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

[easy as pie]

^ that's for the trumark project

[JWS]

Excellent. Next time I'm there (which is often), I'll try to snap a picture. Nothing substantial rising just yet. Really hope that the empty lot across the street would get snapped up. I also wish this was a tad taller, but anything is better than an empty street.

On another note, I've always thought Lombard could rise to at least 7-8 stories above what seems to be a height limit at 4. There are so many empty lots, gas stations (although that seem to be in use), one story buildings with parking lots (KFC/Taco Bell, IHOP) and 2-story motel chains sitting on such prime parcels. Really close to express bus lanes into financial too, which are surprisingly popular with Marina denizens. I'm guessing it will never, ever, ever happen in such a wealthy area with so many "views" at stake, but it seems like a wasted opportunity. You have two of the hottest stretches of commercial corridor (Chestnut and Union) on either side, not to mention bus routes galore, and close proximity to so many parks. Not to mention potential views. While I think anything above 4 stories is too jarring for the uniformly 4 storied Marina right now (not to mention, on landfill/liquefaction hazard) this would be a nice start.

[easy as pie]

curbed brings to our attention another scoop delivered by castro biscuit, the greystar project i mentioned months ago in another post, the massive lot at 2198 markter, next to the swedish american. change though is that no onsite bmr is proposed, which is unfortunate. despite the pixelation, we see that heller manus somehow managed to surprise with an even more awful design than usual. unbelievably bad, even by their legendary standards of poor design:

[JWS]

With the impossibly hip Mission, Noe Valley, Mid-Market, and Hayes Valley/Lower Haight neighborhoods expanding and encroaching from all sides, the dying Castro bar/retail scene, and the hundreds (thousands?) of new luxury units cropping up on Market Street alone, how possible is it that we see The Castro totally disappear (as we know it, anyway) in the next 10-15 years? Does The Castro still have cache as the best place to live with the younger gay generation, or have they moved on or dispersed into the other neighborhoods as the stigma of being gay in America has virtually disappeared (at least in California)?

[viewguysf]

Originally Posted by easy as pie

curbed brings to our attention another scoop delivered by castro biscuit, the greystar project i mentioned months ago in another post, the massive lot at 2198 markter, next to the swedish american. change though is that no onsite bmr is proposed, which is unfortunate. despite the pixelation, we see that heller manus somehow managed to surprise with an even more awful design than usual. unbelievably bad, even by their legendary standards of poor design:

I remember reading where they claimed the design would compliment the Swedish American Hall! Is this their version of that?!?

[sofresh808]

Originally Posted by JWS

With the impossibly hip Mission, Noe Valley, Mid-Market, and Hayes Valley/Lower Haight neighborhoods expanding and encroaching from all sides, the dying Castro bar/retail scene, and the hundreds (thousands?) of new luxury units cropping up on Market Street alone, how possible is it that we see The Castro totally disappear (as we know it, anyway) in the next 10-15 years? Does The Castro still have cache as the best place to live with the younger gay generation, or have they moved on or dispersed into the other neighborhoods as the stigma of being gay in America has virtually disappeared (at least in California)?

I think $$$ is the main reason younger gays aren't moving in droves to Castro, like say the 70s. Most entry-level positions and definitely retail/service jobs hardly pay enough to afford the area, so most kids partying at badlands (or wherever they go nowadays) live in cheaper hoods or the burbs. It's still the center of the gay community of the bay area, that won't disappear in our lifetimes. Will it get somewhat straighter and more uniform in appearance, probably.

[timbad]

the large building behind Lumina (201 Folsom), ex-post office facility at 390 Main St, which was bought by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission so they could consolidate their operation, seems to be being significantly renovated. I thought I remembered that the move from Oakland was still being contested, but I guess not

[timbad]

the sidewalk at 38 Dolores is open. 4 days till opening of the Whole Foods. looking south from approx the corner at Market:



a bit further down, still walking south:



looking back north:



again north, from about the corner with 14th:



and just showing a bulb-out with narrower Dolores:

[Jerry of San Fran]

timbad's post of Dolores/Market

Nice pics timbad - I drove by today with a friend and saw people coming out of the new Whole Foods, so maybe one department is open. I look forward to my fist trip there next week - it will be much more convenient for me than the other 2 stores.

I remember when the plans were presented that there would be plantings on the street and I did not expect much of it. The developer did a very nice job of the plantings and it will only get better in the next six months as they mature.

[brady&market]

I think 38 Dolores looks great! (building and sidewalk frontage) Now we have a Whole Foods in walking distance from home.
Do not understand wakamesalad's negative comments.

[viewguysf]

Originally Posted by brady&market

I think 38 Dolores looks great! (building and sidewalk frontage) Now we have a Whole Foods in walking distance from home.
Do not understand wakamesalad's negative comments.

His comment wasn't negative by just stating that the building's design is lacking. In truth, the design could have been better, even though it has good points and is definitely an improvement over what was there. San Francisco architecture is too often boring or lacking greatness, especially given that our city offers so many prominent building sites.

[brady&market]

Originally Posted by viewguysf

His comment wasn't negative by just stating that the building's design is lacking. In truth, the design could have been better, even though it has good points and is definitely an improvement over what was there. San Francisco architecture is too often boring or lacking greatness, especially given that our city offers so many prominent building sites.

Got it, but I still think he is criticizing the best one out of all the upper market developments.

[easy as pie]

1) wakamesalad lives in a suburban area (a rural one?) and his comments reflect that;
2) be objective: this development is good in a lot of ways, but it's consistent with so many other developments in sf over the past 30 years, and it takes a crazy or very untraveled mind to say it looks good;
3) why are people (including me) talking about this and not posting photos and updates? people!

[NYC2ATX]

Originally Posted by sofresh808

I think $$$ is the main reason younger gays aren't moving in droves to Castro, like say the 70s. Most entry-level positions and definitely retail/service jobs hardly pay enough to afford the area, so most kids partying at badlands (or wherever they go nowadays) live in cheaper hoods or the burbs. It's still the center of the gay community of the bay area, that won't disappear in our lifetimes. Will it get somewhat straighter and more uniform in appearance, probably.

I'm sure that money definitely plays a factor, but being 24 and of that subset myself, I noticed when I visited San Francisco for the first time last summer that almost every bar in the Castro (except Badlands I suppose...missed out on that one) was populated mostly by older gay men. A deterrent for me, as I imagine it would be for most my age, is simply the lack of other people our age.

San Francisco, as with any city, should understand that affordability is not only a priority so that it doesn't inch out those of lesser means in general, but also so that it doesn't fail to attract or retain the young (usually broke) millennials and their young ideas and intelligence. Any place that wants to thrive needs the strengths and contributions of young adults in their prime.

Otherwise they'll all eventually head to Oakland.

[fimiak]

I recommend this month's San Francisco magazine for its cover story on development. While I know everyone here knows each of the projects shown, it has proven invaluable when I have wanted to show other people what is coming for the city.

Link to abridged digital version.
http://www.modernluxury.com/san-francisco/story/cranespotting-castles-the-sky

I have no idea where the pictures below came from. No idea.

[WonderlandPark]

^^ For some nagging reason, the last on that list by date to be completed is the Transbay...and I have a nagging suspicion that will be the one on that list to NOT see the light of say. TONS of competition and big HINTS of an overbuilding situation may torpedo it. I hope I am proved wrong, I live in L.A. which is the land of "never-builts." Pushing dirt around doesn't equal new supertall tower.

[simms3_redux]

^^^My experience has been different. For me I can appreciate an older scene, which is what I was expecting on my first visits to the city and when I first moved here. I have been pleasantly surprised by how young the scene actually is, but as someone who lives here I know I don't need to go to the Mix or Q Bar right in the Castro to find my scene. I think between Castro's bars/clubs (which stretch all the way down to Church St...there must be ~20, been to Hi Tops by chance?), SoMa's/Mission's/Potrero Hill's clubs, and the "mixed" scenes throughout the rest of the city, there are many more young (and attractive) guys here than the rest of America stereotypically gives credit for. I moved here from Atlanta which is supposedly known for its young and attractive scene, but I'm much more thoroughly impressed by SF and it's a million times easier to find a datable guy here than there. I think the scene is only exceeded by a few cities, and for me it's not just age and looks, but job and head on shoulder. LoL that eliminates Atlanta, Miami/Fort Lauderdale, LA, and tons of other places known for their "scenes", narrowing it down to basically NYC, Chicago, Minneapolis, DC (though douchey crowd!), and Seattle.

Anyway, in the Castro you can find hoards of young guys and hookups in Badlands, Toad Hall, the Cafe, Lookout, Hi Top, arguably Blackbird for some quality guys, and then if you want to go clubbing in SoMa or wherever there is plenty of that as well throughout the city. The population itself is concentrated in Castro, but also pretty evenly spread out throughout the city. I live in the "least gay" part of the city (financial district), and yet I have a good friend both 1 floor and 2 floors below me and in surrounding buildings. Another one of my friends wants to be roommates and live in Lower Pac Heights or Russian Hill, which are "straight" areas with plenty of gays sprinkled in.

I just did the math though - I could so easily be roommates and split a 2 BR in 38 Dolores, which of course I wouldn't mind doing They start under $4000! That's a bargain compared to what I pay to be in a cramped, dated studio now - dear Lord!!!

[brady&market]

http://100vanness.tumblr.com/

Is this from you Jerry of San Fran?

[mt_climber13]

Originally Posted by easy as pie

1) wakamesalad lives in a suburban area (a rural one?) and his comments reflect that;
2) be objective: this development is good in a lot of ways, but it's consistent with so many other developments in sf over the past 30 years, and it takes a crazy or very untraveled mind to say it looks good;
3) why are people (including me) talking about this and not posting photos and updates? people!

1) I actually live in the political capital of the great state of California, with only about 300,000 less residents than SF in the city proper. SF ain't a big important world class city like New York or LA so I wouldn't be so snarky. I did live in San Francisco for 11 years.

2) I was not the only one criticizing he project, plenty of other Holy San Franciscans did as well, so I'm not sure why I was singled out. So there goes your theory.

3) Did they seriously just narrow down Dolores to 1 Lane??

4) re: the SF magazine article, I didn't know that Sutro Tower and Fontana Towers were new developments, lol. Guess they ran out of material.

5) The selection of men in Sacramento is surprisingly much younger, cleaner, more athletic, masculine, and better looking than SF (2 words- UC Davis). It's a lot like Southern California in that respect, if you're into that type of guy physically. Y'all should check it out :p

[fimiak]

Don't forget to vote. http://www.sfelections.org/tools/pollsite/

YES on B and YES on C.