SAN FRANCISCO | Salesforce Transit Center - Page 104

peanut gallery · #**2061** Posted **Jun 9, 2009, 3:58 AM**

Meanwhile, over at the permanent terminal site, they've been digging under what will be the western end of the new terminal:

Perhaps they are getting some utilities work out of the way before this becomes a construction site? The signs say they'll be working here a month. BTW, that's One Hawthorne under construction in the background.

AndrewK · #**2062** Posted **Jun 9, 2009, 5:59 AM**

word on eater last week was that john colins is moving because of transbay-related construction. anyone know if that building (and presumably the anchor & hope building too) is coming down?

peanut gallery · #**2063** Posted **Jun 9, 2009, 5:09 PM**

In the case of Anchor & Hope it would be surprising given that it's maybe a year old. If that building was coming down they would have known about it before opening, and I don't think they would have gone to the expense.

SFView · #**2064** Posted **Jun 12, 2009, 11:07 PM**

See the May 26, 2009 Workshop presentation here:
http://www.sfgov.org/site/uploadedfi...esentation.pdf
(Also from: http://sfgov.org/site/frame.asp?u=ht...sbaycenter.org)

Here is an update on the Urban Form proposal:

Here are two of the earlier schemes for comparison:

It is encouraging to see 600' considered for the Palace Hotel Tower, instead of being shortened to 300' from 725' tall.

For more information and news see here:
http://sfgov.org/site/frame.asp?u=ht...sbaycenter.org

BTinSF · #**2065** Posted **Jun 16, 2009, 5:27 AM**

Quote:

Transbay Terminal: Banking On Stimulus Funds And Opening In 2015

Banking on $400 million in federal stimulus funds to be announced by the Federal Railroad Administration in October, the Transbay Joint Powers Authority has modified construction plans for San Francisco's Transbay Transit Terminal.

With a first phase originally scheduled to open in 2014 (retail, bus, and park) and construction of its underground train station component (Caltrain and high-speed rail) to follow, the new plan calls for the pre-construction of an unfinished train station and a late 2015 opening for the above ground portions of the terminal.

If the stimulus funds are not made available, and no other funding can be identified, then up to $15 million worth of engineering and design efforts planned to take place between now and October will be wasted, and the project will open four months behind the original schedule without a train station, staff and consultants told directors.

"I’m a gambling man and I’m willing to roll the dice," Supervisor Chris Daly, a Transbay Joint Powers Authority director, said during the hearing. "High-speed rail is happening in California. It’s coming to downtown San Francisco. Everyone’s excited, but if [initial construction of the train station] doesn’t happen, we’re in the hole $15 million."

Pre-building the train station would save an estimated $100 million in construction costs. But no word on whether or not they're still proposing to pre-build said station the wrong (or right) way.

Source: http://www.socketsite.com/archives/2...d_opening.html

I rarely agree with Daly but this time I do--it never made any sense to me to plan to dig an underground station below a functioning above-ground terminal.

pseudolus · #**2066** Posted **Jun 16, 2009, 10:38 PM**

The temporary terminal:

BTinSF · #**2067** Posted **Jun 16, 2009, 11:44 PM**

^^^Looks more "temporary" than I expected.

BTinSF · #**2068** Posted **Jun 16, 2009, 11:53 PM**

Quote:

TUESDAY, JUNE 16, 2009
City halts bidding process on prime site

Here's more proof that construction cranes won't return to San Francisco's skyline anytime soon: the city's redevelopment agency has postponed plans to sell a prime downtown tower site.

The reason? The bids were so low that officials instead put the competition on hold.

What thickens the plot is that the land at First and Folsom streets is related to the Transbay Terminal project, which by 2015 is supposed to bring rail service from the south to First and Mission streets. This is the first of 10 nearby parcels slated to be sold to help fund the project.

When the Transbay site itself was up for grabs, developers bid more than expected. Two years later â€” offered a well-located site zoned for a 60-story residential tower â€” only three teams responded. Only two submitted detailed bids this month. Bureaucrats didn't like either one. "The purchase offers...are far below the potential value of the site in a healthier market," sighed a staff memo Tuesday from the San Francisco Redevelopment Agency. So the agency will try again in 2010. None of which should delay the new terminal timeline, according to the Transbay Joint Powers Authority.

It doesn't affect us negatively right now," said Maria Ayerdi-Kaplan, the executive director. "We're able to wait (in terms of land sales revenue) another year."

Source: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/cityinsider/index?

pseudolus · #**2069** Posted **Jun 17, 2009, 1:33 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by BTinSF

^^^Looks more "temporary" than I expected.

It's an eleven-wide....

kenratboy · #**2070** Posted **Jun 30, 2009, 4:40 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by pseudolus

It's an eleven-wide....

I cannot possibly emphasize how much I want to see this project succeed, and get at least one 1000' building out of this.

BTinSF · #**2071** Posted **Jun 30, 2009, 6:06 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by kenratboy

I cannot possibly emphasize how much I want to see this project succeed, and get at least one 1000' building out of this.

You may have a long wait. It's becoming increasingly clear that San Francisco has a surfeit of office space already available and I doubt Hines will start building this building until it's absorbed. That could be 5 years or more. In fact, I wouldn't be shocked by the news they had sold the development rights (if there were any buyers).

Meanwhile, the public TJPA is putting up the terminal building (not the tower) and so far there's nothing to suggest that won't proceed on schedule. As a transit terminal, it doesn't depend on the office space market and it is eligible for a variety of federal and other funding.

So we could have a nice new terminal with an empty lot in front of it for a number of years.

viewguysf · #**2072** Posted **Jun 30, 2009, 6:28 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by BTinSF

You may have a long wait. It's becoming increasingly clear that San Francisco has a surfeit of office space already available and I doubt Hines will start building this building until it's absorbed. That could be 5 years or more. In fact, I wouldn't be shocked by the news they had sold the development rights (if there were any buyers).

Meanwhile, the public TJPA is putting up the terminal building (not the tower) and so far there's nothing to suggest that won't proceed on schedule. As a transit terminal, it doesn't depend on the office space market and it is eligible for a variety of federal and other funding.

So we could have a nice new terminal with an empty lot in front of it for a number of years.

I too would be very surprised to see any major highrise or skyscraper built for a very long time. We couldn't even get some of the short office developments constructed even though there are a least four beautiful projects in the pipeline at various stages. Don't look for tall condo towers anytime soon either. kenratboy, I identify with your feelings though, especially when it comes to the second ORH tower. At this point, we'll be fortunate to see any of these projects survive this long drought.

peanut gallery · #**2073** Posted **Jun 30, 2009, 4:08 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by viewguysf

Don't look for tall condo towers anytime soon either. kenratboy, I identify with your feelings though, especially when it comes to the second ORH tower. At this point, we'll be fortunate to see any of these projects survive this long drought.

It might seem strange, but I'm more disappointed in the situation on Rincon Hill than I am about the dim prospects of the Transbay tower getting built anytime soon. ORH desperately needs company and I think that would do much more for the overall look of the skyline than the 1000' tower.

Same goes for the terminal. I'm much more concerned about that getting built than the tower.

kenratboy · #**2074** Posted **Jul 2, 2009, 9:51 PM**

Thankfully, with the political situation surrounding this project, and hopefully some government money being put on the table, I feel a bit better about this project than many other, even if we have to wait for it.

I would consider it a victory if the project was still on the table when the economy recovers - many projects will not even make it that far.

peanut gallery · #**2075** Posted **Jul 8, 2009, 4:49 PM**

Got this in my inbox yesterday afternoon. I plan to go. Anyone else?

Quote:

Community Meeting
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
12:15 - 1:15
TJPA Meeting Room
201 Mission St., Suite 2100

Bring your lunch and join us Wednesday, July 15, 2009 for a special community update on the Transbay Transit Center Project, which will replace the current bus terminal at First and Mission streets in downtown San Francisco with a new multi-modal Transit Center.

Members of the Transbay Joint Powers Authority (TJPA) Project Team will discuss the plans underway to build the new Transit Center and the upcoming schedule for demolition and construction.

The meeting will take place at the TJPA Meeting Room at 201 Mission St., Suite 2100 (on the 21st floor). The TJPA offices are accessible via public transit by the 1, 7, 9, 14, 14L, 14X, 20, 30X and 41 MUNI bus lines, the J, K, L, M, N and T MUNI Metro Lines and the Embarcadero BART Station.

We look forward to your participation and input during this exciting process.

For more information about the project, please visit: www.TransbayCenter.org.

Gordo · #**2076** Posted **Jul 8, 2009, 4:55 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by peanut gallery

Got this in my inbox yesterday afternoon. I plan to go. Anyone else?

I got the email too - I'm going to try to make it, but I've got a pretty busy morning that day that I'm afraid will spillover

peanut gallery · #**2077** Posted **Jul 8, 2009, 5:14 PM**

My fear too. Plus I'm out the week of the 20th, but I think I can swing it. PM me that morning if it looks like you'll make it. It would be great to say hi in person.

Gordo · #**2078** Posted **Jul 8, 2009, 5:19 PM**

^Sure thing. Should be an interesting meeting.

Starsky · #**2079** Posted **Jul 14, 2009, 9:22 AM**

It seems like San Fran would be a hard place to build any tall skyscraper. You have an army of green whackjobs, nimbys & hippies ready to raid the city council in a moments notice.

viewguysf · #**2080** Posted **Jul 16, 2009, 6:12 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Starsky

It seems like San Fran would be a hard place to build any tall skyscraper. You have an army of green whackjobs, nimbys & hippies ready to raid the city council in a moments notice.

You just have to get to know us! How else do you think we became one of the greatest cities on the planet, beloved by most people who come here to visit or live?