Steep views command steep prices in other big cities, but they can't seem to work in San Francisco, where there are plenty of beautiful views available for free.
Architecture critic John King chronicles the rise and fall of observation decks in San Francisco. He argues that the city has so much to offer at ground level that tourists aren't interested in paying for the towering vistas that are so popular in cities like New York and Chicago. "All it really does it whet your appetite to return downstairs and begin to explore the terrain on your own two feet," King writes.
Buildings like the Empire State Building and Sears Tower command high prices, and visitors brave long lines and cramped conditions to take pictures from their decks. But in San Francisco, observation floors in high-rise buildings can't sustain a profit. "Most big cities make their own geography, hanging their visual images on architectural peaks that demand to be scaled. Here? Not so."
King counts "only three remaining top-floor venues where you can buy a drink, at least in the districts east of Van Ness Avenue," and finds no prospects in the plethora of high-rises being built downtown.
FULL STORY: S.F. doesn’t suffer from lack of high-rise observation decks
Crowds of Pedestrians Prompt Lombard Street Study
San Francisco is looking for ways to manage—and protect—the masses of tourists who want to walk "the World's Crookedest Street."
Airbnb Draws Tourists Off the Beaten Path
Airbnb connects travelers from around the world to unique rentable spaces. With the recent launch of a "Neighborhoods" feature, Airbnb has the potential to redirect tourist spending to often overlooked areas.
San Francisco Bans Right Turns on Red at 200 Intersections
More cities are reversing the 1970s policy due to its disproportionate involvement in pedestrian crashes.
Depopulation Patterns Get Weird
A recent ranking of “declining” cities heavily features some of the most expensive cities in the country — including New York City and a half-dozen in the San Francisco Bay Area.
California Exodus: Population Drops Below 39 Million
Never mind the 40 million that demographers predicted the Golden State would reach by 2018. The state's population dipped below 39 million to 38.965 million last July, according to Census data released in March, the lowest since 2015.
Chicago to Turn High-Rise Offices into Housing
Four commercial buildings in the Chicago Loop have been approved for redevelopment into housing in a bid to revitalize the city’s downtown post-pandemic.
Google Maps Introduces New Transit, EV Features
It will now be easier to find electric car charging stations and transit options.
Ohio Lawmakers Propose Incentivizing Housing Production
A proposed bill would take a carrot approach to stimulating housing production through a grant program that would reward cities that implement pro-housing policies.
Chicago Awarded $2M Reconnecting Communities Grant
Community advocates say the city’s plan may not do enough to reverse the negative impacts of a major expressway.
City of Costa Mesa
Licking County
Barrett Planning Group LLC
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Mpact Transit + Community
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
City of Universal City TX
ULI Northwest Arkansas
Town of Zionsville
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.
