The initial presentation of a 40-story tower, designed by Chicago architect Jeanne Gang, working for developer Tishman Speyer, prompted John King to argue in favor of the project. But will city planners and electeds grant the project an exception?
San Francisco Chronicle architecture critic John King uses the proposed design, for a site on Folsom Street one block inland from the Embarcadero and also near the new Transbay Transit Center, as context for a larger discussion about how much flexibility should be granted to zoning exceptions. The proposed tower does not rise to the height of buildings on nearby blocks, but is more than the 300 feet this particular parcel is allowed.
An example of the site's implications to a larger discussion, according to King "if the city wants to make the creation of low- and middle-income housing a true priority - as should be the case in our economically stratified region - flexibility in terms of urban design can be a valuable tool."
The creation of below market rate housing is possible with the project: "The proposed tower and an adjacent eight-story building together would contain 390 residential units, 139 priced at below-market levels. In the tower, 64 of the 315 condominiums would be reserved for middle-income buyers. The low building would contain 75 units, all affordable."
Describing the need for some flexibility in the approval process, King again makes his case: "The challenge for City Hall decision makers is to realize that if there's anyplace where zoning adjustments make sense, it's on a block and in a case like this."
FULL STORY: Sometimes zoning adjustments make sense for housing towers

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Chicago’s Ghost Rails
Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.

Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail
The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.

Ohio Forces Data Centers to Prepay for Power
Utilities are calling on states to hold data center operators responsible for new energy demands to prevent leaving consumers on the hook for their bills.

MARTA CEO Steps Down Amid Citizenship Concerns
MARTA’s board announced Thursday that its chief, who is from Canada, is resigning due to questions about his immigration status.

Silicon Valley ‘Bike Superhighway’ Awarded $14M State Grant
A Caltrans grant brings the 10-mile Central Bikeway project connecting Santa Clara and East San Jose closer to fruition.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Caltrans
City of Fort Worth
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie