These are strange days in San Francisco, where the clamor to build needed housing — especially at affordable levels — is matched only by the self-righteous vigor with which actual proposals for that housing tend to be opposed...But if we want a well-planned city with distinctive new buildings for all its citizens, projects like this show that good design and good policy can go hand in hand. — San Francisco Chronicle
Developer Tishman Speyer's nearly one-year-old proposal for a 400-foot-tall residential tower, which Jeanne Gang designed, at 160 Folsom St. is suddenly facing opposition from local groups. With former mayor Art Agnos at the forefront of the opposition, the groups argue that the building promotes "economic segregation" and is yet another example of "developers wreaking vengeance" on the city, as S.F. Chronicle's urban design critic John King states in the article.
Opponents claim the 400-foot tower would overshadow the nearby Rincon Park and the Embarcadero waterfront, although that area is already developed with large structures like the Gap HQ, the Hills Plaza complex, and the Infinity luxury condo complex — where Agnos and other opponents recently held their kickoff meeting, interestingly enough.
In terms of exterior design, King writes that Gang's corkscrew tower would be "a great addition" to San Francisco's skyline, and that the tower's visual distinction has the potential to "grow more profound" and integrate into the city's urban fabric as time passes.
More:
Jeanne Gang praises San Francisco's architecture 'ecosystem' as context for new residential tower
Can't find office space in San Francisco? Try the mall.
Uber HQ headed to San Francisco's Mission Bay
Jeanne Gang's proposed Wanda Vista tower could be Chicago's third-tallest
3 Comments
Frozen music? a long twisting Grateful Dead jam
It's the best looking tower I've seen in some time!
ha...yea those whitewashed cape cod boards are really appropriate for a high rise.
Block this user
Are you sure you want to block this user and hide all related comments throughout the site?
Archinect
This is your first comment on Archinect. Your comment will be visible once approved.