Huge erection planned for SOMA
Part of the plans to someday build a CalTrain and bullet train station at a rebuilt Transbay Terminal is a ginormous office tower that would make the project profitable for the developer. Today the Transbay Joint Powers Authority and its designers have released plans for a tower which resembles a vibrator with an electric-shaver head, and at its base a decorative merkin of green trees.
I think they’re trees.
The tower would dwarf the city’s tallest buildings, including the Transamerica Pyramid and the One Rincon building at the base of the Bay Bridge, recently topped off.
What in the hell is your problem? Any of the three designs presented would be awesome. It’s about time that San Francisco has some good architecture, and some real high-rises. Who cares if they dwarf the city’s tallest buildings? That is the point.
It’s such asinine provincial attitudes such as these that keep our city from moving forward.
high rises can be great for a city. the transamerica building is now a SF icon. people back then were probably calling it a dildo.
San Francisco needs this! All 3 designs are world class and will be LEED certified. Gone, hopefully, are the days of SF’s architecture paranoia. Our skyline is so dated and you don’t have to travel far to realize that. Lets “know how” again…this can be our first step.
we need this for what? I think it looks hideous. I am hoping the other designs look better than this one. I do not think we need real high-rises.
I suppose DebbieAnn would rather work and live underground, or are you the type who feels special and privileged since you already live/work in the city? What no one else is allowed to live/work in SF since you have already staked claim? This city is growing, the peninsula we live on isn’t getting any bigger and most of us would rather live/work above ground. Get used to it.
Amen, Kyle.
Building UP prevents SPRAWL. That’s why we need this.
For those who don’t like high-rises, I suggest you move to Tracy. Or Modesto.
hehe …merkin
Actually right now I am neither living nor working in the city, but I have in the past, and I love SF. Is there really such a huge shortage of office space - not that long ago it seemed like there was a lot for lease. Why say get used to it when it has barely happened yet? We’ve managed this long without it. There is a huge place they were building at 7th and Mission - is that completely full?
For those that like high rises I suggest you move to Hong Kong.
And as far as build up preventing sprawl, it seems like SPRAWL has already happened, why don’t you get used to that? and build better public transit to make sprawl more manageable?
“Actually right now I am neither living nor working in the city….We’ve managed this long without it.”
What’s the “we” stuff, DebbieAnn? You don’t work or live here. How do you know “we’ve” managed to get this long without it?
With your provincial attitude, I’m glad you’re not here. It’s time to get beyond this obsession with the past. San Francisco is not Disneyland.
What is with the personal attacks - is that the best argument you can put forth? My provincial attitude - that is pretty funny! So you attack people who do live there and don’t want it and people who don’t there and don’t want it. Got it.
San Francisco has a certain character and flavor that I enjoy. I do not think that building fits in well with its surroundings. Let us not turn SF into looking like every other city. At least the pyramid has character.
Do you remember how hotly people contested the Transamerica Pyramid when it was just a proposal? Many San Franciscans said they didn’t want it, making many of the same statements/complaints: “why do we need a high rise?”, “it’s phallic!”, “it’ll change our skyline!”, “it doesn’t fit in!” And yet, today, it is considered a San Francisco jewel. In fact, DebbieAnn includes it in the ‘certain character and flavor’ of the city that she enjoys!
I remember the outcry over the DeYoung proposal, and Yerba Buena, both of which are now tightly embraced and protected.
City planning is good. Change can also be good. It’s what maintains San Francisco’s position on the global list of progressive, “world class” metropolitan cities.
We need more big erections built in the city, to distract everyone from the huge sticks that are up everybody’s ASSES here!
somtower - LOL