Bee]

Originally Posted by timbad

SFHog posted renderings of the hotel going up on King St across from the ballpark. do my eyes deceive me, or is that façade... orange and black?

Love that rendered Muni LRV. Looks better than the one they chose.

[Jerry of San Fran]

I'm glad to see so many wonderful updates in this forum while I was in Cuba on a Brand G cruise last week. Here is a view of 101 Polk from the Essex Fox Plaza, 14th floor.

Thanks fimiak for a different view from 100 Van Ness Avenue and I look forward to seeing more from your perspective. I also look forward to a weather report - the winds on the top will be amazingly strong! I have my doubts that the rooftop garden as it is will survive! I watched 100 Van Ness being built from the roof of the Fox Plaza.


101 Polk Street

[toxteth o'grady]

Originally Posted by timbad

SFHog posted renderings of the hotel going up on King St across from the ballpark. do my eyes deceive me, or is that façade... orange and black?

Orange and black? What, do they think they're a LaQuinta Inn in Dallas?

[timbad]

Originally Posted by toxteth o'grady

Orange and black? What, do they think they're a LaQuinta Inn in Dallas?

what I meant was...

[BushMan]

Originally Posted by simms3_redux

^^^That's true. When my parents came to town, we were a bit hard-pressed to find places. We'd been there done that with the Top of the Mark, which I found overrated. We'd done Starlight Room, and I continue to go there about once a quarter and always have a good time. We'd done the View Room. I guess that IS it. We tried to go up the Hyatt, and learned it's banquet open for events only. I read as we were exploring where to go that whatever is on the Hilton was the same - closed.

Too many lobby restaurants/bars without windows or views. It would be nice to have indoor/outdoor party space on tops of buildings. There is no shortage of that in New York and they have a much better scene because of it (looking forward to some of the Mid-Market renovations). Sunday Funday is always rooftop there. I just spent an entire day in the Gaansevort's roof - had it almost to myself and friends all day while it snowed.

Anyway, I digress.

There's a little restaurant and "view bar" at the top of the Marines Memorial building at Sutter and Mason. It's definitely got a very stodgy "old-school" feel but I suppose it's another option for anyone looking for this sort of thing. In fact the more I think about it it might be the PERFECT place to bring your more "traditional" relatives from Omaha...

[AndrewK]

In case anyone missed it, the project for 950 Market is getting a significant downsize, as they are cutting the arts center portion (there was disagreement about whether the developer should pay for all of the construction costs or if nonprofits should share in it), and thus will not get their height variance that was dependent on it. The project will now be 120ft as opposed to 200.

http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Mid-Market-development-loses-highly-touted-arts-6099621.php