CATEGORY ARCHIVE: Neighborhoods
May 12, 2008
Stem Cell Research Funds New UCSF Building Outside Of Mission Bay
By way of a plugged-in tipster and GlobeSt.com:
The University of California at San Francisco will receive approximately $34.9 million from the [California Institute for Regenerative Medicine]. It will combine the grant it with $100 million from its own coffers to construct a 74,000-sf building off Medical Center Way on its Parnassus campus, which has not seen a new research facility since the mid-1960s. The building is being designed by Rafael Viñoly of New York.
∙ Stem-Cell Grant Will Yield $1.1B in Projects [GlobeSt]
Posted by socketadmin at 9:36 AM | Permalink | Comments (9) | (email story)
May 7, 2008
A "Gut Check" Then And Now? (869 Alvarado Facing Foreclosure)
Described as a “gut check for SF realtors” when it sold on 6/1/2005 (establishing a new Noe Valley neighborhood comp at $1,500,000), 869 Alvarado appears to have been refinanced a few times since closing escrow. And if PropertyShark is correct, the property is currently facing foreclosure with an unpaid mortgage balance of $1,497,746.
∙ Apparently They’re Selling Expensive Lemon Trees At 861 Alvarado [SocketSite]
Posted by socketadmin at 9:52 AM | Permalink | Comments (38) | (email story)
JustQuotes: Redevelopment Plans For Hunters Point Public Housing
“Six residential towers will stretch up to 65 feet above the highest peaks of Hunters Point providing enviable views of The City and Bay, under newly released redevelopment plans to rebuild the public-housing site for low-income as well as market-rate residents.
Currently, 154 of the 267 decrepit public-housing units at the hilly site within The City’s southeast area are rented from the San Francisco Housing Authority, according to city documents. The rest sit empty.”
“Along with 267 public-housing units planned for the rebuilt neighborhood, there will be 315 market-rate units, 141 below-market-rate rental and ownership units, and at least 17 units built by Habitat For Humanity, plans show.”
“Narrow, tree-lined streets in the redeveloped site will follow a classical grid-pattern that connect with roads in surrounding neighborhoods — a vast contrast to the current street-design that follows the circular contours of the land, according to Torney. The project will also include a trio of parks.
Work on the redevelopment effort is expected to begin late next year…[and] is expected to finish by 2015.”
∙ Public housing in Hunters Point to have soaring views [Examiner]
∙ JustQuotes: A New Vision For A Hunters Point Neighborhood [SocketSite 5/07]
∙ JustQuotes: Redeveloping The Developments (And Changing The Mix) [SocketSite 3/08]
Posted by socketadmin at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (17) | (email story)
May 6, 2008
The Early Comment/Question Of The Day: The Anti-Chain Weak Link?
“Here in the Castro, there are over a dozen empty storefronts and more expected. Yet, the hood chased WaMu out of a great (now empty) space. So, are people really happy with boarded up buildings instead of chains?”
∙ Comment: Contempt For Chains At The Expense Of The Current Neighborhood?
Posted by socketadmin at 10:21 AM | Permalink | (email story)
Contempt For Chains At The Expense Of The Current Neighborhood?
Two months ago we plugged you in to some neighborhood resistance to ICI Paints plan to open a retail outlet at 1575 South Van Ness (currently a shuttered Hollywood Video store). And today, the Chronicle explores the issue in the context of contempt for chain stores.
The fight illustrates how San Francisco - a city that values homegrown companies and neighborhood character - is increasingly hostile to chain stores and restaurants, even if the businesses want to move into empty stores.
And although the San Francisco Board of Supervisors is expected to reconsider [and grant] the paint store's request at its meeting today, the push to stop chain stores from opening in the city is unlikely to ease soon.
Supervisor Tom Ammiano is working on legislation to ban all chain stores from some stretches of Mission, Valencia and 24th streets in the Mission District and Cortland Avenue in Bernal Heights. Two smaller areas - in Hayes Valley and North Beach - already have outright bans on chain stores.
And while no parties have proposed an alternative plan to develop the lot at 1575 South Van Ness, and the landlord (Ken Allen) is concerned about the vacant property attracting "graffiti, garbage and other blight," the planning commissioners denied the ICI Paints application to occupy the space after concluding that "the property could be used for something more beneficial to the community - possibly new housing and some non-chain stores."
Allen said the commission's decision to deny the application was unfortunate. "An empty lot doesn't do anyone any good. It's much better to have someone in there, keeping it clean and taking care of it," he said.
UPDATE: The San Francisco Board of Supervisors have overturned the Planning Commission by a vote of 9-1; ICI Paints has been granted a permit to occupy the space (but must "plant trees and shrubs" outside the business).
∙ 1575 South Van Ness: NIMBY Neighbors Actually Arguing For Density? [SocketSite]
∙ S.F. grows ever more hostile to chain stores [SFGate]
Posted by socketadmin at 7:09 AM | Permalink | Comments (63) | (email story)
May 1, 2008
One Rincon Hill: Spring 2008 Newsletter And Construction Update
According to the latest One Rincon Hill Newsletter (Spring 2008), construction on the first tower should be complete by the end of September (with common areas complete by late summer) and seventy-two (72) sixteen-foot trees will be planted up the driveway to the entrance once Caltrans “finishes work on the First St. on-ramp later this summer” (which will be a welcome addition of green).
Also noted, the groundbreaking ceremony for the second tower will now “be scheduled soon after the selection of the general contractor this summer” which suggests that the construction scheduled for Phase II has slipped another couple of months (despite securing financing).
Closings and (re)sales update coming soon.
∙ One Rincon Hill Newsletter: Spring 2008 [onerinconhill.com]
∙ The Straight Scoop On What’s Up With One Rincon Hill’s Tower Two [SocketSite]
∙ One Rincon Secures Financing For Tower Two (But Still Seeks Builder) [SocketSite]
Posted by socketadmin at 4:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (42) | (email story)
April 30, 2008
A Plugged-In Reader's Report: Crime Starts Hitting Closer To Home
I was in Baretta restaurant on 23rd and Valencia last night while it was robbed at gunpoint. The gunman had us all lie on the floor and look down. He proceeded to rob the till. Very scary stuff. I know of a recent home invasion on North Potrero. A friend of mine had his wife's laptop stolen while he was in the shower in his own home in Noe Valley. Then there's the rash of muggings in Bernal and Glen Park. I saw a guy roll up on another guy and then get shot at by the driver of the car he meant to himself assail two weeks ago on the corner of Cesar Chavez and South Van Ness. They sped off down Cesar Chavez street at 100 mph. One of the kids who was killed by that asshole over pizza in the Sunset lived in a friend of mine's building. He was shot in the face. The killer remains at large because his girlfriend wouldn't i.d. him. That was the best they could come up with. San Francisco needs to step up the policing. It's getting ridiculous.
And ads: "[T]hat octopus risotto [at Baretta] is awesome."
UPDATE (5/2): "My neighbor in Ashbury Heights was mugged at gun point last night at 10:00, half a block from her house. We're all very shaken."
∙ High Crime Rates Are One Thing, Random Muggings Quite Another [SocketSite]
Posted by socketadmin at 1:58 PM | Permalink | Comments (105) | (email story)
Transit Center District Plan Workshop: Initial Ideas Tonight (4/30/08)
Via San Francisco’s Planning Department:
In late 2007 the Planning Department began a planning effort for the southern portion of downtown San Francisco in the vicinity of the Transbay Transit Center. The Plan is considering increasing development capacity around the improved regional transit facility to support transit usage and to raise revenue for the transit project, modifying the downtown skyline, and proposing public realm improvements to support this high-activity area.
After some study and analysis, the Department now has information and initial ideas regarding land use, urban form, historic preservation, streets and open spaces. We would like to share these with the public and gather feedback.
Date: Wednesday April 30, 2008
Time: 6:30-8:30pm
Place: 536 Mission Street (Golden Gate University), Room 2201
To paraphrase in part: recommended building heights for the competition winning 1,200 foot Transbay Tower and environs.
UPDATE: From a plugged-in reader in attendance: "The presentation was conservative as to height. Only the new proposed TransBay terminal to be perhaps 1,000 to 1,200 ft. With all future buildings to be shorter. Say good bye to the Renzo Piano project!!"
∙ Transbay Transit Center: Community Insight (And Involvement) [SocketSite]
∙ Reaching for the sky South of Market [SFGate]
∙ Hines And Pelli Clarke Pelli Bid The Most (And Get The Transbay Nod) [SocketSite]
Posted by socketadmin at 8:15 AM | Permalink | Comments (12) | (email story)
April 28, 2008
High Crime Rates Are One Thing, Random Muggings Quite Another
While the Chronicle reports a recent spike in Glen Park and Bernal Heights muggings, according to a couple of plugged-in tipsters and local residents the rash of armed robberies (often at the end of a shotgun) have been going for months (not weeks).
∙ Muggings spike in Glen Park, Bernal Heights [SFGate]
Posted by socketadmin at 8:33 AM | Permalink | Comments (93) | (email story)
April 24, 2008
“Plans” But No Permits (Or Even Approvals As Best We Can Tell)
As best we can tell they’re simply “plans” (i.e., no approvals or permits) to develop the lot.
And as such, these 16 units aren’t part of our pipeline.
But the potential (for) development is on our radar along with the rest of the ‘hood.
∙ Listing: 616 20th Street - $2,000,000 [MLS]
∙ SocketSite’s Complete Inventory Index (Cii): Q1 2008 (San Francisco) [SocketSite]
Posted by socketadmin at 9:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (5) | (email story)
April 22, 2008
The Development Of Seawall Lot 337: And Then There Were Three
Three development teams (Kenwood Investments, San Francisco Giants, and Build Inc.) will be moving forward to the RFP phase for the development of Seawall Lot (SWL) 337. And while it’s almost certain that they wouldn’t have been invited to move forward anyway, the Federal Development team officially withdrew themselves from consideration.
The official Request for Proposals (RFP) should be published mid-May and will “provide approximately three months for the development teams to the prepare and submit their RFP proposals.” Scoring of the RFP’s will be based 60% on the Design and Development Program and 40% on the Financial Proposal and will likely take between 90 and 120 days.
And in moving from RFQ to RFP, emphasis and addendums have been added to the Development Objectives and Criteria. Two that stood out: 1. Minimum size for contiguous major open space, 5 acres at the northeast area of the site, and 2. Consideration for up to three "slender towers of 300 feet or more, to create an inspiring architectural identity."
∙ The Development Of Seawall Lot 337: Rankings After Round One [SocketSite]
∙ Request For Proposals For San Francisco’s Seawall Lot 337 [SocketSite]
∙ San Francisco’s Seawall Lot 337 Design Proposals: In Summary [SocketSite]
∙ The Kenwood Proposal For Seawall Lot 337: Details And Design [SocketSite]
∙ The Rendering And Additional Details For The Giants SWL 337 Proposal [SocketSite]
∙ The SocketSite Scoop: The Build Inc. Proposal For Seawall Lot 337 [SocketSite]
∙ The Federal Development Proposal For SWL 337: Details And Design [SocketSite]
Posted by socketadmin at 3:58 PM | Permalink | Comments (4) | (email story)
April 21, 2008
SWL 351 And The Proposed 8 Washington Street Project: Port Hearing
An update from Frederick Allardyce (President of the Barbary Coast Neighborhood Association) on the proposed development of Seawall Lot 351 (and by extension, the proposed 8 Washington Street Project):
This lot probably is the most valuable parcel (individually or by $ per square foot) not only in the Ports portfolio, but perhaps in the entire city. The success of the Port’s development of this parcel, may lead the Port into successfully developing the other [seawall] lots north of Market Street, which still have State Lands Use Zoning (which does not allow residential use). This parcel has been proposed as the central portion of a 170 unit luxury condominium project, of which many of the proposed units would sell for higher than any of the units at the Millennium ($2,000 to $3,000 per sq ft).
The Ports first hearing on this project was Monday, April 14th at which several hundred interested parties came and participated in a “neighborhood” analysis of the various possible uses” of this parcel and other parcels on the Waterfront. The SF Planning Department, which led 9 different discussion groups at the meeting found that the vast majority (some groups as high as 85%) wanted SWL 351 to remain as “Open Space and or Recreational”. Of the over 150 in attendance only 1 voted for an 84 foot tall building (which is 52% higher than the 55 ft tall Embarcadero Freeway). The vast majority wanted recreational facilities and a new bus system from the Ferry Building to the existing parking at the Alcoa Building (One Maritime Plaza) and the Embarcadero Center that could replace the possible removal of parking adjacent to the Ferry Building.
Any guesses as to the makeup of those 150 interested parties (and what "interests" they represented)?
∙ The SocketSite Scoop On The 8 Washington Street Project [SocketSite]
∙ Seawall Lot (SWL) 351 [SFGov]
∙ San Francisco Seawall Lot Rezoning Public Forum (5/14/07) [SocketSite]
∙ Millennium Tower San Francisco (301 Mission): Sales Update/Facts [SocketSite]
Posted by socketadmin at 11:27 AM | Permalink | Comments (10) | (email story)
April 15, 2008
You Ask, We Answer, You Embellish: Big Developments In The Mission
The two questions:
Do you know anything about the 2 huge new condo developments in the Mission: 1. On Bryant and 19th St across from Blowfish Sushi - it was a 50ft hole in the ground for the last 10 years and now it's new condos going up fast; and 2. On Florida St and 18th St - a whole block of new condos.
The answer to number one: Bryant Commons and Coach House Lofts. Originally expected spring 2008, the 99 condos are now expected spring 2009.
And the answer to number two: Stretching from 18th to 19th, and from Alabama and Florida, the 18th and Alabama development is a 151-unit affordable housing project by Citizens Housing Corporation.
117 rental units (“including apartments for large families and seniors”), 34 condominium townhouses ("for-sale"), and “15,000 square feet of community/commercial space, which will be used to house on-site economic development activities for Mission District entrepreneurs and educational classes."
∙ Bryant Commons (2125 Bryant) / Coach House Lofts (2101 Bryant) [SocketSite]
∙ Citizens Housing Corporation: 18th & Alabama Housing [citizenshousing.org]
Posted by socketadmin at 4:04 PM | Permalink | Comments (10) | (email story)
A Quick Tale Of Two Apples (And Noe Valleys): Modern Home Edition
As a reader has already noted, 576 30th Street closed escrow this past Friday (4/11/08) with a reported contract price of $2,195,000. Purchased for $2,125,000 in December of 2006, the sale represents annual appreciation of 2.4% over the past sixteen months.
That being said, do consider the words of a plugged-in (and perhaps pleasantly surprised) neighbor:
I'm betting it goes 1 to 2 percent less than what it sold for last time, neighborhood improvements essentially cancelling out market floundering.
I live at 30th and Noe, a block downhill from this place, and can honestly say I prefer it to 24th Street. We have a bunch of new restaurants like La Ciccia, Pescheria, and Toast, which have opened since this house last sold. We have Drewes Brothers and Church Street Produce, neighborhood institutions that just get better and better. At long last our new park -- the Upper Noe Valley Rec Center -- is nearly done. It's a $10 million project that includes new playgrounds, gyms, field, dogwalk, seating areas. The construction process has been painfully slow (One Rincon was built in less time) but I think the park, a full city block, will be one of the best rec centers in the city.
So I think you could argue that downtown Noe Valley -- which by the way is a leisurely 10-15 minute walk from our part of town-- has not improved one iota in the last five years while outer/upper noe has blossemed.
At the same time, and a few blocks closer to 24th Street, 1420 Douglass was withdrawn from the market after three months and a one hundred thousand dollar price reduction. Purchased for $1,945,000 on 8/09/2007, 1420 Douglass was last listed for $1,995,000 without finding a buyer.
∙ Another Modern Apple Is Up On The Noe Valley Tree: 576 30th Street [SocketSite]
∙ Another Look At 1420 Douglass (And A Reader's "Lazy Noe Indicator") [SocketSite]
Posted by socketadmin at 10:58 AM | Permalink | Comments (21) | (email story)
April 9, 2008
From A Surface Area Parking Lot To…A Parking Garage (Over Retail)
The Question: “What is going up at the corner of Golden Gate Avenue and Larkin?”
The Answer: A 7-story/68-foot tall parking garage by Hastings College with 430 spaces (300 for the college, 130 for the public, and an increase of 170 over the previous surface area lot), two City CarShare Pods, secure bike storage and 9,000 square feet of ground floor retail intended to “encourage students to linger in the community."
Originally expected to be completed by the end of 2008, expect construction to continue for another 16-18 months.
The UPDATE: As a plugged-in (and perhaps a little dazed) "torchrunner" notes, "The new Central YMCA will go in next door" on Golden Gate. (But that's not set in stone.)
∙ Hastings Mixed Use Project and Proposed YMCA Community Center [uchastings.edu]
Posted by socketadmin at 4:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (9) | (email story)
Market-Octavia Plan And Requisite Rezoning Approved By The Board
While the General amendments for the Market-Octavia Neighborhood Plan were approved in October, the pivotal rezoning has finally caught up.
The zoning allows developers to construct buildings that pack more residential units into a project, including boosting tower heights from 20 stories to 40 stories on some parcels near the intersection of Van Ness Avenue and Market Street.
The entire package has now been approved by the Board of Supervisors and an estimated 6,000 new housing units could follow. A few details related to said development according to the Chronicle:
As it now stands, the plan requires developers to sell or rent 25 percent of the units they build at below-market rates and imposes fees on developers that could amount to $50 million for an affordable-housing fund.
Forty percent of the new housing in some parts of the rezoning area must be two-bedroom units and parking for all new projects in the neighborhoods has been reduced from one space per housing unit to one space per two units.
UPDATE: From a plugged in reader: "[T]he M&O plan does NOT require 25% BMR. That was incorrectly reported by the [Chronicle]. The plan does not increase the requried BMR percentage at all. It does levy additional impact fees for a whole host of public benefits (in exchange for increasing density, heights, etc.), some of which will go toward affordable housing. Big difference."
∙ S.F. OKs plan for 6,000 housing units [SFGate]
∙ San Francisco’s Market & Octavia Neighborhood Plan Moves Forward [SocketSite]
Posted by socketadmin at 10:22 AM | Permalink | Comments (96) | (email story)
32 Condos Coming "Soon" To The Corner Of Hayes And Franklin
Patrons of the arts (and Hayes Valley) take note, the surface area parking lot at the corner of Hayes and Franklin is no longer (nor is the little building next door) as they're finally preparing the site for the newest addition to the neighborhood.
The mixed-use development will consist of thirty-two (32) condos over ground floor retail with design by Sternberg Benjamin Architects and development by Village Properties/Hayes Franklin Builders Corp.
UPDATE: The site does indeed include the structure next to the parking lot (which is in the process of being razed); and while they're in the process of preparing the site, they haven't yet broken ground (but pilings have been delivered).
Posted by socketadmin at 5:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (28) | (email story)
April 7, 2008
The Development Of Seawall Lot 337: Rankings After Round One
The Port's advisory panel’s round one ranking (from high to low) of the four proposals to develop San Francisco’s Seawall Lot 337: Kenwood Investments, San Francisco Giants, Build Inc, Federal Development.
The review panel praised the layout of the Kenwood project, saying it evoked a San Francisco neighborhood feel. But the panel expressed concern that the scheme failed to make the most of the waterfront and questioned the feasibility of creating an artists community.
The panel lauded the Giants' plan for its emphasis on open space and recreation. It questioned the design's large number of retail and entertainment venues.
The Build Inc. proposal appears to be at risk of not moving on to round two while the proposal by Federal Development will most likely be left behind.
∙ San Francisco’s Seawall Lot 337 Design Proposals: In Summary [SocketSite]
∙ The Kenwood Proposal For Seawall Lot 337: Details And Design [SocketSite]
∙ The Rendering And Additional Details For The Giants SWL 337 Proposal [SocketSite]
∙ Giants take 2nd in seawall design contest [SFGate]
Posted by socketadmin at 11:44 AM | Permalink | Comments (6) | (email story)
Piers On Which People Can Play (Albeit More With Their Minds)
While the Chelsea Piers-esque development of Piers 27-31 is all but DOA, a plugged-in reader reminds us that the proposed rehabilitation and redevelopment of Piers 15-17 into a new home for the Exploratorium continues to move forward.
The buildings will be used to house the museum’s displays and exhibits, a museum store, events space, café or restaurant, exhibit fabrication area, classrooms, ancillary offices, a theatre and the popular Tactile Dome. The paved asphalt area [between the piers] will be removed to create a “water pile garden” and lagoon. It will provide public access to the Bay and outdoor museum exhibits. The project also includes a water taxi landing.
The current timeline calls for EIR certification by the end of the year, construction commencing in 2009, and a grand opening in 2011. We'll see bump into you in the Dome.
∙ Piers 15-17 The Exploratorium [SFGov]
∙ Exploratorium: Embarcadero [exploratorium.edu]
∙ Cruising (Pier 27) And Working (Piers 30-32) But Not Sporting At All [SocketSite]
Posted by socketadmin at 9:08 AM | Permalink | Comments (1) | (email story)
Cruising (Pier 27) And Working (Piers 30-32) But Not Sporting At All
"A long-standing and controversial plan to restore rusted piers and create a recreation and office center at the foot of Telegraph Hill could be abandoned for a new proposal that developers and port officials have been quietly discussing in recent weeks.
The new plan still would feature a state-of-the-art cruise ship terminal at Pier 27. But the office development used to pay for the terminal would instead shift south to Piers 30-32. A public recreation center - which at one time included a YMCA and a marine sports basin - would disappear altogether."
∙ Port of S.F. has new cruise ship terminal plan [SFGate]
∙ Pier Wars [SocketSite]
∙ Frederick Knows His Piers (A.K.A. Cruise Ships Closer To Pier 27) [SocketSite]
∙ Proposed SF Cruise Ship Terminal Sunk [SocketSite]
Posted by socketadmin at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (2) | (email story)
April 2, 2008
A Plugged-In Reader’s Update: 55 Laguna Poised For Strong Support
“Sup. Mirkarimi, in response to my email, writes: "[T]he entire plan [for 55 Laguna] successfully emerged from the Land Use Committee on Monday. It now goes to the full Board next week where it's poised for strong support."
Since I live in the Haight, I go by the campus every day on the bus and on foot, and something about that big, blank, street-deadening wall really bugs me. So I've been following this saga pretty closely, and while it's been frustrating to watch the planning process drag on for so long, all the haggling does seem to have produced a decent project. My impression is that, as usual, Mirkarimi played a key role in bringing everyone to the table.
So I guess the lessons to be learned are twofold: (1) Elect good supervisors, and (2) Don't let the loud anti-everything minority be the only voice they hear once they're in office.”
[Editor's Note: And perhaps: (3) It pays to get plugged-in.]
∙ Supervisor Peskin Engineers An End-Run (And Ending) For 55 Laguna [SocketSite]
∙ 55 Laguna: Approved On Appeal And In Front Of San Francisco’s BOS [SocketSite]
Posted by socketadmin at 6:45 AM | Permalink | Comments (3) | (email story)
March 31, 2008
Coming Soon! Bayshore Boulevard Home Depot Development Is Dead
"A controversial plan almost a decade in the making to open a Home Depot store on San Francisco's Bayshore Boulevard has been scuttled because of the flagging home-improvement market, company officials said today."
∙ Controversial plan for S.F. Home Depot falls apart [SFGate]
∙ The First Physical Sign (Quite Literally) Of Home Depot Development [SocketSite]
Posted by socketadmin at 5:35 PM | Permalink | Comments (35) | (email story)
March 29, 2008
Supervisor Peskin Engineers An End-Run (And Ending) For 55 Laguna
The alert from the developer (AF Evans):
Unfortunately, at the last possible moment, someone is trying to stop the 55 Laguna project. Supervisor Peskin is going to introduce amendments this coming Monday that will KILL the entire project permanently.
He is asking that the Landmarks Board and the preservation planners at the Planning Dept. be the body to review and approve the design of the project and not the Planning Commission or the senior staff in the Planning Department. This is highly irregular but also specifically against our project.
The Landmarks Board has vociferously opposed our project for over two years. If this amendment is approved, the project is over. We have already said in the Environmental Impact Report that we have a significant preservation impact and we are doing everything we can to mitigate that impact. The Planning Commission and the Board approved the EIR unanimously. This issue of preservation has been discussed multiple times and has been put to bed.The editorial from our plugged-in tipster:
We regret to inform you that San Francisco is closing down.
Should we all just go home and gate this as Colonial Williamsburg by the Sea - perhaps a retirement village with nice light, no mosquitoes and artisan everything?
And how AF Evans suggests you respond:
Please send an email to the four supervisors below. It is important to use the same words in the subject sentence (“APPROVE 55 LAGUNA WITHOUT CHANGE NOW!”), so they don't have to read the emails to know what they say. It is our goal to fill up the email boxes and the voicemail boxes of these supervisors so they can know that this project has gone through its paces and it is time to start building housing, not wasting time and money on throwing up road blocks.
Then you can add a few lines about how the project has been approved by the Commission and the Board with full knowledge of the preservation impacts and that it is highly irregular and completely damaging to the project to remove the review and approval process from senior planning staff and the Planning Commission.
The emails and phone numbers are below. Please call this weekend and let them know you are frustrated, angry and disgusted by the changes proposed at the last minute when this project has been in review at the Board and Planning Commission since January 2007.
Aaron Peskin: (415) 554-7450, Aaron.peskin@sfgov.org
David Noyola (Peskin's Aide): (415) 554-7451, david.noyola@sfgov.org
Ross Mirkarimi: (415) 554-6715, ross.mirkarimi@sfgov.org
Other Land Use Committee Members
Sophie Maxwell: (415) 554-7670, Sophie.maxwell@sfgov.org
Geraldo Sandoval: (415) 554-6975, Geraldo.sandoval@sfgov.org
∙ 55 Laguna: Approved On Appeal And In Front Of San Francisco’s BOS [SocketSite]
Posted by socketadmin at 10:10 AM | Permalink | Comments (30) | (email story)
March 26, 2008
We’re All In Favor (But Wondering If It Will Actually Work)
District 11 Supervisor Gerardo Sandoval’s legislation empowering Planning Department inspectors to issue citations for having an illegally paved-over front yard (or other planning code violations) has received initial approval by the San Francisco Board of Supervisors.
The motivation is usually to gain an extra parking space, but Sandoval said the violation reduces the beauty of the neighborhood. Also, he said, when the rain has no place to go, it will flow into The City’s storm drains, putting the area at risk to flooding.
The questions remain, will the inspectors start citing and will property owners actually respond without a bigger stick (the maximum fine of $500 is peanuts relative to the value of a parking space in the city).
∙ Forget About The In-Law, What If The Parking Is (Was) Unwarranted? [SocketSite]
∙ Supes approve fine for paving over front yard [Examiner]
Posted by socketadmin at 8:36 AM | Permalink | Comments (44) | (email story)
March 24, 2008
JustQuotes: The People (And Politics) Behind Buildings And Design
The Quote:
ADCO is proposing a 38-story, elliptical-shaped glass building with five levels of underground parking. Market-rate condominiums would be built on top of the tennis courts and next door to a residence for seniors. The street that gently slopes downward to the Japantown malls would also undergo major reconstruction, including new condominiums by owner 3D Investments.
At the current height, the 1481 Post Street project would be the tallest building in the neighborhood, an issue of concern to neighborhood residents. “The height of your building will set the tone for the rest of Post Street going west,” said Sandy Mori, president of the Japantown Task Force, referring to proposals by 3D Investments. “Right now [3D Investments’] highest building is as tall as Hotel Kabuki, which is reasonable in my personal opinion.”
[ADCO Group representative Linda Corso] indicated a willingness to modify the design of the building and reduce the height to move the project forward, perhaps due to public pressure. “We’re going to take all the input from tonight back to our design team and get back to you hopefully in a month or so,” Corso said.
The housing nonprofit that owns and operates the 26-story high-rise next door to the proposed ADCO project has hired a political consultant and sent out a mailing opposing the glass building. They received 600 responses by mail out of 7,000 pieces delivered.
And our reader's response (with which we quite agree):
Please let this SOM building rise up; it's not going to work as a short cylinder. This is a perfectly-scaled building.
∙ J-Town Concerned About High-Rise Plans [AsianWeek]
∙ The Official Cathedral Hill Tower (1481 Post Street) Website [SocketSite]
Posted by socketadmin at 12:56 PM | Permalink | Comments (36) | (email story)
March 20, 2008
The Lots Have Been Cleared For The Californian And More On Fremont
Your tip and question(s):
Notices were sent out by the DPW advising property owners within 300 feet of the property of an application for a 3 Lot Merger, and 70 Units new Construction on Fremont Street (321 - 325) between Harrison and Folsom. (Lots 12, 13, and 14) Will this take the place of the now defunct Californian? Or is it at the Folsom end of Fremont?
Our response: The dormant (not necessarily defunct) Californian on Rincon Hill is slated for 375-399 Fremont at the southern end of the block (bordering Harrison), so this development would be in addition to rather than instead.
Our request: Any tipsters have the inside scoop on 321-325 or any early designs?
UPDATE: The Original Designs (And Additional Details) For 325 Fremont.
∙ Are They Clearing The Way For Someone's Californian On Rincon Hill? [SocketSite]
Posted by socketadmin at 12:48 PM | Permalink | Comments (6) | (email story)
March 18, 2008
1575 South Van Ness: NIMBY Neighbors Actually Arguing For Density?
According to a plugged-in tipster, ICI Paints acquired the remaining 17-year lease for 1575 South Van Ness from Hollywood Video's bankruptcy auction (“outbidding the owner and several other bidders”) and was seeking a conditional use permit to establish “a formula retail use paint store (dba ICI Paints) within an NC-3 (Moderate-Scale Neighborhood Commercial) Zoning District.”
The application for the conditional use permit was, however, denied (although "ICI says they'll fight this "to the top""). And once again according to our tipster: “Neighbors wanted a mixed-use building with ground-floor retail, not a single-storey building sitting on only 40% of the property - while the rest is surface parking - on a site zoned for a 50' building.” NIMBY neighbors actually arguing for density? What a concept.
Posted by socketadmin at 9:35 AM | Permalink | Comments (37) | (email story)
March 14, 2008
JustQuotes: The Ballot Battle Over Hunters And Candlestick Point
"[Carmen] Policy, still revered for his role in the 1990s 49ers dynasty, has been cast as the public face of the Bayview Jobs, Parks, and Housing initiative -- Proposition G on the June ballot. The measure would put the voters' stamp of approval on the city's plan to transform the [Hunters Point] shipyard and Candlestick Point into a sprawling, mixed-use neighborhood with 10,000 units of housing, 300 acres of parkland, 2 million square feet of commercial space (biotech, cleantech and office), and 600,000 square feet of retail."
"But the measure faces a competing initiative being led by Supervisor Chris Daly. That initiative -- Prop. F -- would require that any development at the shipyard include at least 50 percent below-market-rate housing. That is twice the 25 percent affordable housing Lennar is proposing. A study for the Mayor's Office of Economic and Workforce Development stated that doubling the amount of affordable housing from 25 percent to 50 percent would add $800 million to the developer's cost, which Michael Cohen, director of the economic development office, said would kill the project."
"The amount of investment Lennar and its equity and development partners are proposing to pump in the city's southeast sector is staggering. The initial investment of $1.5 billion would pay for new roads as well as sewer, water and gas systems. It would build 300 acres of parks, a "vast and effective transit system," and pay for the demolition of buildings, Cohen said. Some $5 billion would pay for 10,000 housing units and vast amount of commercial space."
"Supervisor Daly said city voters who care about affordable housing should support his initiative. He said he believes Lennar when it says it can't make 50 percent affordable work economically -- but he doesn't care. He said he would rather the city take the lead as developer and look for public funding "rather than handing the reins over to Lennar, which will net us a project that will fall short of meeting the needs of San Francisco."
∙ Lennar hands ball to Policy [San Francisco Business Times]
∙ JustQuotes: The Redevelopment Of Hunters/Candlestick Point [SocketSite]
∙ JustQuotes: No Carrot, All Stick (Or Should We Say Daly Shtick?) [SocketSite]
Posted by socketadmin at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (13) | (email story)
March 12, 2008
JustQuotes: Redeveloping The Developments (And Changing The Mix)
“Three more decrepit San Francisco public housing developments will be refashioned into denser neighborhoods that include some market-rate housing, under a new agreement between the Housing Authority and construction companies that say they're up for the job.
The Housing Authority Commission on Tuesday named Sunnydale in Visitacion Valley, the Potrero Terrace-Potrero Annex complex on Potrero Hill and Westside Courts in the Western Addition as the next developments to be rebuilt using a mix of public and private funds.
The remade projects will include the same number of public housing units they do now, as well as hundreds of new affordable and market-rate rental units and homes for sale to help offset the costs. In all, there will be about 3,000 units in the new neighborhoods.”
“Bridge Housing Corp. will lead a team to build 605 public housing units and 1151 new units at the Potrero Hill development. Mercy Housing will lead a team to build 785 public housing units and 1,498 new units at Sunnydale. And Em Johnson Interest will lead a team to rebuild 136 existing units and 220 new units at Westside Courts."
∙ 3 S.F. public housing areas getting rebuilt [SFGate]
Posted by socketadmin at 7:42 AM | Permalink | Comments (10) | (email story)
March 11, 2008
Some Relative Perspective On The Position Of The Transbay Project
Neither Millennium (M) nor 555 Mission might appear in most (any?) of the initial design renderings for the proposed Transbay Terminal and Tower by Pelli Clarke Pelli, but at least we can offer some perspective on where the buildings (will) lie.
And if you currently park in either of the surface lots between Natoma and Minna and didn't know that they were going away, please don't shoot the messenger.
∙ Millennium Tower San Francisco (301 Mission): Sales Update/Facts [SocketSite]
∙ A Virtual Tour Of 555 Mission Street (And Downtown San Francisco) [SocketSite]
∙ San Francisco’s Transbay Terminal: Website And Community Meeting [SocketSite]
Posted by socketadmin at 9:21 AM | Permalink | Comments (11) | (email story)
March 10, 2008
San Francisco’s Transbay Terminal: Website And Community Meeting
The Pelli Clarke Pelli website dedicated to their proposed Transbay Terminal, Tower and City Park has added a number renderings, charts, and animation since the last time we looked.
And according to a plugged-in reader (and NBC11), a community meeting and update on the terminal by the Transbay Joint Powers Authority (TJPA) is scheduled for 6PM tonight (3/10/08) at the Calvary Presbyterian Church (2515 Fillmore Street).
∙ Transbay Transit Center And Tower: Pelli Clarke Pelli [pcparch.com]
∙ SF To Hold Meeting On Tallest Skyscraper On West Coast [NBC11]
Posted by socketadmin at 1:48 PM | Permalink | Comments (22) | (email story)
Another Single-Family Apple On The Noe Valley Tree: 480 Duncan
Yes, it’s another "apples to apples" comp in the making for a nice single-family home in Noe Valley. Purchased for $2,265,000 sixteen months ago (on 10/31/2006), 480 Duncan is back on the market today with a list price of $2,249,000.
We’re quite fond of the curb appeal, outdoor space, and many aspects of the remodel (which we believe pre-dates the last sale). The website provides a nice overview (including floor plans). And now’s the time to go on record with your forecast or forever forfeit your rights to write, “I told you so!”
Keep in mind that Noe Valley has often been touted as out as one of the “hottest” markets for single-family homes in San Francisco over the past couple of years.
UPDATE: This home is listed with Coldwell Banker but we've included the Redfin link in addition to the property website as it was our source for the previous selling price.
∙ Listing: 480 Duncan (4/3.5) - $2,249,000 [480duncan.com] [Redfin]
Posted by socketadmin at 10:54 AM | Permalink | Comments (40) | (email story)
A Few June Ballot Measures Guaranteed To Raise Some Ire
San Francisco Supervisor Daly’s ballot initiative to mandate that 50% of the 10,000 proposed homes for the Hunters Point shipyard and Candlestick Point be affordable (as opposed to the 25% that Lennar has pledged) has qualified for the June ballot as have two competing anti-eminent domain measures.
Proposition 98 prohibits use of eminent domain for private development and phases out rent control, and Proposition 99 which simply prohibits the use of eminent domain on single-family homes and condominiums for private development.
And for the record, we're anti-rent control (but not necessarily eminent domain).
∙ JustQuotes: No Carrot, All Stick (Or Should We Say Daly Shtick?) [SocketSite]
∙ Eminent domain measures on ballot [SFGate]
∙ S.F. housing measure qualifies for June ballot [SFGate]
∙ And Now Back To The Hugo Hotel (And Eminent Domain On Sixth) [SocketSite]
Posted by socketadmin at 8:53 AM | Permalink | Comments (20) | (email story)
March 7, 2008
JustQuotes: A Boon To The Bayview (And Another Sign For Some)
"Developer Joe Cassidy has donated a Bayview district housing site to the Tenderloin Housing Clinic, a gift that will allow the nonprofit to build a 170-unit affordable housing project targeting Bayview families.
The waterfront parcel, 900 Innes Ave., has been appraised at $17 million to $19 million depending on how many units are constructed. The donation may generate a large tax write-off for Cassidy, but he said it was motivated by the weak housing market and frustration with the city's sluggish land use approval process. He had planned to build a market-rate development on the site, but three years into the application process was still years away from breaking ground. With affordable housing a priority for elected officials across the political spectrum, the THC will be better positioned to cut through the city bureaucracy, he added."
"I don't think a market-rate project out there would pencil for us at this point," said Cassidy. "The affordable guys will be able to move it and the market rate guys would be tied up for another three years, easy, plus two years of construction. I can't wait five years while the city gets its act together."
∙ Developer donates site for big affordable plan [San Francisco Business Times]
Posted by socketadmin at 4:10 AM | Permalink | Comments (4) | (email story)
March 5, 2008
700 Valencia Street: The Details And Designs For Moving Forward
It’s another case of years in the making (and neighborhood resistance), but according to a plugged-in tipster it appears as though the redevelopment of 700 Valencia Street (at the southwest corner of Valencia and 18th Streets) is moving forward.
Project details from the Preliminary Mitigated Negative Declaration (pdf):
The proposed project would include demolition of the existing [one-story office building and surface parking lot] and construction of a five-story, 50-foot-tall mixed-use building totaling approximately 22,662 square feet. The building would include nine dwelling units, nine parking spaces and one commercial unit. The ground floor of the building would contain a garage with nine off-street parking spaces, commercial space and common/circulation space and would have 100 percent lot coverage.
And a little editorial from our tipster:
Who knew that a [50-foot-tall building] on a corner on Valencia would be met with such resistance….No wonder we're in slow motion out here. The building fills a parking lot, even has Car Share in the parking garage (which sounds like something every building should be required to do), and is so modest a building I was surprised by the neighborhood [outcry].
Which makes me really wonder what the temperature of the city is re: density -- or is it just people in the biz who tend to support a denser, more urban city?
∙ 700 Valencia: Preliminary Mitigated Negative Declaration (pdf) [ci.sf.ca.us]
∙ The Next Era In San Francisco’s Development: It’s All About Density [SocketSite]
Posted by socketadmin at 12:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (16) | (email story)
March 3, 2008
55 Laguna: Approved On Appeal And In Front Of San Francisco’s BOS
Unanimously approved by the Planning Commission in January, the redevelopment of almost six acres in Hayes Valley is on appeal and the project will be heard by San Francisco’s Board of Supervisors tomorrow (3/4/08) at 4pm.
A former UC Berekely Extension campus, the development of 55 Laguna by A.F. Evans would raze two of the oldest existing buildings on the site but yield 413 new housing units: 328 apartments (66 affordable) and an 85-unit affordable development for seniors targeting the LGBT community (in partnership with OpenHouse).
The development would also include a 25,000-square-foot park, a 10,600-square-foot community garden, and a 12,000-square-foot community center.
∙ 55 Laguna [55laguna.com]
∙ Affordable housing doubled at old UC site [SFGate]
∙ San Francisco Board of Supervisors Agenda: March 4, 2008 [SFGov]
Posted by socketadmin at 3:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (8) | (email story)
March 1, 2008
An Outstanding View (And Story Of Spite): Atop 947 Green Street
We’re not going to make a habit of publishing on the weekends, but we do prefer to kick them off with an outstanding view and perhaps a little history (if not levity).
[947 Green Street] is known as the "spite building." (Not to be confused with the 30-foot "spite fence" that Charles Crocker built around the property of Nicolas Yung in the Nob Hill block that currently houses Grace Cathedral. Yung was the only holdout in Crocker's mansion block and refused to sell his small property to Crocker.)
The owner of 1000 Vallejo Street built this building to protest the loss of northern and northwestern views from 1000 Vallejo Street by the building at 945 Green Street. The building is L-shaped and higher than 945 Green. It blocks the eastern and southeastern views of 945 Green. The best perspective to understand this is to view the back of 947 Green from the balustrade at 1020 Vallejo Street.
This is a beautiful building with many full-floor condominiums. Elevators open into elegant foyers. The ceilings are high, rooms are large, underlying details are exceptional, and the views are outstanding.
And hey, if you're going to live in the "spite building," you might as well live at the top.
∙ Listing: 947 Green Street #10 (2/2) - $5,000,000 [San Francisco Properties]
∙ Russian Hill Green Street/Macondray Lane Walk [Russian Hill Neighbors]
Posted by socketadmin at 9:39 AM | Permalink | Comments (14) | (email story)
February 28, 2008
An Unrendered Perspective On The Proposed 690 Stanyan Project Site
∙ The 690 Stanyan Project: Overview And EIR Hearing Tomorrow (2/28) [SocketSite]
Posted by socketadmin at 4:42 PM | Permalink | (email story)
February 27, 2008
The 690 Stanyan Project: Overview And EIR Hearing Tomorrow (2/28)
The proposed demolition: The vacant 24-foot-high, 23,600-square-foot (sq.ft.) retail building (Cala Foods) and removal of the existing 42-space parking lot at 690 Stanyan.
The proposed project: A "four-story," 115,400-sq.ft. retail/residential building with a 34,400-sq.ft. ground-floor specialty grocery store (Whole Foods), 62 residential units in 81,000 sq.ft., and an additional three-level, 176-space subterranean garage (90,000 sq.ft.) with 114 grocery store parking spaces and 62 residential parking spaces. 26 studio units, 20 one-bedroom units, 15 two-bedroom units, and one three-bedroom unit.
The Planning Commission hearing: Tomorrow (2/28/08), 1:30 p.m., City Hall (Room 400).
The point: Show up and show your support (or not).
UPDATE: And thanks to a plugged-in tipster we add a rendering and additional insight: "The final design was a real collaboration between architect [Stephen Antonaros] and neighbors (The Haight Ashbury Improvement Assn) and resulted in the creation of a mezzanine level cafe overlooking Golden Gate Park, something the neighbors preferred over the street level cafe the Planning Dept was pushing for."
∙ The 690 Stanyan Project [690stanyan.com]
Posted by socketadmin at 4:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (67) | (email story)
San Francisco’s Seawall Lot 337 Design Proposals: In Summary
Four teams, four overviews, and four proposals (in their entirety). One place (or rather two) to compare, contrast and summarize your thoughts (and perhaps lobby a bit as well).
And for those who crave even more information (or a chance to grill interact with the development teams), we'll remind you of the all-day public workshop (including team presentations and Q&A) this Saturday (3/1/08) at Jelly’s Café (295 Terry Francois Blvd).
∙ Four Teams Submit Development Proposals For Seawall Lot 337 [SocketSite]
∙ The Rendering And Additional Details For The Giants SWL 337 Proposal [SocketSite]
∙ The SocketSite Scoop: The Build Inc. Proposal For Seawall Lot 337 [SocketSite]
∙ The Federal Development Proposal For SWL 337: Details And Design [SocketSite]
∙ The Kenwood Proposal For Seawall Lot 337: Details And Design [SocketSite]
∙ Development Concepts for China Basin SWL 337 [Port of San Francisco]
Posted by socketadmin at 1:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (21) | (email story)
The Kenwood Proposal For Seawall Lot 337: Details And Design
Kenwood’s proposal for San Francisco’s Seawall Lot 337 includes “approximately 1,100 new rental homes (20% of which will be affordable), great open spaces [5 acres including semi-public courtyards, street plazas and a park between Piers 48 and 50], restaurants, galleries, retail spaces, community performance and artists’ spaces, and offices [400,000 square feet plus parking for 1,500 cars]."
"The homes will be stacked flats at a density of approximately 90-110 homes per acre, some low [6-story] some high [30-story], wrapped around hidden parking structures [for 1,100 cars].”
“Two office towers are currently being proposed (although more could be considered), each at a height, mass and bulk (approximately 11 stories tall) that works within the neighborhood setting. Active retail uses are spread throughout the district ensuring that the residents of the south of channel area will have access to vital retail services to sustain this new neighborhood.”
And under Kenwood's proposal, the sheds on Pier 48 would become working artists’ studios with the alley that runs between an outdoor art gallery (designed in collaboration with The Black Rock Arts Foundation).
∙ SWL 337 Proposal: Kenwood/Boston Properties/Wilson Meany Sullivan (pdf) [Port of SF]
Posted by socketadmin at 1:10 AM | Permalink | Comments (5) | (email story)
The Federal Development Proposal For SWL 337: Details And Design
“The Federal Development Project Concept [for San Francisco's Seawall 337] calls for integrating revenue producing new land uses within a matrix of substantial open space. The new uses include a 170-room Four Star Hotel, two office buildings [432,000 sqft in total], a 450-unit residential building and a 2,500 seat theater facility."
"The open space will be created primarily at the podium (top) level of a 4-story parking facility [with 2,745 spaces] that will cover most of the site and serve the parking needs of the new uses as well as providing replacement parking for the AT&T Ballpark.”
“At the key intersections of Third Street and Terry Francois Boulevard, and at the corner of Third and Mission Rock Street, meandering and gracious upwardly sloping walkways, lined with retail shops and restaurants, will invite visitors onto the site to enjoy the views and to access the podium level attractions. A major expanse of podium level open space at the site’s northeast corner will accommodate and be made available for active sporting events including soccer, football or baseball or could be the temporary (but long-term) home for Cirque de Soleil. Retail space with 30’ deep modules will front along the 3rd street frontage.”
“In the near term, uses for Pier 48 would include maritime related activities as permitted under the Burton Act and consistent with the BCDC Seaport Plan. These might include exhibition events and leasing of raw shed space (as is) to conventional maritime-related businesses such as boat rental and storage, ship chandlery stores and the like. In the longer term, Federal Development will seek approvals to permit private offices for maritime related businesses, restaurants, retail, and visitor entertainment space.”
∙ SWL 337 Proposal: Federal/Lehman/Construction Management (pdf) [Port of SF]
Posted by socketadmin at 1:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (16) | (email story)
February 26, 2008
A Few Renderings Of The Buildings Rising Up In South Mission Bay
UPDATE (2/28): Sorry folks, but the renderings for 1450 Owens Street (Parcel 7), 1500 Owens Street (Parcel 5) and Parcel 26 in Mission Bay have been removed at the request of Alexandria Real Estate Equities (although a few will return in the not too distant future). If you didn’t see them, let this serve as a lesson to plug in early (and often). And if you did, let this once again serve as a lesson to not post “confidential” materials to a public facing website where a plugged-in tipster might find them.
∙ Alexandria accelerates Mission Bay [Business Times]
∙ An Overview Of Mission Bay [SocketSite]
∙ 1501 Greenwich: A Plugged-In Reader Finds The Floor Plans [SocketSite]
Posted by socketadmin at 1:39 PM | Permalink | Comments (16) | (email story)
JustQuotes: Property Supervisor Rights Prevail At The Flower Mart
"Relenting to City Hall pressure, the Academy of Art University appears ready to pull out of a controversial plan to buy the San Francisco Flower Mart, potentially an 11th-hour reprieve in a deal critics felt would have destroyed the local landmark."
"[A] quashed deal would be a blow to the owners, who have been trying for years to cash out of the business. In 2005, the San Francisco Flower Growers Association accepted an offer to sell its portion of the property to a Virginia housing developer for a reported $18 million. That transaction fell through." (Academy of Art near deal on saving Flower Mart)
∙ Rose Sellers Still Selling [SocketSite 8/05]
Posted by socketadmin at 7:42 AM | Permalink | Comments (17) | (email story)
February 25, 2008
A Few More Renderings For Seawall Lot 337 As Seen By The Giants
A plugged-in tipster directs us to a few more renderings for the Giants/Farallon/Cordish proposal for Seawall Lot 337 (and Pier 48).
∙ Projects: Mission Rock District [SMWM]
∙ The Rendering And Additional Details For The Giants SWL 337 Proposal [SocketSite]
Posted by socketadmin at 5:15 AM | Permalink | Comments (8) | (email story)
February 21, 2008
The Community Delivers Once Again: 1536 Pacific Drawings/Details
The community good karma continues to flow as illustrations and additional details for what’s rising at 1536 Pacific promptly arrive via our tip line (tips@socketsite.com):
Six more or less identical units (around 1600 sf) with the top two set back six feet along Pacific.
65' height limit, 40' building, around 3500 sq ft street level commercial, [basement garage with parking for seven cars]. Construction underway.
Design by Stephen Antonaros. And as always, thanks for the tips (and for plugging in).
∙ The Proposed Design For 1355 Pacific (And Request For That Of 1536) [SocketSite]
∙ Stephen Antonaros, Architect [antonaros.com]
Posted by socketadmin at 4:08 PM | Permalink | Comments (3) | (email story)
The Proposed Design For 1355 Pacific (And Request For That Of 1536)
Currently a two-story industrial building (and former home to LeeMAH Electronics), developers have their sights set on razing and rebuilding 1355 Pacific as a four-story, 23 unit building with 24 parking spaces. Design by Sternberg Benjamin Architects and once again brought to us via a plugged-in reader who has most excellently mapped all of the aforementioned developments along Pacific (and 1650 Broadway).
And then there’s 1536 Pacific, another car shop that’s slated to be been demolished and will be reborn as a four-story, six-unit mixed-use building. “No photo available” according to our reader’s map, but perhaps a plugged-in tipster can keep the community karma flowing by passing along a rendering (or at the very least a lead on the architects). You know we’d do the same for you.
∙ A Reader Asks (And We Can’t Answer): Corner Of Pacific And Polk [SocketSite]
∙ Now And (The Future) Then: 50 Condos Coming Soon At 1645 Pacific [SocketSite]
∙ The Designs (And Declaration) For 34 New Condos At 1650 Broadway [SocketSite]
Posted by socketadmin at 10:50 AM | Permalink | Comments (3) | (email story)
February 20, 2008
The Designs (And Declaration) For 34 New Condos At 1650 Broadway
By way of the tipster who brought us the designs for 1645 Pacific come the designs and Declaration for 1650 Broadway.
A proposed merger of two surface parking lots (1622-1650 Broadway), the new building would rise eight stories and a little over 80 feet into the air and consist of 34 condos (1 1-bedroom, 25 2-bedroom, 8 3-bedroom; 4 below market rate) and 49 parking spaces.
There are no existing street trees along Broadway in front of the project site. There are two poplar trees at the rear of the project site and one large tree on an adjacent property to the north, which would not be categorized as protected trees as defined by the Public Works Code Article 16 Sections 802–811. The proposed project would, however, retain and protect these trees during construction, as well as add up to four street trees to the front of the property.
According to the project architect [Forum Design], the building would be rectilinear in form, with a contemporary design character. The Broadway façade would be set back four to ten feet from the property line with landscaping in the intervening area. Exterior finishes would consist of a combination of stone cladding, cement plaster, and darkened zinc.
Construction is estimated at approximately 20 months from groundbreaking, and required approvals (Conditional Use for the portion over 40 feet, etc.), floor plans, and other details are available via the Planning Department's Preliminary Mitigated Negative Declaration.
∙ 1650 Broadway: Preliminary Mitigated Negative Declaration (pdf) [SFGov]
∙ Now And (The Future) Then: 50 Condos Coming Soon At 1645 Pacific [SocketSite]
Posted by socketadmin at 11:58 AM | Permalink | Comments (11) | (email story)
JustQuotes: Will San Francisco Get What It Deserves?
“Many qualified and experience developers took a pass on [Seawall Lot 337] because of the perception that the Giants have it tied up -- And the Giants are encouraging this perception in order to keep down the competition. For a project of this size the experience and talent brought to the table so far is very modest - both on the lead-developer side and on the architect side.
Having a small cast of bidders with some weak members will also greater depress the potential land value offered. The Giants may be hoping for this; others have to hope the Port understands this dynamic, and can get the value the city deserves.”
∙ The SocketSite Scoop: The Build Inc. Proposal For Seawall Lot 337 [SocketSite]
∙ The Rendering And Additional Details For The Giants SWL 337 Proposal [SocketSite]
Posted by socketadmin at 6:45 AM | Permalink | Comments (3) | (email story)
JustQuotes: From Twenty To Seven In A Little Over One (Billion)
“The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency Board of Directors voted unanimously to approve a route change for the proposed 1.7-mile Central Subway, which would act as an extension to the newly constructed T-Third line.
Under the route change, the subway line would go underground after the Fourth and Brannan streets station. Previously, the plan called for the train to go below ground a few blocks south at Fourth and King streets, but MTA officials said residents in the South of Market neighborhood lobbied for the change.
The subway will run below ground all the way to its destination in Chinatown, an area with comparatively few transit options.
Officials hope to begin construction in 2010 and have the line running by 2016. The new route is expected to reduce what is now a 20-minute bus trip from Muni's station at Fourth and King streets to Chinatown down to seven minutes. At its peak, the line could carry as many 80,000 riders a day, said Nathaniel Ford, the MTA's executive director.”
∙ S.F. Chinatown subway plan gets agency's nod [SFGate]
∙ JustQuotes: From Mission Bay To Chinatown In Mere Minutes/Years [SocketSite]
Posted by socketadmin at 6:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (27) | (email story)
February 19, 2008
The SocketSite Scoop: The Build Inc. Proposal For Seawall Lot 337
Thanks to a seriously plugged-in tipster, we have the sketch (larger size) and additional details for Build Inc.’s proposal for the development of San Francisco’s Seawall Lot 337 (SWL 337):
This is a sketch of Build Inc.'s proposal [for Seawall lot 337] - essentiall