SAN FRANCISCO | 50 First Street (Fifty at First) | 915 FT | 56 FLOORS - Page 38

coyotetrickster · #**741** Posted **Nov 19, 2018, 2:44 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pedestrian

Keep in mind that it could only happen where it has because attitudes changed (and height limits in the TransBay area were rezoned higher). I think it's fairly certain they will change again but I'm not sure it will happen in SF before it happens, say, in Oakland. Oakland is the other place I could see a high rise cluster developing someday but that would also take a change just as it would to more intensively develop other SF neighborhoods.

But I do think it will happen.

Oakland's rent 'command' is the biggest barrier to supertalls. The cost of construction above 40 stories is very impactful on the overall cost of a building. Only premium rents can recoup the costs, and Oakland is just not there.

SFBuildings888 · #**742** Posted **Nov 20, 2018, 10:01 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by viewguysf

San Jose hasn’t exceeded 286’ yet and has to keep buildings mostly flat topped with no spires, etc. It won’t have skyscrapers, much less supertalls. San Diego is in a similar situation, but with a 500’ height limit.

That is why San Jose and San Diego doesn’t feel like they are urban cities at all. Both feel suburban compared to SF or LA.

SFBuildings888 · #**743** Posted **Nov 20, 2018, 10:08 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by chris08876

Its all about supply and demand. The city could do it, but the city is also its own worst enemy with inane caps on commercial space thats allowed to rise every year and too much community input on commercial projects, not to mention NIMBYS that are fierce. Proposition M I believe is the hurdle.

Plus SF regulates residential so much and the city is toying with Proposition 10 elimination which limits rent control. Its insanity whats going on. The city is its own worst enemy. IDK what is the fixation with making SF unaffordable. Its slowly sterilizing the city and limiting its true potential.

This development is beautiful IMO. Glad its rising. At least something positive going on.

As we know, if there wasn’t such high demand to live in the city, there wouldn’t be a housing issue. But demand is so high as in many global cities that the supply has become a issue.

JWS · #**744** Posted **Nov 20, 2018, 6:11 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by SFBuildings888

That is why San Jose and San Diego doesn’t feel like they are urban cities at all. Both feel suburban compared to SF or LA.

I would argue that height aside, the primary reason why San Jose and San Diego feel so suburban is that immediately outside (and in many cases INSIDE, at least in San Jose) the downtown core, those cities are primarily comprised of single-family detached homes on normal suburban lots. Whereas SF has lot-line buildings throughout the entire city, and the entire NE Quadrant of the city is virtually all multi-unit buildings (whether 2 or 700). Even when you get out to the "suburban" Outer Sunset or Bayview or Excelsior, you've got single family homes that are wall-to-wall with no front yard, 2,500 square foot lots, and a smattering of multi-unit apartment buildings still, leading to an unbroken streetwall that stretches for literally miles with nary a front yard in sight (minus Sea Cliff and St. Francis Woods).

Urbanity doesn't necessarily mean skyscrapers. It has more to do with density. Paris has almost no buildings above 7-8 stories and nobody would describe that as suburban.

viewguysf · #**745** Posted **Nov 20, 2018, 11:22 PM**

I completely agree with you JWS; that is precisely the reason. SFBuildings888, the areas around downtown San Diego do seem much more like a little metropolis to me than San Jose probably ever will.

observatory · #**746** Posted **Nov 20, 2018, 11:32 PM**

Interesting tangent, but can we get back to the topic at hand? Anyone have any current Oceanwide construction pix or can locate a webcam?

viewguysf · #**747** Posted **Nov 21, 2018, 3:08 AM**

I went by the site on Sunday afternoon and didn’t take more shots since it looks just the same, even though they’re obviously busy on both sides.

gillynova · #**748** Posted **Nov 21, 2018, 8:17 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by observatory

Interesting tangent, but can we get back to the topic at hand? Anyone have any current Oceanwide construction pix or can locate a webcam?

It honestly still looks like this:

mt_climber13 · #**749** Posted **Nov 21, 2018, 8:59 PM**

Any news on the nearby GG university site, I think it is zoned up to 900’. Is it realistic that anything that tall will ever be built there? If so this will be an incredible intersection of skyscrapers.

spoonman · #**750** Posted **Nov 22, 2018, 12:42 AM**

Sorry to have to revert back to this, but let’s please not compare San Diego to San Jose. San Jose’s tallest building is 286ft (22 stories). San Diego has 40 high rises over 300ft, with most new high rises around 40-46 floors (often in twin towers) which is right about the max of 500ft under FAA rules. Yes, SD does not have nearly the level of intensity of SF, but it is worlds different than San Jose.

End rant. Please continue on.

San Jose

San Diego

SFBuildings888 · #**751** Posted **Nov 22, 2018, 7:47 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by spoonman

Sorry to have to revert back to this, but let’s please not compare San Diego to San Jose. San Jose’s tallest building is 286ft (22 stories). San Diego has 40 high rises over 300ft, with most new high rises around 40-46 floors (often in twin towers) which is right about the max of 500ft under FAA rules. Yes, SD does not have nearly the level of intensity of SF, but it is worlds different than San Jose.

End rant. Please continue on.

San Jose

San Diego

You can’t even call it a skyline for San Jose cause there is really none.

SFView · #**752** Posted **Nov 23, 2018, 9:03 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by mt_climber13

Any news on the nearby GG university site, I think it is zoned up to 900’. Is it realistic that anything that tall will ever be built there? If so this will be an incredible intersection of skyscrapers.

Actually, that site is zoned at 700'. There is no news of any future development there at this time that I know of.
Source: San Francisco Planning Department

gillynova · #**753** Posted **Nov 24, 2018, 12:12 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by spoonman

Sorry to have to revert back to this, but let’s please not compare San Diego to San Jose. San Jose’s tallest building is 286ft (22 stories). San Diego has 40 high rises over 300ft, with most new high rises around 40-46 floors (often in twin towers) which is right about the max of 500ft under FAA rules. Yes, SD does not have nearly the level of intensity of SF, but it is worlds different than San Jose.

End rant. Please continue on.

Did you mean to post this in the San Jose thread?

boyinthecity · #**754** Posted **Dec 2, 2018, 6:24 PM**

fyi

looks like permasteelisagroup got the contract for the facade quite some time ago. below is a little preview.

source: permasteelisagroup

viewguysf · #**755** Posted **Dec 2, 2018, 7:09 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by boyinthecity

fyi

looks like permasteelisagroup got the contract for the facade quite some time ago. below is a little preview.
source: permasteelisagroup

Thanks—nice find!

fimiak · #**756** Posted **Dec 2, 2018, 7:11 PM**

Looks great! I am also happy that there has been a truce called in the trade war and nothing too extreme seems to have resulted in the relationship so far.

Jobohimself · #**757** Posted **Dec 3, 2018, 8:00 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by SFBuildings888

That is why San Jose and San Diego doesn’t feel like they are urban cities at all. Both feel suburban compared to SF or LA.

Spoken like someone who has never set foot in San Diego's core.

SFBuildings888 · #**758** Posted **Dec 3, 2018, 11:00 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jobohimself

Spoken like someone who has never set foot in San Diego's core.

I’m just comparing it to SF and LA. SD feels like a suburban city compared to those 2 cities.

Pedestrian · #**759** Posted **Dec 3, 2018, 6:51 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by fimiak

Looks great! I am also happy that there has been a truce called in the trade war and nothing too extreme seems to have resulted in the relationship so far.

Not to turn this section into the repulsive political trash match in skybar, but I wouldn't count on the trade war truce lasting too long and I don't personally think the "war" is over. It's a Chinese tactic to promise to promise something and then either never actually promise it or just not do it. I think that's where we are at. Our present administration seems to want to measure its success by the stock market and the stock market was taking a hit from the prospect of 25% tariffs so we took that away for a while. But I don't think much will come of the negotiations that are supposed to happen meanwhile nor do I think the Chinese will even do the things they are supposed to do like buy American farm products while we are talking . . . and then it'll be back to war again.

Fortunately, I really doubt the fate of this development depends on any of that at this point.

Zapatan · #**760** Posted **Dec 3, 2018, 7:36 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pedestrian

Fortunately, I really doubt the fate of this development depends on any of that at this point.

To the Chinese (and really most people anywhere) money comes first. Swallowing pride is easy to do when there's a big cash reward. At least I would think so