SAN FRANCISCO | Projects: Under Construction, Approved, and Proposed - Page 347

a very long weekend · #**6921** Posted **Mar 9, 2015, 6:22 AM**

a small update on the van ness corridor near to my hood (and my heart). photos taken today.

at 1868 van ness (corner of washington street) they're moving along on the 7th floor, 2 stories to go:

some of the more pertinent details here - http://sf.curbed.com/archives/2014/01/17...he_corner_of_van_ness_and_washington.php

next, at 1450 franklin, the weird efficient construction one continues to move along

note that they intend to retain some stylings of the old vespa/classic car place (that i think actually plans to return?)
http://www.polarispacific.com/listing/1450-franklin/

and finally 1650 broadway has another floor to go:

http://sf.curbed.com/archives/2014/07/10...ngs_emerge_for_luxe_at_1650_broadway.php

there's also the huge project coming in on pine between franklin and van ness (adjacent to whole foods) but not a lot has changed there over the past few weeks, beyond the retained heritage facades being well-anchored and standing proud.

oh, and a bonus - i saw this cutting board at the brownie's hardware on polk in the village, at first i thought it was lame but with some real thought, i decided that it was actually goofily cool, though i wouldn't buy it myself. could be a great housewarming gift for people making the jump from inner neighborhood rental to outer neighborhood ownership or something like that. ahoy!

AndrewK · #**6922** Posted **Mar 9, 2015, 10:23 PM**

My life just got a lot easier:

http://sf.curbed.com/archives/2015/03/09..._map_of_every_project_proposed_in_sf.php

Jerry of San Fran · #**6923** Posted **Mar 10, 2015, 4:30 AM**

AndresK - thanks for the link to BuildingEye. An amazing site! I now have some idea what is happening on the east end of the Essex Fox Plaza currently being remodeled: Received Date: Jan 22, 2015 Description: SHELL REPOSITION & UPGRADE. PAINT & LIGHT (E) TOWER. NEW STOREFRONT TO THE PRECAST PANELS. ADD SUN SHADES. NEW RAISED EXTERIOR PARKING FOR NEW COMMERCIAL. NEW LOADING DOCK AREA & U.S POST ENTRANCE.
Value $900,000

viewguysf · #**6924** Posted **Mar 10, 2015, 5:51 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jerry of San Fran

AndresK - thanks for the link to BuildingEye. An amazing site! I now have some idea what is happening on the east end of the Essex Fox Plaza currently being remodeled: Received Date: Jan 22, 2015 Description: SHELL REPOSITION & UPGRADE. PAINT & LIGHT (E) TOWER. NEW STOREFRONT TO THE PRECAST PANELS. ADD SUN SHADES. NEW RAISED EXTERIOR PARKING FOR NEW COMMERCIAL. NEW LOADING DOCK AREA & U.S POST ENTRANCE.
Value $900,000

Looks like they won't be building the shorter condo tower in front of you anytime soon Jerry.

fflint · #**6925** Posted **Mar 10, 2015, 6:52 AM**

source

Jerry of San Fran · #**6926** Posted **Mar 10, 2015, 7:19 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by viewguysf

Looks like they won't be building the shorter condo tower in front of you anytime soon Jerry.

1) When I moved into the Fox Plaza 44 years ago there was a grandfather (so I am told) clause that allowed Cahill to build a 14 story building. When a tenant signed a lease it was part of the least that a highrise building could be built on the property.
2) I have heard that the current owners of the 2 story section tried to sell the property but could not find a buyer (rumored)
3) Being that anything higher than 14 stories would cast a shadow on the plaza in front of City Hall could be why the property is not attracting interest. Times have changed since the building was built! The Fox Plaza would not be built today at the present site because of wind and shadow.

mt_climber13 · #**6927** Posted **Mar 10, 2015, 7:20 AM**

^Id say that is leaps and bounds above Vancouver's skyline.

AndrewK · #**6928** Posted **Mar 11, 2015, 3:56 AM**

if only that parking lot around the watermark could get filled in with midrise.

viewguysf · #**6929** Posted **Mar 11, 2015, 4:41 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jerry of San Fran

Times have changed since the building was built! The Fox Plaza would not be built today at the present site because of wind and shadow.

The Fox Theatre would not have been demolished had it managed to survive a little longer. Click on the cover, then The Building tab, and look at William Swain's colorized photos of the greatest movie palace ever built. If it were there today, mid Market would be over the top incredible, especially if a 19 story building had been built around and over The Fox, as it had been designed and constructed with that infrastructure in place. The booklet under the Fox Collections tab has fascinating construction and systems details too.

[Don't worry Jerry--you'd still be living with us, just in a different place!]

http://www.historigraphics.com/fox/default.html

Jerry of San Fran · #**6930** Posted **Mar 11, 2015, 8:56 PM**

viewguysf - thanks for the link with the beautiful photographs of the Fox Theater. The Fox Plaza is now 47 years old & as a consequence I no longer have people put the blame on me for the destruction of the theater! As I am certain that you already know the voters in San Francisco had a chance to buy the Fox Theater but declined.

I found a LP recording of the Fox Theater organ a new years ago. It is quite a collectors item.

mt_climber13 · #**6931** Posted **Mar 11, 2015, 9:10 PM**

Has there ever been any serious talk of tearing the fox plaza down? I think that's something every SFer could get behind.

tech12 · #**6932** Posted **Mar 11, 2015, 9:59 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by wakamesalad

Has there ever been any serious talk of tearing the fox plaza down? I think that's something every SFer could get behind.

I dunno. I think demolishing hundreds of housing units during a housing crisis, just because some people think a building is ugly, is probably a bad idea.

colemonkee · #**6933** Posted **Mar 11, 2015, 10:05 PM**

I would wager that Jerry of San Fran might beg to differ. Considering he lives there, and has done so since 1971.

mt_climber13 · #**6934** Posted **Mar 12, 2015, 12:59 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by tech12

I dunno. I think demolishing hundreds of housing units during a housing crisis, just because some people think a building is ugly, is probably a bad idea.

Which is exactly what they did with Trinity Plaza across the street. And it's not just because it's ugly, although that is reason enough. It creates horrible wind tunnel effects that has ruined that entire block.

It's half office as I understand it, tearing it down and replacing it with something with the same number or more housing units (letting everybody move back in) would be a win win win.

350Bush · #**6935** Posted **Mar 14, 2015, 8:48 PM**

Update on 350 Bush Street and 500 pine!
: Question: How do you add photos to your thread?
-----Update will be posted soon!
Stay tuned.

rocketman_95046 · #**6936** Posted **Mar 14, 2015, 10:01 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by 350Bush

Update on 350 Bush Street and 500 pine!
: Question: How do you add photos to your thread?
-----Update will be posted soon!
Stay tuned.

read this link.
http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/misc.php?do=bbcode

Examples are towards the bottom of the page.

fflint · #**6937** Posted **Mar 15, 2015, 12:08 AM**

Fox Plaza isn't just rent-controlled apartments--its office component houses City and County offices. It's part of the larger government complex in addition to a residence.

Jerry of San Fran · #**6938** Posted **Mar 15, 2015, 5:19 PM**

The Fox Plaza The building people love to hate - for those who are not aware, the Fox Plaza is apartments from the 14-29th Floor & owned by Essex corporation. The 13th & 30th floors are the mechanical rooms. The 1-12th floors are offices & owned by a separate corporation. And yes, I think it is nuts that the building is owned by two different corporations. It has caused some argument between the two over the common areas.

For those who like to play the fantasy game Sim City, it would be very expensive to tear down the building & even more expensive to build a new one. Because of laws enacted since the building was built 47 years ago there would be limits on the height & other restrictions. I have been told by one of the builders of the building that it is very well built.

After living in the Fox Plaza for 44 years I am used to people blaming me for the destruction of the Fox Theater, but most people have forgotten about it so I don't hear much about it anymore. I think most prejudice about the building is it is a symbol of the theater's destruction. Until recently it was the most prominent structure in the area but is slowing being shadowed by other highrises. I don't take the rants about the building personally.

I have not been knocked down yet by the wind & am well aware of the problem. We are wondering how the winds will change with the new buildings across the street. Report in about 1 year!

The Fox Plaza is one of the few highrise buildings that are truly mixed use & I am disappointed that more have not been built

I enjoy my 50 square mile view immensely. Oh, and I voted against rent control! :->)

fflint · #**6939** Posted **Mar 15, 2015, 9:13 PM**

I rode my bike twice a day past Fox Plaza for three years. I have actually seen cyclists knocked over by that wind tunnel.

jbm · #**6940** Posted **Mar 16, 2015, 4:24 AM**

It looks like the parking lot that is to become 1 Franklin has been fenced off. Hopefully we'll see some equipment on site soon.