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

[BTinSF]

Originally Posted by fflint

In all fairness, Union Square is totally open and a great use of the space. Better than it has ever been in my 34 years in the area, at least.

I concur completely. I think the new square is wonderful--I just hope the city both maintains it and polices it to keep the rowdies and the homeless from driving the rest of us out. As long as that happens, it's as near a perfect design for its purpose as we are ever likely to see in this town. I just don't understand the criticism.

[murrax]

As long as its not turned in to another Fishermans Wharf, and over run by crowds of tourists, thats why I never venture into the Wharf area, I enjoy walks along the Emarcadero it's scenic and no big crowds (yet). Approval boards and committees , are easily influenced by developers and blinded additional by tax revenue , knowing two leading city developers one previous appointed city hall position, sliding permits under the radar ,giving some tacky results

[tyler82]

I think that we should preserve the excellent natural space we have now, such as Presidio, Lake Merced, Fort Funston, and instead build upward in underserved, underused areas of the city, such as what is happening now in the SOMA. Those of us without back yards enjoy being able to go out to these places. It's really sad that the post war suburban boom took away so much open space in the sake of building horizontal instead of vertical. It is smarter and eco-friendly to build high than to build out, and I think that a majority of San Franciscans realize that.

[viewguysf]

Originally Posted by BTinSF

Recall that a large part of the reason the plans for the cruise terminal appear to be changing is that it would be too costly to rehab piers 30-32 for a modern use. If it's too costly to do it for a profitable venture, it's almost certainly too costly to do it for a public purpose or a non-profit purpose. My guess is this pier will eventually either be torn down or, like a few other piers have done, catch on fire and self-destruct (producing a lot of noxious smoke).

In addition, look at the recent visit of the Queen Mary 2. It barely made it under the Golden Gate Bridge at low tide; how could a ship like that get under the Bay Bridge to dock at a terminal there?

[Reminiscence]

I think that such a ship can in fact make it under the Bay Bridge to dock there. If I remember right, the maximum vertical clearance for both The Bay Bridge and The Golden Gate is 220' above mean sea level? However, if such is the case, I dont think that maximum occurs right next to the SF Approach. In either case, the current proposal works much better, in my opinion.

[fflint]

Found on flickr:


By Telstar Logistics: http://flickr.com/photos/telstar/503395525/

[pseudolus]

2006.1106E: 222 SECOND STREET (Assessor’s Block 3735, Lot 63): The project site is on the southwest corner of Second Street and Howard Street, on the block bounded by Second, Howard, Hawthorne, and Folsom Streets, in the Financial District. The proposed project is a 25-story, 350-foot-tall office tower containing 430,700 square feet of office space, retail space and enclosed public space at the ground floor, and two levels of sub-grade parking containing 50 parking spaces, and outdoor open space at grade level. The site is within the C-3-O(SD) Downtown Office (Special Development) District and the 350-S and 150-S height and bulk districts. (JONES)

Newspaper Notice for San Francisco Planning Department for May 18 and 19, 2007.

http://sfgov.org/site/planning_index.asp?id=25756

[fflint]

Here's an interesting bit of infill on Turk Street: anybody know what it is,
and how tall it will be?

Found on flickr:

By Evil Julia: http://farm1.static.flickr.com/193/505488318_ffe188cc60_o.jpg

[fflint]

And then we've got One Rincon on the left and the Intercontinental Hotel
rising on the right:

From flickr:

From Evil Julia: http://farm1.static.flickr.com/206/505487372_6ca7acec47_o.jpg

[fflint]

This one captures a few of the new towers under construction, but I find it especially interesting for showing how the Ritz-Carlton residences will look:

From flickr:

By Evil Julia: http://farm1.static.flickr.com/207/505487056_09620433ed_o.jpg

[SpeedoPro]

^^^ is that hotel nikko at the bttm of the pic? i'm trying to decide whether i should stay at the grand hyatt or nikko for this november. is nikko rated well??

[roadwarrior]

Originally Posted by SpeedoPro

^^^ is that hotel nikko at the bttm of the pic? i'm trying to decide whether i should stay at the grand hyatt or nikko for this november. is nikko rated well??

Hotel Nikko is a good hotel...that is a premium brand. Of course, both Nikko and the Grand Hyatt are nearby Union Square. The Grand Hyatt is literally across the street from Union Square. If I were an out of towner, I'd probably pick different, more hip hotels, such as the St. Regis or W, or if I was looking for a boutique hotel, I'd go for the Hotel Vitale, which is right on the embarcadero (waterfront). However, both of your choices are nice hotels in good locations.

Also, regarding Baker Beach, it is located between the Golden Gate Bridge/Presidio area and Seacliff (huge mansions, where Robin Williams lives). I'd ask your hotel concierge for specific directions to get there and which bus line to use, if you don't have your own transportation. I actually sometimes rent mountain bikes and you can actually bike out there, by going through Fishermans Wharf, Marina Green and then the Presidio area...a very beautiful ride. The one thing though is that you'd have to get lucky to have beach weather. It does happen from time to time, but more often than not, the beaches are more places to go for walks while bundled up in your sweater, as opposed to sunbathing.

[tyler82]

Originally Posted by fflint

This one captures a few of the new towers under construction, but I find it especially interesting for showing how the Ritz-Carlton residences will look:

From flickr:
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/207/505487056_09620433ed_o.jpg
By Evil Julia: http://farm1.static.flickr.com/207/505487056_09620433ed_o.jpg

Know of any plans to update the facade on that horrible looking building across the street from the Ritz? It looks like of like the Ritz did before its update.

[Manarii]

Im trying to imagine which building you are talking about. I can't remember a particulary horrible building across from the restored Ritz. That whole intersection seems to be restored to its almost original luster with the restored Ritz/DeYoung building, the Monadnock building, the Palace Hotel, the Hearst building, the Call building and that other gorgeous buildinig across the street that you see while driving up Kearny St.

[pseudolus]

This maybe?

http://www.mistersf.com/images/700mkt02.jpg

[tyler82]

Originally Posted by pseudolus

http://www.mistersf.com/images/700mkt02.jpg

This maybe?

http://www.mistersf.com/images/700mkt02.jpg

Why god, why why did they do that do that beaufitul building??

I was actually referring to the building in the picture i linked two, across Market street it's about the same height as the new ritz and it's got those horrible stripe things from the 70s.

[Complex01]

Wow, there are some really great projects going on here. I hope they all get built. Would like to see some new tall ones in the SF. Very nice...

[fflint]

Originally Posted by pseudolus

This maybe?

http://www.mistersf.com/images/700mkt02.jpg

It is as ugly as hell, no doubt about it--but that isn't a 'remuddling', it is an addition to the older tower on land once occupied by a low-rise:


sfmuseum.org

The full-height addition came, according to emporis, circa 1964. The original was built in 1902 and survived the '06 earthquake.

[Manarii]

So true, that building I think is called the Mutual Building? It is still there in all its glory (albeit for that addition to the side, that is the building I was referring to while driving up 3rd St. just before Market, you see that building on approach. It's a beautiful building except for that side addition. Still it's still there.


http://www.alamedainfo.com/San_Francisco_PC_40.jpg


http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/online/SF%20Earthquake/SC95215-t.jpg

I think the building that Tyler "may" be referring to is the Hearst Building. If he is looking at that panorama picture on the previous page, you can see it and it does have a shape similar to the previous building now restored Ritz residences (the old DeYoung/Chronicle building). I think it does have the same shape and may look similar from afar, but I think you should walk down there and take a look at that building up close as it is one beautiful building.


http://www.fecalface.com/blogs/trippe/11-30-06/IMG_0759.jpg



http://www.bluffton.edu/~sullivanm/jmhearst/jmhearst.html

[tyler82]

Originally Posted by Manarii

I think the building that Tyler "may" be referring to is the Hearst Building. If he is looking at that panorama picture on the previous page, you can see it and it does have a shape similar to the previous building now restored Ritz residences (the old DeYoung/Chronicle building). I think it does have the same shape and may look similar from afar, but I think you should walk down there and take a look at that building up close as it is one beautiful building.

No not the hearst building, the taller one next door to that, it's like a pinky yellowy color. Ugly!