Oracle Park, the Blue Shield of California Theater, Ford GoBike—branding abounds in San Francisco.
Urban design critic John King considers the plethora of not-so-subtle branding that has swept through San Francisco. He describes the naming of Salesforce Park and Salesforce Transit Center as brazen:
The brazen part is how Salesforce drove a deal with the Transbay Joint Powers Authority to place its name front and center — rather than, say, "The Transbay Transit Center, presented by Salesforce." Astro, one of the software giant’s cartoon-like mascots, even adorns the rugged boulders that direct you to the park.
Branding opportunities give cities revenue streams they need, says King. But he points out that nonprofits are also cashing in. "This is what’s insidious. Brandopolis respects no boundaries, even if familiar landmarks are cheapened as a result."
He also notes that the commercialization of cities is not anything new and change is constant. "Heck, I’ve been around long enough to remember when the Giants welcomed us to brand-new PacBell Park. Which begat SBC Park. Which begat AT&T Park and, as of this season, Oracle Park."
Read the full story: Goodbye, San Francisco. Hello, Brandopolis
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Buses and people will soon return to the Transbay Transit Center, which operated for just over a month at the end of 2018 before structural flaws forced the closure of the facility for inspections and repairs.
S.F.'s Transbay Transit Center Won't Reopen Until June at the Earliest
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Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
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Chicago breaks ground on $3 billion megadevelopment
The new neighborhood, titled Foundry Park, will one day host 3,700 residences.
Satanic Place Names
From streams and lakes to valleys and canyons, I mapped more than 1,000 places named after the Devil.
California High-Speed Rail Authority CEO resigns after $600,000 scandal
Under Ian Choudri, the authority used taxpayer dollars to fund first class flights and trips to nightclubs.
Want to study the Missouri River? Soon, you may need unanimous approval from 10 states
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Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold
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