SAN FRANCISCO | Parcel F (Transbay) | 800 FT | 64 Floors

[Pedestrian]

^^Remind me: Does it have a Prop. M allocation or will actual construction need to wait for one? I didn't have alnallocation as of April:

(The) Transbay district tower that would fund more than 300 affordable housing units at no cost to the city could be held up for years, a potential victim of San Francisco’s cap on the approval of new office space and the flood of big South of Market projects lining up for permits.

At 806 feet, 546 Howard St. would be the city’s fourth-tallest tower and the last major high-rise in the Transbay district, the former industrial area that now hosts the city’s tallest neighborhood.

The project has been in the works for three years and would include a 190-room five-star hotel, 165 market-rate condos and 325,000 square feet of office space, which has already been fully leased to the cloud computing giant Salesforce.

To fulfill its affordable housing requirements — the Transbay neighborhood plan requires that 40 percent of units in the area be below market rate — developers Hines, Urban Pacific and Goldman Sachs will fund the construction of 337 affordable units two blocks east on the south side of Howard Street, between Beale and Main streets. That project, which would be built by the nonprofit Mercy Housing, would also include 181 market-rate apartments.


But proposed office projects must compete for approvals under Proposition M . . . .

https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/...g-13745953.php

[mt_climber13]

Too bad this one couldn't have been the city's tallest. Salesforce is nice but is just missing something after it was downsized from 1200 feet to 1070 ft. This tower at 1070 ft. would be stunning.

[Pedestrian]

Originally Posted by mt_climber13

Too bad this one couldn't have been the city's tallest. Salesforce is nice but is just missing something after it was downsized from 1200 feet to 1070 ft. This tower at 1070 ft. would be stunning.

Matter of taste. You evidently prefer moderne.

[minesweeper]

Originally Posted by Pedestrian

^^Remind me: Does it have a Prop. M allocation or will actual construction need to wait for one? I didn't have alnallocation as of April:

It does not have its allocation yet. The last ~2.8 million available sq feet went to the Flower Mart and Tennis Club projects: https://sfplanning.org/sites/default...tion_Stats.pdf

The available allocation is pretty much at 0 right now, but 875,000 sq feet gets added on October 17.

The fact that this one is getting the rest of its approvals soon and is apparently shovel-ready and unlocks the affordable housing on Block 4 makes me optimistic that it will receive its allocation after the refresh on October 17.

[timbad]

Examiner article

Following a number of revisions to the project in recent years that included a reduction in the proposed unit count and an overhaul of its exterior design, the “Parcel F” tower’s developers are seeking approvals for additional amendments at the Planning Commission on Thursday.

The list of amendments include zoning changes and revisions to San Francisco’s Transit Center District and Downtown Area Plans, as well as a conditional use authorization to establish a hotel use at the site. ...

Planning Department staff members have recommended approval of the project, but to move it forward, the Commission on Thursday would have to approve a resolution stating intent to initiate the proposed General Plan amendments. A formal recommendation would then be made to the Board of Supervisors, but additional approvals will still be required by the commission and the board at future public hearings.

[craigs]

New skyscraper to rise in city’s skyline

Dec. 3, 2019
Laura Waxmann
sfexaminer.com



A proposed 800-foot tower could soon rise in downtown San Francisco’s rapidly changing skyline.

The 61-story mixed-use skyscraper is planned at 542-550 Howard St., or Transbay Parcel F....

Following a number of revisions to the project in recent years that included a reduction in the proposed unit count and an overhaul of its exterior design, the “Parcel F” tower’s developers are seeking approvals for additional amendments at the Planning Commission on Thursday.
....
If approved, the tower could become The City’s fourth tallest building, right behind the Salesforce Tower, the planned Oceanwide Center and the Transamerica Pyramid.

As currently proposed, the project calls for the construction of 165 condominiums, 189 hotel rooms and approximately 274,000 square feet of office space. Some 79,000 square feet would be devoted to shared amenity space and 9,000 square feet to retail space located along Howard and Natoma streets. The project also includes some 20,000 square feet of open space.

The project would also include the construction of a pedestrian bridge on the tower’s fifth floor that provides public access to the Salesforce Park....

The tower, designed by Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects, is intended to become a “ significant addition to the skyline of San Francisco” and will be ”highly visible from many primary approaches to the city,” according to planning documents....

Hines is developing the Parcel F tower, which is planned to be “the last super-tall building in downtown San Francisco for the foreseeable future,” according to the firm’s website....

[craigs]

And a rendering of this tower on the skyline from the Curbed San Francisco article on the proposal:

[gillynova]

The parking lot in the waterfront is still shown heh

[bloobityblurp]

The San Francisco Planning Commission approved an amendment to the city's zoning late last week that allows Hines and Urban Pacific Development to seek entitlements for a 61-story, mixed-use tower in the city's Transbay district. Though entitlements and permits are yet to come, last week's vote pulls developers as close to a groundbreaking on the site as they've been so far.

Read more at: https://www.bisnow.com/san-francisco...medium=Browser

[Busy Bee]

A connection to the park, very interesting.

[Pedestrian]

Originally Posted by Busy Bee

A connection to the park, very interesting.

It would be the third building with such a connection. The Salesforce Tower and 181 Fremont both have similar bridges to the park.

[timbad]

some pushback because of a brief shadow on a Chinatown playground

...

The 806-foot proposed skyscraper at 546 Howard St. would be the city’s fourth tallest. Chinatown activists oppose the project, also known as Parcel F, because of shadows it would cast at Willie “Woo Woo” Wong Playground nearly a mile away — despite a city study that found the shadows fell within legal limits. The tower would cast a shadow from around 8 to 8:20 a.m. from November to late January, a study found.

Phil Chin, chairman of Committee for Better Parks and Recreation in Chinatown, rejected the conclusion that the shadows are legal in an October letter to the city, and said no new shadows are permitted. He cited in part a 1989 city memo, but city officials said the tower falls within guidelines set in 2012 that allow taller buildings in the Transbay district.

Willie “Woo Woo” Wong Playground, named for a 1940s basketball star and Chinatown native, is undergoing a $13.5 million renovation. It’s a crucial source of open space for low-income Chinatown families, Chin said.

...

Transbay project Oceanwide Center, which will include the city’s second-tallest tower and cast larger shadows, agreed in 2016 to pay $12 million for parks in Chinatown to compensate for its impact. ... A new Financial District tower at 350 Bush St. expanded Chinatown’s St. Mary’s Square to offset a new shadow.

...

Hines, Urban Pacific and Goldman Sachs are developing the Parcel F tower and meeting with Chinatown community groups, Higley said at the hearing.

“I’m happy to report those conversations have been amicable and very productive. We made great strides there,” Higley said.

The developers continue meeting with Chinatown groups to “address their concerns with the project and enhance our community benefits,” said Julie Chase, a spokeswoman for the developers. “We look forward to proceeding together to get the tower under way.”

Amid opposition, the Planning Commission delayed an October vote to begin Parcel F’s final approvals process. Commissioners said they generally support high density in the Transbay area but urged the developers to get Chinatown’s support. The Planning Commission advanced the project at a hearing last week, and a final vote is scheduled in January. Higley said the project is expected to win full support by January.

Salesforce, the city’s biggest private employer, leased all 325,000 square feet of office space in the Parcel F tower more than a year ago, with room for 1,500 employees. A Salesforce spokeswoman said the company’s plans have not changed.

The tower also calls for 165 condos and 189 hotel rooms, and would help fund 337 affordable apartments a few blocks to the east. ...

[chris08876]

They oppose the project because it casts a shadow for 20 minutes? 20 minutes?

Oh my... oh my.. the priorities of folks.

[viewguysf]

Originally Posted by chris08876

They oppose the project because it casts a shadow for 20 minutes? 20 minutes?

Oh my... oh my.. the priorities of folks.

and only for three months or less

[BobbyMucho]

Originally Posted by viewguysf

and only for three months or less

I have no doubt that all issues will be promptly resolved once monetary concessions are in order. You know; to help pay for new park benches, youth center upgrades, ambiguous discretionary funds for community-focused projects, etc.

Unfortunately, activism in this city seems to be largely centered on a this-for-that policy of progress. Especially when it comes to minor issues like a shadow.

[theskythelimit]

What is interesting to me is that this group got $12 million out of the Oceanwide group. IMO, these people are just going to the well to strong arm more money. Chinatown is the most densely populated area in SF and a shadow for 20-30 minutes per day is not going to kill anyone. Scrupulous is the best word to describe these people.

[BobbyMucho]

Originally Posted by theskythelimit

What is interesting to me is that this group got $12 million out of the Oceanwide group. IMO, these people are just going to the well to strong arm more money. Chinatown is the most densely populated area in SF and a shadow for 20-30 minutes per day is not going to kill anyone. Scrupulous is the best word to describe these people.

Do you have any links you can share about the $12M? Interested in seeing if/how that affected the Woo Woo renovation.

[mt_climber13]

Homeless and feces and needles and drug addicts dying on the sidewalks and the stench of urine and hundreds of millions of $$$ from lost conventions because people do not feel safe visiting SF anymore.

What do the citizens of SF complain about most?

Shade in a park! We just can't have that!

[chris08876]

Like the Frivolous Lawsuit Prevention Act of 2009, there should be the Frivolous NIMBY Prevention Act of 2020 to protect against unit killing, inane anti-growth rhetoric.

Fortunately, looks like its in good favor with the Planning Commission. But still, any sort of lag in the process, and with a silly reason like 20 minute shadows for 3 months... I mean, who can take that seriously.

[theskythelimit]

Originally Posted by BobbyMucho

Do you have any links you can share about the $12M? Interested in seeing if/how that affected the Woo Woo renovation.

This is the only article I could find about that subject:

http://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/a...F-7382467.php#