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

[viewguysf]

Originally Posted by San Frangelino

From Socketsite:

Here's a shot of the hideous parking garage that 75 Howard is supposed to replace--I don't care for the replacement either and hope that it gets redesigned to be more distinctive for this prominent location.

[IMG]
_MG_4912 by viewguysf, on Flickr[/IMG]

[Jerry of San Fran]

fflint - I agree with you on the name. My neighbor has Polish ancestry & he tells me that Nema, at least in the sound of the acronym, means "nothing" in Polish :>)

[timbad]

the veil is off the Dolores St side of the Whole Foods project... the light was not optimal for taking pics when I was by there, morning would be better if someone is in the area...







across the street, a few more of the surface panels had gone in on the Saitowitz building, but they are still mostly obscured by the big sign out front, so no pic yet

[mt_climber13]

^ What a huge disappointment!

[fimiak]

Ugly but I will be happy with the whole foods opening.

[hruski]

Originally Posted by timbad

the veil is off the Dolores St side of the Whole Foods project... the light was not optimal for taking pics when I was by there, morning would be better if someone is in the area...







across the street, a few more of the surface panels had gone in on the Saitowitz building, but they are still mostly obscured by the big sign out front, so no pic yet

This was taken in San Jose, right? hehe.

[easy as pie]

union square apple store redesign fixes a good portion of what was wrong with the previous one, but still has an enormous blank wall on the stockton frontage:


http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/place/arti...erves-fountain-4762776.php#photo-5099609

the article also points out that the glass is now set back from post street by several feet, which is great because that corner is crammed as it is. i'd like to see a sidewalk expansion and bulb-out there as part of this project as well, and a better treatment of the stockton street side, which i'm sure we'll eventually get - i just don't see apple convincing planning that it's a great idea to allow them to replace a plaza with a blank wall.

[simms3_redux]

Oy, a bit disappointed by 2001 Market (WF project). Bar Architects was the architect - they are a little more well known for suburban projects and are trying to make inroads into infill, which they prefer on principal (and possibly in terms of $$ too). I think the Dolores side basically deactivates that block, and while potentially not entirely up to the architects, the materials seem a bit cheap.

In other news, hopefully Saitowitz's 8 Octavia stands out as something that exudes high quality architecture and finishes, though with his Dogpatch project and that house on the market in Russian Hill, I'm a little worried.

Similarly, Icon didn't turn out horribly (seems like it's built more solidly than some of the other Upper Market projects, though smaller), but it doesn't wow. Maybe those NIMBYs wishing for more quaint/Edwardian/Queen Anne stuff have a point...this new stuff isn't exactly doing SF any favors. NYC gets far superior new product and their rentals are fetching the same rents and their land on a per unit basis isn't much more expensive than ours. Can some of those architects come over here please?!? Looking forward to Architectonica's project - that has the most potential to me.


IN OTHER NEWS - 340 Fremont is gearing up. Curbed SF had some great information today and a new rendering!! Looks PHENOM.

http://sf.curbed.com/archives/2013/08/27/handels_340_fremont_moves_forward_in_rincon_hill.php



Suffolk (contractor) to break ground before year end.

http://www.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco/blog/2013/08/what-slow-start-andy-ball-says.html?page=2

41 stories, Handel designed, 440 ft

[tech12]

Originally Posted by simms3_redux

Maybe those NIMBYs wishing for more quaint/Edwardian/Queen Anne stuff have a point...this new stuff isn't exactly doing SF any favors.

But doesn't SF get so many mediocre buildings in large part because of restrictive zoning rules put in place due to those same NIMBY complaints?

It's like they pressured the city to shoot itself in the foot with these meticulous and misguided zoning rules that lead to tons of modern-style Victorian/Edwardian inspired buildings, that often end up looking like cheap knockoffs (because that's what they pretty much are), and then they complain (understandably) about the results. The same applies to highrise zoning rules stemming from the anti-manhattanization movement, that led to the skyline getting filled with so many fat and relatively short boxes (as developers maximize square footage and thus profits, within height-restricted sites).

Maybe my understanding of all this is off, but that seems to be a big reason why SF has gotten so much mediocre architecture over the past few decades.

[fflint]

I live around the corner from the Whole Foods project and worked for the firm that handled the permitting process--there was no significant NIMBY opposition of note. If you don't like the materials, blame the developer. Personally, the pale brick (lightest colored material) looks good but I'm not sure what the hell the rest of that siding is all about.

[fimiak]

A few shots on Mid Market









The last one is the backside of Market Sq at 10th and Market.

[bluntcard]

If I didn't know better I would think 2001 Market was an old building being covered for a remodel. How can something look old before it's even finished?

[viewguysf]

Originally Posted by tech12

But doesn't SF get so many mediocre buildings in large part because of restrictive zoning rules put in place due to those same NIMBY complaints? Maybe my understanding of all this is off, but that seems to be a big reason why SF has gotten so much mediocre architecture over the past few decades.

I don't think that's the case with 2001 Market--the form looked really great during construction and while it was veiled, and they pretty much has a blank slate. I'm tremendously disappointed from the above photos. What a loss for such a prominent location!

[viewguysf]

Originally Posted by bluntcard

If I didn't know better I would think 2001 Market was an old building being covered for a remodel. How can something look old before it's even finished?

It also looks bland! What's up with that boring color scheme?!

[cwilly]

People always complain about how boring these buildings are, and how other cities have it better. I have been to a lot of other cities and I think this stuff is pretty standard across the board. Aren't 5-10 story infill apartments always a little dull. I would love to see someone show an actual example from another city that they find interesting/exciting.

[scania]

Originally Posted by fflint

I live around the corner from the Whole Foods project and worked for the firm that handled the permitting process--there was no significant NIMBY opposition of note. If you don't like the materials, blame the developer. Personally, the pale brick (lightest colored material) looks good but I'm not sure what the hell the rest of that siding is all about.

Hey, though I am not there in person, it doesn't look bad to me. Overall I think its nice. I'll see next weekend when I'm there for two weeks.

[minesweeper]

Some quick shots from a moving bus of 55 Laguna with construction fencing up.

Looking south from Haight and Buchanan:


Looking south from Haight and Laguna:

[brady&gough]

More 55 Laguna:



8 Octavia :


Fell/Oak/Laguna/Octavia:

[sofresh808]

Originally Posted by cwilly

People always complain about how boring these buildings are, and how other cities have it better. I have been to a lot of other cities and I think this stuff is pretty standard across the board. Aren't 5-10 story infill apartments always a little dull. I would love to see someone show an actual example from another city that they find interesting/exciting.

agreed, most new stuff in NY isnt that great either too, google Gene Kaufman.

[LosAngelesSportsFan]

Dont worry guys, we have our share of shit being built in LA as well. we like to call them 7 story shit boxes.