[peanut gallery]

Glad this one is still alive. The article says he's produced a draft EIR and the planning commission should start reviewing it before the end of the year. I wonder what his financing position is.

[San Frangelino]

Broadway Plaza in Walnut Creek might expand by 300,000 square feet of retail and add housing above the mall.

Read the full article here http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_19233606


Walnut Creek leaders to discuss Broadway Plaza expansion Tuesday

By Elisabeth Nardi
Contra Costa Times
Posted: 10/31/2011 01:37:05 PM PDT
Updated: 10/31/2011 05:59:10 PM PDT

The City Council, along with three other city boards, will meet with Broadway Plaza owners at a special meeting Tuesday to discuss the expansion of Walnut Creek's outdoor mall.

Macerich Co., which owns Broadway Plaza, has been holding community meetings over the past month to get residents' opinions about growth at the retail center. At Tuesday's special meeting, members of the council, planning, design review and transportation commissions will give their input on the proposed maximum addition of 300,000 square feet of retail stores.

[San Frangelino]

This was posted at http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=1386038&page=15

Earthquakes stadium sketch filed with the Planning Department.

Apparently the word from The San Jose Blog (http://www.thesanjoseblog.com/2011/11/new-earthquakes-stadium-sketches.html) is that the stadium will start construction next year and be done by 2013. The developers Coleman Airport Partners and FWSH Partners also plan to develop the 64 acres around the stadium with 1.5 million square feet of office space, 75,000 sq. ft of retail and a 300 room hotel

There was also this related article from yesterdays San Jose Mercury. San Jose Earthquakes set to announce sales of luxury suites at proposed soccer stadium. http://www.mercurynews.com/bay-area-news/ci_19429549

Finally, the website http://www.sjearthquakes.com/newstadium/luxury-suites
http://www.centerlinesoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/AllRenderings20111122.jpg

[pesto]

Broadway Plaza in Walnut Creek might expand by 300,000 square feet of retail and add housing above the mall.

Read the full article here http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_19233606

This sounds like a version of Macerich's re-do of Santa Monica Place, which has been very well received. Should be a big winner since it combines an urban street feel and openness with control of the environment.

[pesto]

This was posted at http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=1386038&page=15

Earthquakes stadium sketch filed with the Planning Department.

Apparently the word from The San Jose Blog (http://www.thesanjoseblog.com/2011/11/new-earthquakes-stadium-sketches.html) is that the stadium will start construction next year and be done by 2013. The developers Coleman Airport Partners and FWSH Partners also plan to develop the 64 acres around the stadium with 1.5 million square feet of office space, 75,000 sq. ft of retail and a 300 room hotel

There was also this related article from yesterdays San Jose Mercury. San Jose Earthquakes set to announce sales of luxury suites at proposed soccer stadium. http://www.mercurynews.com/bay-area-news/ci_19429549

Finally, the website http://www.sjearthquakes.com/newstadium/luxury-suites
http://www.centerlinesoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/AllRenderings20111122.jpg

Another great addition to DT. Hope the financing happens and at least some of the surrounding development.

[rocketman_95046]

a few more renderings of the quakes stadium..

http://www.sjearthquakes.com/newstadium/luxury-suites

http://www.mlssoccer.com/sites/league/files/imagecache/620x350/image_nodes/2011/11/field%20suite.jpg
http://www.mlssoccer.com/sites/league/files/imagecache/620x350/image_nodes/2011/11/field%20suite.jpg

http://extras.mnginteractive.com/live/media/site568/2011/1129/20111129__soccerstadium~1_GALLERY.JPG
http://www.flickr.com//photos/55821110@N02/sets/72157628197981915/show/

[Ed007Toronto]

Cool addition.

[pesto]

Sounds like the start of a trend. The 49ers just got funding which makes the Santa Clara Stadium pretty much a done deal. I'm thinking "The Apple Orchard" is a good name (come on, Apple, you got a spare 300M).

Next is Cisco Field in downtown, assuming that MLB comes back favorably soon.

[San Frangelino]

From the SF Business Time http://www.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco/blog/2011/12/bart-picks-developer-coliseum-project.html

BART picks developer for Coliseum project
San Francisco Business Times by Blanca Torres, Reporter
Date: Friday, December 2, 2011, 2:32pm PST - Last Modified: Friday, December 2, 2011, 4:18pm PST

The BART board of directors approved a negotiating agreement with the Oakland Economic Development Corp. to build a 100-unit residential building with 3,000 square feet of retail on 1.3 acres at the corner of Snell Street and 71st Avenue near the Coliseum BART station.

“This is a modest step in what we hope will be transformation and revitalization of the neighborhood surrounding an important BART station,” said Robert Raburn, a BART director.

Continue Reading... (http://www.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco/blog/2011/12/bart-picks-developer-coliseum-project.html)

[pesto]

From the SF Business Time http://www.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco/blog/2011/12/bart-picks-developer-coliseum-project.html

I guess the most interesting new development in Oakland is the Coliseum City proposal aimed as keeping the Warriors, A's and Raiders in town. But this is not going to see much action until MLB comes back with a decision on allowing the move to SJ.

[San Frangelino]

Looks like there is another food centric market hall under construction in the Bay Area. This one is in Downtown Sebastopol.

You can check out the renderings and plans on their website.
http://www.thebarlow.net/
The Barlow will showcase both production and retail for artisan producers. Food and wine coupled with art and wellness, culture and health will underpin the complete experience. The Barlow will also incorporate a carefully chosen selection of restaurants to create a comfortable, fun atmosphere where the community can come together and enjoy, art, wine and time with one another. Upon completion, The Barlow will include seventeen modern metal buildings, totaling 215,000 square feet on 12.5 acres of beautifully landscaped campus.

Some of the features of the development include:
Ideal Highway 12 location, with 26,000 cars passing by each day
New year round home of Sebastopol Farmers Market
500–16,000 sq. ft. suites each with a glass roll up store front, up to 30 ft. ceilings, light industrial flex design, merchant/craft retail

Timeline:
Spring 2011: Site Redesign for Kosta Browne Winery
Summer 2011: Working Drawings Submitted
Fall 2011: Building Permit Submittal
Spring 2012: The Barlow Grand Opening

http://www.thebarlow.net/views/images/Bldg-Overhead.jpg

http://www.thebarlow.net/views/images/project_img.jpg

[rocketman_95046]

Earthquakes stadium hopes boosted as San Jose city planning directors OK development permit

http://www.mercurynews.com/earthquakes/ci_19546746

By Elliott Almond
ealmond@mercurynews.com
Posted: 12/14/2011 11:52:05 AM PST
Updated: 12/14/2011 11:52:06 AM PST

The San Jose Earthquakes took an important step Wednesday toward building a $60-million soccer stadium when city planning directors approved a development permit needed to start construction...

...Once the permit is officially approved the Earthquakes plan to hire a firm to draw up blueprints and begin construction, perhaps early next year.
Contact Elliott Almond at 408-920-5865 and follow him on Twitter at Twitter.com/elliottalmond.

:banana::banana:

[San Frangelino]

Some news regarding Alameda Landing (http://alamedalanding.com/), a development just across the water from Jack London Square .
via: http://www.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco/blog/2012/01/alameda-close-to-approving-target-store.html

Catellus close to entitling Target-anchored retail center at Alameda Landing
San Francisco Business Times by Blanca Torres, Reporter
Date: Tuesday, January 10, 2012, 5:00pm PST

Catellus Development Corp. could have entitlements in place by next month for 291,000 square feet of retail including a new Target in Alameda Landing, a former naval supply center.

If the project is approved in February, the developer expects to start construction on the 140,000-square-foot Target and other retail space later this year to open by October of 2013.

Continue Read... (http://www.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco/blog/2012/01/alameda-close-to-approving-target-store.html)

[San Frangelino]

More news on the Broadway Plaza Expansion in Walnut Creek
from: http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_19450928

Walnut Creek seeks public benefits in Broadway Plaza expansion

By Elisabeth Nardi
Contra Costa Times
Posted: 12/01/2011 03:38:22 PM PST
Updated: 12/02/2011 07:37:24 PM PST

Macerich officials on Tuesday presented a broad vision for the future of the center, complete with a maximum addition of 300,000 square feet of retail stores and, perhaps, 200 residential units. Macerich also seeks to close off most of Broadway Plaza street to traffic and create a pedestrian promenade and plaza. This would require the city to legally vacate the street.
Other proposed changes include the possibility of adding a second story to many stores and creating underground parking garages where customers would use escalators to access stores.
Continue Reading... (http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_19450928)

[colemonkee]

This rendering is clearly misleading. Those soccer players aren't arguing even remotely as vigorously as they would in real life.

a few more renderings of the quakes stadium..

http://extras.mnginteractive.com/live/media/site568/2011/1129/20111129__soccerstadium~1_GALLERY.JPG
http://www.flickr.com//photos/55821110@N02/sets/72157628197981915/show/

[pesto]

More news on the Broadway Plaza Expansion in Walnut Creek
from: http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_19450928

Now it really sounds like Santa Monica's 3rd St. Promenade: another Macerich development that is basically a higher-rise and techier continuation of the 3rd St. pedestrian mall. It's the kind of thing that seems to do well these days (Santana Row in SJ).

[pesto]

This rendering is clearly misleading. Those soccer players aren't arguing even remotely as vigorously as they would in real life.

"I say, Mr. Johnson, isn't it at least possible that you had a poor angle on the play? I'm quite sure I didn't trip him. Of course, I understand these things happen quickly, and it really doesn't matter as long as we have a good time playing."

[peanut gallery]

Some news regarding Alameda Landing (http://alamedalanding.com/), a development just across the water from Jack London Square .
via: http://www.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco/blog/2012/01/alameda-close-to-approving-target-store.html

Thanks for the update. But man that Alameda Landing website is frustrating. There are all kinds of renderings but they are all postage-stamp sized and you can't click on them for larger versions.

[1977]

I hadn't heard of this Emeryville project (office and parking garage):

On February 16, 2010 the City Council approved an application for a laboratory/office tower and a parking structure located at Horton Street between 59th and 62nd Streets. The proposal involves removal of two existing surface parking lots in the 5900 to 6100 blocks of Horton Street in order to construct two buildings: the EmeryStation West building consisting of a seven-story laboratory/office tower on top of a two-level “podium” parking structure and the Heritage Square parking structure that would provide seven levels of parking.

The proposed approximately 165-foot-tall EmeryStation West building would be located immediately north of the Emeryville Amtrak Station and south of the Emeryville Post Office. It would enclose 358,451 gross square feet of space for parking, laboratory, research and development, office, building mechanical and building support uses. The laboratory/office tower would enclose 219,622 gross square feet of space of which 200,000 square feet would be rentable for laboratory, research and development, and/or office uses. The podium level would provide 148 parking spaces and 2,347 gross square feet of ground floor space for transit, retail and/or office uses, such as ticket-buying, travel and transit information, bike security, and car share information.
Source: http://www.emeryville.org/index.aspx?nid=767

Plans and Renderings:
http://www.emeryville.org/DocumentView.aspx?DID=1087

[San Frangelino]

Originally Posted by pesto
Thanks for the update. But man that Alameda Landing website is frustrating. There are all kinds of renderings but they are all postage-stamp sized and you can't click on them for larger versions.

That Alameda Landing website has looked like that for ages now. Maybe as things start moving along, it will get updated.

Originally Posted by peanut gallery
Now it really sounds like Santa Monica's 3rd St. Promenade: another Macerich development that is basically a higher-rise and techier continuation of the 3rd St. pedestrian mall.


I thought the exact same thing. I actually like the way the new mall in Santa Monica turned out. Hopefully this will be even better.

Originally Posted by 1977
Source: http://www.emeryville.org/index.aspx?nid=767

Plans and Renderings:
http://www.emeryville.org/DocumentView.aspx?DID=1087

Great find 1977!


Website for the MacArthur Park Transit Village
http://www.macarthurtransit.com/
http://www.macarthurtransit.com/images/MTV-1.jpg

[patriotizzy]

Anyone here know of the Intermodal Station District in Union City? It's a big development that's been going on for about half a year now. I just recently moved into one of the townhouses, and I've done a little bit of research, but I can only find old "renderings/plans." If anyone know of any new images or renderings, it would be great.

This is the official website for the development:
http://www.union-city.ca.us/commdev/redev_intermodal.htm

[San Frangelino]

Anyone here know of the Intermodal Station District in Union City? It's a big development that's been going on for about half a year now. I just recently moved into one of the townhouses, and I've done a little bit of research, but I can only find old "renderings/plans." If anyone know of any new images or renderings, it would be great.

This is the official website for the development:
http://www.union-city.ca.us/commdev/redev_intermodal.htm


The only thing I have to offer at the moment is this building that's currently under construction, by David Baker + Partners (http://www.dbarchitect.com/project_detail/148/Station%20Center.html). If you look through the website, the building looks like it's nearly finished:
http://www.dbarchitect.com/project_detail/148/Station%20Center.html

http://www.dbarchitect.com/images/dynamic/slideshow_images/image/20813_aerial_sketch_nw_km.slideshow_main.jpg

http://www.dbarchitect.com/images/dynamic/slideshow_images/image/20813_site_issues_diagram.slideshow_main.jpg

[San Frangelino]

I found this just now as well from Barry Swenson Builder (http://www.barryswensonbuilder.com/union-city-intermodal-transit-station/):
http://www.barryswensonbuilder.com/union-city-intermodal-transit-station/

http://www.barryswensonbuilder.com/Portals/31359/images/Rendering%208-5-10-resized-600.JPG

This might be an old rendering of what is the the David Baker + Partners project.

[patriotizzy]

Wow, very cool. That first rendering of the building is almost done, yeah. It's a pretty cool building. I should take a picture before work and upload them. That plaza looks pretty cool too, that's what I'm looking forward to the most. Should be a cool hangout spot for my friends and I. The plaza is currently under construction as well, has been for about 2 months now. Thanks for the images :)

[San Frangelino]

From:http://www.berkeleyside.com/2012/01/18/parker-place-development-wins-council-approval/

Parker Place development wins council approval
January 18, 2012 2:15 pm by Lance Knobel

Parker Place, a 155-unit development at Shattuck and Parker, won City Council approval last night after a long development tussle.

The project had originally been approved by both the Zoning Adjustments Board and the council in 2010, but a procedural error led to a lawsuit. It returned to the council last November, was the subject of a ZAB public hearing in December, and came back to the council for final approval last night.


Continue Reading... (http://www.berkeleyside.com/2012/01/18/parker-place-development-wins-council-approval/)

More Images at David Baker + Partners (http://www.dbarchitect.com/project_detail/144/Parker%20Place.html)

http://www.berkeleyside.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Parker_new_1-revised.jpg

[patriotizzy]

These are pictures for the Union City transit oriented development, right behind Union City BART.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7033/6729278859_f76f1d93a7_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/patriotizzy/6729278859/)
DSCN0670 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/patriotizzy/6729278859/) by patriotizzy (http://www.flickr.com/people/patriotizzy/), on Flickr

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7033/6729279379_faee5d550c_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/patriotizzy/6729279379/)
DSCN0671 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/patriotizzy/6729279379/) by patriotizzy (http://www.flickr.com/people/patriotizzy/), on Flickr

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7021/6729279989_a0a905a1a6_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/patriotizzy/6729279989/)
DSCN0672 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/patriotizzy/6729279989/) by patriotizzy (http://www.flickr.com/people/patriotizzy/), on Flickr

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7144/6729280917_d017018b20_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/patriotizzy/6729280917/)
DSCN0673 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/patriotizzy/6729280917/) by patriotizzy (http://www.flickr.com/people/patriotizzy/), on Flickr

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7027/6729282693_5227d84396_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/patriotizzy/6729282693/)
DSCN0675 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/patriotizzy/6729282693/) by patriotizzy (http://www.flickr.com/people/patriotizzy/), on Flickr

This is the construction of the plaza. I'm very excited for this. It's literally across the street from where I live :D
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7003/6729281829_d574b39648_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/patriotizzy/6729281829/)
DSCN0674 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/patriotizzy/6729281829/) by patriotizzy (http://www.flickr.com/people/patriotizzy/), on Flickr

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7142/6729284705_3c5442eb40_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/patriotizzy/6729284705/)
DSCN0677 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/patriotizzy/6729284705/) by patriotizzy (http://www.flickr.com/people/patriotizzy/), on Flickr

These are the relatively new townhouses:
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7016/6729286751_efe54ddfda_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/patriotizzy/6729286751/)
DSCN0680 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/patriotizzy/6729286751/) by patriotizzy (http://www.flickr.com/people/patriotizzy/), on Flickr

[peanut gallery]

Nice update, Izz. Do you know what that square building in the notch of the building under construction (it's a grey cube in the renderings) is going to be? Any signs of work on it? Also, wondering about the intermodal station. Is that in the distant future or are there any signs of work on that? From what I can see on Google, there isn't an existing ACE/Capital station there. I would imagine the pedestrian bridge over to BART won't happen until that station is built. Is that right?

One last question: are there specific plans for the rest of the properties to the northwest (it's mostly parking lot on Google). The plan diagram that San Frangelino posted shows "taller buildings." Just curious if you've heard about specific plans for those. Same with the long, skinny property across 11th from the townhouses. Thanks!

[minesweeper]

Corte Madera apartment project moves forward after developer offers $250,000 to help improve traffic (http://www.marinij.com/larkspurcortemadera/ci_19921635)

The developer of a 180-unit apartment complex planned for the former WinCup site in Corte Madera will donate $250,000 to help alleviate traffic as part of an agreement approved by the Town Council.
http://i.imgur.com/9u8edl.jpg

Source: MacFarlane Partners (http://195tamalvista.com)

Here's the estimated timeline from the developer:


Town Design Approvals - Thru the end of 2011
Demolition and Construction Start - Spring 2012
Leasing Begins - Spring 2013
First Occupancy - September 2013

[San Frangelino]

Thanks for sharing that minesweeper. That's not far from the "Town Center". Is there a city plan to build up those lots near that mall? Would be nice to see it become more pedestrianized.

[patriotizzy]

Nice update, Izz. Do you know what that square building in the notch of the building under construction (it's a grey cube in the renderings) is going to be? Any signs of work on it? Also, wondering about the intermodal station. Is that in the distant future or are there any signs of work on that? From what I can see on Google, there isn't an existing ACE/Capital station there. I would imagine the pedestrian bridge over to BART won't happen until that station is built. Is that right?

One last question: are there specific plans for the rest of the properties to the northwest (it's mostly parking lot on Google). The plan diagram that San Frangelino posted shows "taller buildings." Just curious if you've heard about specific plans for those. Same with the long, skinny property across 11th from the townhouses. Thanks!

Sorry for not replying sooner, I never checked this thread after posting my pictures :P

The grey cube in the rendering, I have no clue about. They're currently constructing something there. It's all foundation work at the moment, so I can't really speculate on that.

The intermodal station is currently up. It's nothing fancy but we do have the BART station and that's where the most bus lines end their routes. As for the pedestrian bridge, I wasn't aware of that. I know they're going to make an entrance from the plaza to the back of the station, but I'm not too sure of how their going to go about it.

As for your last question, I hope they go forward with the taller buildings. It would do wonders to the property values, as well as bringing a ton of pedestrian activity. Who knows, this could escalate into a busy new downtown in the near future :D

I'm just excited to be living in this development. It's great knowing your neighborhood is only going to be improving!

[rocketman_95046]

San Jose Planning Commission green-lights soccer stadium

http://www.mercurynews.com/bay-area-news/ci_20024979

By Tracy Seipel
tseipel@mercurynews.com
Posted: 02/22/2012 09:41:15 PM PST
Updated: 02/23/2012 08:03:47 AM PST

A capacity crowd at San Jose City Hall's council chamber Wednesday night erupted into loud cheers and applause after the city's Planning Commission gave a unanimous and final green light to a long-awaited $60 million permanent home for the San Jose Earthquakes.
After three hours of public testimony, the commission voted 6 to 0 to uphold a soccer stadium permit that was appealed last month by neighbors in the area. Only commissioner Hope Cahan was absent...

...Wolff wants to break ground on the proposed stadium as early as this summer, and open it next year.
"We want to have a place to play for the Earthquakes," Wolff told the commission Wednesday night.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/9/9b/TheEpicenter.gif
---------------------------------------------------------------------
:banana::banana:

Two stadiums under construction in Santa Clara County at the same time this summer:cheers::cheers: :cheers:

[San Frangelino]

Good news! Thanks for sharing Rocketman. I wonder if there is any info on redevelopment around the Earthquakes Stadium?

Any more news on a possible A's move to San Jose?

[rocketman_95046]

Good news! Thanks for sharing Rocketman. I wonder if there is any info on redevelopment around the Earthquakes Stadium?

Any more news on a possible A's move to San Jose?

Nope, MLB has gone totally silent. Which likely means that the A's don't have enough of the other owners votes to strip the Giants territorial rights away. I think they would need 2/3rds approval.

Remember, the current Giants ownership paid for the rights for Santa Clara County when they bought the team in 1992. If the rights didn't exist at that time, the price for the team would have been much less. Also, the financing they got for AT&T (remember a privately funded park) was built on the business plan that included season ticket support from their territory in Santa Clara County as well as sponsorship revenue from silicon valley companies.

The Giants are going to want some major $$$ to give up that fight... And its not a sure thing that SJ would even pass the ballot measure.

[San Frangelino]

Thanks for the info Rocketman. I'm actually glad to hear that. I do hope that they end up staying in Oakland.

Here's a news article about the new Earthquakes Stadium. It has a few Fly-throught renderings towards the end.
http://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/video?autoStart=true&topVideoCatNo=default&clipId=6773171

[pesto]

Thanks for the info Rocketman. I'm actually glad to hear that. I do hope that they end up staying in Oakland.

Here's a news article about the new Earthquakes Stadium. It has a few Fly-throught renderings towards the end.
http://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/video?autoStart=true&topVideoCatNo=default&clipId=6773171

They will move to SJ; it's just a matter of time. If they don't, Wolff has made it clear that he will leave the Bay Area. Oakland hasn't been considered a serious contender for years, for economic reasons.

The 49ers said the same about SF and the local politicos didn't take them seriously. But the economics of SJ are just too beautiful. The economy is once again booming down here, giant companies, start-ups worth billions and money to spend.

[pesto]

Santana Row has announced another expansion. Even more resisdential beyond what is already in process and higher rise office buildings on Olsen.

With the proliferation of 5-7 story residential from downtown along San Carlos and up and down Lincoln, Race, Meridian and other streets SR looks to be linking to Cisco Field and downtown.

[San Frangelino]

Santana Row has announced another expansion. Even more resisdential beyond what is already in process and higher rise office buildings on Olsen.

With the proliferation of 5-7 story residential from downtown along San Carlos and up and down Lincoln, Race, Meridian and other streets SR looks to be linking to Cisco Field and downtown.

Thanks for the news.

Here is a link to an article about the expansion from the Mercury News.
http://www.mercurynews.com/real-estate/ci_20029961

Expansion under way at San Jose's Santana Row

By George Avalos
Oakland Tribune
Posted: 02/23/2012 02:02:31 PM PST

San Jose's Santana Row is preparing a fresh expansion of its residential, office and retail space, bolstered by brisk activity such as a recent deal for H&M to take over the old Borders bookstore site.

Continue Reading... (http://www.mercurynews.com/real-estate/ci_20029961)


http://extras.mnginteractive.com/live/media/site568/2012/0223/20120223_054421_ssjm0224santana90.jpg

[San Frangelino]

In other retail/residential/office news:http://www.contracostatimes.com/top-stories/ci_20074423

Downtown Walnut Creek bouncing back with new stores
By George Avalos
Contra Costa Times

The burst of commercial activity has banished a two-year slump for Walnut Creek's downtown, which ranks alongside San Francisco's Union Square, Palo Alto's Stanford Shopping Center and San Jose's Santana Row as one of the nation's premier shopping districts.

Recent deals that have spurred a revival in downtown Walnut Creek include:

Anthropologie, a women's apparel and accessories store, has signed a lease for a new 7,000-square-foot store on Mt. Diablo Boulevard near
Locust Street that would be its first in the city.

Tuesday Morning, a retailer that sells name-brand home decor, bedding, collectibles, toys and other items at discounts, leased 18,000 square feet at South California Boulevard and Botelho Drive.

Neiman Marcus is constructing a 92,000-square-foot department store at Broadway Plaza, due to open March 9.

A new retail and residential complex at the corner of South Main Street and Newell Avenue is due to break ground by midyear and will bring 38,000 square feet of retail and 49 residential units to downtown.

Ottex, an Asia-based group, paid $11.1 million in early February to buy a 46,000-square-foot retail and office building at 1655 N. Main St., Cassidy Turley reported.

http://extras.mnginteractive.com/live/media/site568/2012/0301/20120301_120436_0301wc.jpg

[pesto]

No love for Valley Fair? It probably has 95 percent of the retail sales of the Valley Fair/Santana Row complex. SR is basically bars, restaurants and housing.

[San Frangelino]

Wikipedia says that Valley Fair has the highest-sales volume of any mall in the state. $809 per square foot.

Hopefully we'll hear some news on it's major expansion. It was approved in 2007, but has been on hold due to the recession.

[pesto]

It's huge, it's middle and high end, it's crowded and it's across the street from Santana Row. To the east, there are older 'hoods of sfh's and former industrial space converting to pricey apartments. The Silicon Valley companies are booming. What's not to like?

[San Frangelino]

There was a write up on Curbed (http://sf.curbed.com/archives/2012/03/12/berkeleys_changing_downtown.php) today about the Plan to rezone Downtown Berkeley.
http://sf.curbed.com/archives/2012/03/12/berkeleys_changing_downtown.php

There's a huge document that you can download. Click Here (http://www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/uploadedFiles/Clerk/Level_3_-_City_Council/2012/03Mar/2012-03-06%20Item%2014%20Downtown%20Area%20Plan(1).pdf). Be forewarned: it's 1200 pages, 173 MB.

Here is an image I pulled from the document.
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7064/6978045633_d7faa92d52_b.jpg

[San Frangelino]

From Berkeleyside (http://www.berkeleyside.com/2012/03/21/after-seven-years-berkeley-gets-a-new-downtown-plan/):

After seven long years, Berkeley adopts a plan for downtown
March 21, 2012 9:09 am by Frances Dinkelspiel

After hundreds of meetings, seven years of contentious debate, and the sting of a ballot referendum still fresh, the Berkeley City Council on Tuesday night adopted a new plan for its downtown.

Continue Reading.... (http://www.berkeleyside.com/2012/03/21/after-seven-years-berkeley-gets-a-new-downtown-plan/)

[1977]

I was downtown San Jose today and noticed the parking lot at 2nd and San Fernando was fenced off with a backhoe on site. Anyone know what's up? I know this building was proposed at one point but was scraped....

Living Tomorrow's proposed tower, which was to include a hotel, at 8 East San Fernando Street:
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_XnsBmpz0kTI/S9HnkLjqDkI/AAAAAAAAEgs/N5gssCjvHWk/s1600/future.jpg
Source: http://sanjose21.blogspot.com/

Currently a parking lot, 8 East San Fernando Street is another high-profile downtown parcel. Adjacent to The 88, the lot was originally slated to be the site of Living Tomorrow's Silicon Valley pavilion, its first in the United States. But even before the current financial crisis, Living Tomorrow was unable to secure funding, so the project was scraped in 2007.

[wakamesalad]

Architectural perfection:

http://applenapps.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/new_apple_campus3.jpg

http://applenapps.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/new_apple_campus2-600x300.jpg

Photos: Cupertino City Council

California can still dream!

[peanut gallery]

I was downtown San Jose today and noticed the parking lot at 2nd and San Fernando was fenced off with a backhoe on site. Anyone know what's up? I know this building was proposed at one point but was scraped....

According to this 2010 article in the SJ Business Journal (http://www.bizjournals.com/sanjose/stories/2010/04/05/daily61.html?page=all), the redevelopment agency sold it to Sobrato and it could be commercial or residential.

Then I found this article from March on sanjose.com (http://www.sanjose.com/news/2012/03/07/san_jose_ponders_relaxing_building_height_requirements) that says the city is considering raising height limits and other incentives to get Sobrato to build something tall on that site. It also states that Sobrato is in wait and see mode:

Within walking distance of pretty much everything the city’s core has to offer, it will be the site of San Jose’s next grand highrise, as originally planned. Or it will just rise to a fraction of its potential.

After shelving highrise plans four years ago when the economy tanked, just how interested is the current owner, The Sobrato Organization, in building high, now that the real estate market is showing signs of revival?

“It’s too early to tell,” says Tim Steele, Sobrato’s senior director of Real Estate. “Depending on the market, depending on the incentives that the city is willing to consider, and how they play and make any of those uses feasible, we have to wait and see.”

Doesn't answer anything. In fact, given that you've seen activity there it only adds to the confusion.

[1977]

:previous: Apparently, they are just repaving and striping the lot, and wait for it...

adding a pay station!!! WOW!!

Though, I did found some more info and renderings:

San Jose, California
This new mixed-use development will be located between 1st and 2nd street in San Fernando in San Jose. The building will consist of a 230-room, five star hotel on floors 1 though 7 and will have 216-residential units above. This modern urban resort cross utilization between the hotel and the residential will feature a restaurant and night club. In addition, the building is expected to be LEED certified.
http://www.scb.com/?mainpage=2&pagetype=Architecture&p=440&firstlevel=6&seclevel=1

http://www.scb.com/images/project/440/Picture35.jpg
Source: www.scb.com

http://www.scb.com/images/project/440/lobby.jpg
Source: www.scb.com

I'm pretty sure these are the updated plans for the site, but unfortunately it's looking like any development on this parcel is at least a couple years away.

[peanut gallery]

:previous: Apparently, they are just repaving and striping the lot, and wait for it...

adding a pay station!!! WOW!!

So, technically they are building something! Say, is it a 20-story pay station by any chance? :haha:

How do you find this stuff? I searched all over for something and came up with the few scraps above. You're always finding these great renderings. I must be looking in the wrong places.

[1977]

So, technically they are building something! Say, is it a 20-story pay station by any chance? :haha:

How do you find this stuff? I searched all over for something and came up with the few scraps above. You're always finding these great renderings. I must be looking in the wrong places.

Haha...A 20 story pay station? I'll take it!

To answer your second question...

Well, I'm a nerd. :D Actually, I found these on accident - I was looking for renderings of Blocks 6 and 7 in the Transbay District (SF) here (http://www.scb.com) and stumbled across them.

[San Frangelino]

Emeryville infill and remodel of Emeryville Public Market
from: http://www.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco/blog/real-estate/2012/05/tmg-to-start-emeryville-apartments.html

TMG starts 190 apartments in Emeryville Public Market revamp
San Francisco Business Times by Blanca Torres, Reporter
Date: Thursday, May 10, 2012, 7:00am PDT - Last Modified: Thursday, May 10, 2012, 7:10am PDT

TMG Partners and capital partner Essex Property Trust plan to start construction on a $54 million, 190-unit apartment project in Emeryville that is the first residential component of the firm’s major revamp of the Emeryville Public Market.

Continue Reading.... (http://www.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco/blog/real-estate/2012/05/tmg-to-start-emeryville-apartments.html)

http://assets.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco/blog/real-estate/Emeryville_Public_Market12.jpg?v=3

[San Frangelino]

22-story tower might be under construction by the years end
From: http://www.thesanjoseblog.com/

WEDNESDAY, MAY 16, 2012

New High-Rise Construction Update
I just received some info from the SJ Downtown Residents Association Newsletter that I think you are all going to enjoy. It looks like we'll finally have a crane back in Downtown San Jose this year. A new 22-story Barry Swenson apartment building that is going to be between Axis and the San Pedro Square Market has been approved and sounds like it is moving forward. More info below (sign up for this newsletter here) along with renderings of the building.

Continue Reading.... (http://www.thesanjoseblog.com/)

http://www.barryswensonbuilder.com/Portals/31359/images//CARLYSLE%20AND%20N.%20ALMADEN%20-%20NORTHWEST-resized-600.jpg

[1977]

I was wondering what was happening here. The Old Clarion Hotel near SFO is being converted into an Aloft Hotel. Nice upgrade!

Starwood Converts an Old Clarion Hotel into Aloft SFO
04/30/2012
By Robert Carlsen

McCarthy Building Cos. is converting a 1960s-era Clarion Hotel property adjacent to the San Francisco International Airport into a “next generation” business/boutique property.

Aloft, Starwood Hotels & Resorts’ newest brand that launched in 2008, now has 87 locations worldwide, including three in California: This current under-construction property in Millbrae, in Ontario-Rancho Cucamonga and, opening next year, in Cupertino.

Aloft SFO, designed by Jonathan Nehmer + Associates, Rockville, Md., will have 253 rooms, a 5,102-sq-ft lobby with the brand’s signature hang-outs (the w xyz bar and re:fuel by Aloft eatery), 672 sq ft of meeting space and a detached pool. The whole property also features free Wi-Fi.

Source and article: http://california.construction.com/california_construction_projects/2012/0430-starwood-converts-an-old-clarion-hotel-into-aloft-sfo.asp

http://california.construction.com/california_construction_projects/2012/extras/0430/1.jpg
Source: http://california.construction.com

http://california.construction.com/california_construction_projects/2012/extras/0430/2.jpg
Source: http://california.construction.com

Hotel site:
http://www.starwoodhotels.com/alofthotels/property/overview/index.html?propertyID=3719




There is another Aloft (2nd Bay Area location) under construction in Cupertino as well. It will open early next year.

This is the second Aloft hotel in the Bay Area. Starwood is renovating a former Clarion Hotel near San Francisco airport to reshape the hotel in the Aloft mold.
The Cupertino hotel will be constructed on a vacant lot at 10165 N. De Anza Boulevard between Stevens Creek Boulevard and Interstate 280, and is scheduled to open in 2013.
Source and article: http://www.mercurynews.com/business/ci_20283752/aloft-hotel-planned-cupertino-silicon-valley

http://www.canyonvmf.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/Aloft-Cupertino.jpg
Source: www.canyonvmf.com

[1977]

Decision to be made about Block 2 in downtown Redwood City this evening:

Hunter/Storm or Lowe Enterprises to develop Block 2 in Redwood City?
Silicon Valley / San Jose Business Journal by Mary Ann Azevedo, Reporter
Date: Monday, May 21, 2012, 2:47pm PDT
Related: Commercial Real Estate, Redwood City

The Redwood City City Council is expected to make a decision on Monday night as to who will redevelop Block 2, a city parking lot on 950 Middlefield Road.
Five developers were interested in the site but the short list came down to Cupertino-based Hunter/Storm LLC and Lowe Enterprises out of Los Angeles. The two developers have submitted final proposals at the end of March and have been eagerly waiting to hear who will be tapped to develop the 2.3-acre plot.
Hunter/Storm’s proposal involves a $100 million project that will be mainly office on the lot that is adjacent to the Redwood City Caltrain station. Ed Storm, chairman of Hunter Properties – the umbrella company of Hunter/Storm – said his firm’s proposal is to build a pair of multi-story office buildings totaling about 261,000 square feet. The developer also is proposing a 120-room hotel to be constructed in conjunction with Palo Alto-based BPR Properties.
Meanwhile, Lowe Enterprises is proposing 262,000 square feet of office, 145,0000 square feet of apartments and a 140-room hotel. It has tapped Redwood City’s DES Architects to design the project and would work with DPR Construction (also of Redwood City) to build it out if it is tapped to develop it...
Source and article: http://www.bizjournals.com/sanjose/news/2012/05/21/hunterstorm-or-lowe-enterprises-to.html?page=all

A breakdown of both projects can be seen here (http://www.redwoodcity.org/phed/planning/DepotCircle/DepotCircle_Summary_for_web.pdf).

[peanut gallery]

For anyone who didn't already hear, Redwood City is going with Hunter/Storm (http://www.mercurynews.com/peninsula/ci_20687076/redwood-city-chooses-firm-build-downtown-office-complex?IADID=Search-www.mercurynews.com-www.mercurynews.com).

[San Frangelino]

For anyone who didn't already hear, Redwood City is going with Hunter/Storm (http://www.mercurynews.com/peninsula/ci_20687076/redwood-city-chooses-firm-build-downtown-office-complex?IADID=Search-www.mercurynews.com-www.mercurynews.com).

Thanks for sharing the news Peanut Gallery. To be honest, both proposals didn't seem all that different from one another to me. Both were dense, but pretty bland. Funnily, I did think the Hunter/Storm proposal had a very NorCal approach to the architecture and the Lowe Enterprise had a very SoCal approach. I guess the Lowe proposal would have had more retail and residential units included, that was the main difference between the two.

Anyhoo, it's nice to hear that some big changes are coming for downtown Redwood City and that they went with a local company. Thanks for posting the renderings link 1977.

[peanut gallery]

The Tribune is moving back downtown, well Uptown actually. From the SF Business Times (http://www.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco/morning_call/2012/06/tribune-back-in-heart-of-oakland.html):

Tribune back in heart of Oakland
San Francisco Business Times
Date: Friday, June 8, 2012, 7:00am PDT - Last Modified: Friday, June 8, 2012, 7:18am PDT

The Oakland Tribune on Monday will begin operating out of a new home at 1960 Broadway in Oakland's Uptown district. The paper's editorial and advertising departments are setting up shop in the former Wachovia Bank branch there.

The Tribune left its iconic home in the Tribune Tower in 2007 to move into a space across Interstate 880 from the Coliseum.

Only a 5-year hiatus. It somehow seemed longer than that to me.

[pesto]

The Tribune is moving back downtown, well Uptown actually. From the SF Business Times (http://www.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco/morning_call/2012/06/tribune-back-in-heart-of-oakland.html):



Only a 5-year hiatus. It somehow seemed longer than that to me.

Is this motivated by lower rents? I assume they don't need more space.

[CityKid]

I took these photos a couple of weeks ago while going to work. I apologize for the quality. They were taken on my phone while the train was moving. It's incredibly close to the West Oakland BART station. Does anyone have any more information about this? Is this some expansion of the Mandela Transit Village?

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5323/7367702922_debc462a34_b.jpg

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5339/7367702732_2d5b314f0b_b.jpg

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5272/7367702546_2aa3df2578_b.jpg

This one is particularly bad in quality, but you get a sense of the impact:
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7081/7367702278_4099e463fb_b.jpg

[easy as pie]

no info, but i have to say that though it's nice height for a wood frame construction, i'd want to spend about 15-20 minutes in the bedroom during listening for the morning bart noise before i'd consider moving in there.

[peanut gallery]

I think that's senior housing by Michaels Development, called Red Star Apartments. Here's a rendering from Michaels' website (http://www.themichaelsorg.com/news/2011/09/21/michaels-breaks-ground-red-star-apartments):

http://www.themichaelsorg.com/sites/default/files/Oakland_Final%20for%20web.jpg

Advent is the General and here's their project website (http://adventcompanies.com/AdventInc/ns/current.cfm?pID=08GP06).

[202_Cyclist]

no info, but i have to say that though it's nice height for a wood frame construction, i'd want to spend about 15-20 minutes in the bedroom during listening for the morning bart noise before i'd consider moving in there.

Agreed. I couldn't imagine living in a 5-6 story wood-framed apartment or condo.

[yakumoto]

Agreed. I couldn't imagine living in a 5-6 story wood-framed apartment or condo.

Well, I guess that's a moot point now, isn't it!

[easy as pie]

so it was this project that went up in flames this morning?? that was my first guess, weird. wonder if it was homeless there overnight or if it was arson (seems it's only ever one of two these days).

what a nice retail wall, wow, hope the insurance comes through quickly and that this gets built out soon. http://www.themichaelsorg.com/sites/default/files/Oakland_Final%20for%20web.jpg

[peanut gallery]

^I was just looking up details on Advent's website. Looks like they have plans for about 25,000 sq ft of retail. What a shame.

[peanut gallery]

Oakland city council approved Prologis' plan for the old Oakland Army base. There have been various plans debated over the years but I think an extension of port operations makes the most sense. From The Argus (http://www.insidebayarea.com/argus/ci_20892753/oakland-army-base-vote-scheduled-tuesday-night):


http://extras.mnginteractive.com/live/media/site571/2012/0612/20120612__eoak0613armybase~1_GALLERY.JPG

Council approves $1 billion Oakland Army Base deal
By Matthew Artz
Oakland Tribune
Posted: 06/19/2012 03:18:36 PM PDT

OAKLAND — More than a decade after the military's departure, Oakland's former army base looks to have a new lease on life as a logistics and warehousing center projected to deliver thousands of jobs for city residents.

The City Council overwhelmingly approved the $1 billion army base deal Tuesday, just beating a state-imposed deadline for the project to keep a $242 million grant.

The agreement paves the way for developers Prologis and California Capital and Investment Group to lease nearly 130 acres of the former base and transform it into a state-of-the-art logistics center managing the flow and redistribution of cargo at the adjacent Port of Oakland.

Oakland's largest proposed development also will

include infrastructure improvements, expanded rail capacity for the port and a deep water port terminal to handle goods too big for shipping containers.

...


More details at the link (http://www.insidebayarea.com/argus/ci_20892753/oakland-army-base-vote-scheduled-tuesday-night).

[peanut gallery]

New waterfront office development coming to Burlingame. From the SF Business Times (http://www.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco/morning_call/2012/06/waterfront-office-campus-gets-ok-in.html):

Waterfront office campus gets OK in Burlingame
San Francisco Business Times
Date: Friday, June 22, 2012, 7:25am PDT

Downtown highrise specialist Millennium Partners is ready to test the waters on suburban office development.

The developer, which built San Francisco’s Four Seasons on Market Street and Millennium Tower on Mission Street, won approvals June 18 to construct a $150 million office campus on a 17-acre expanse of weed-choked asphalt in Burlingame overlooking the bay.

The 700,000-square-foot Burlingame Point project, which Millennium hopes to start in late 2012 or early 2013, could represent the first Class A office campus developed directly on the water on the Peninsula since Pacific Shores was built in 2000.

I'm pretty sure this is the property at about 250 Airport Blvd (https://maps.google.com/maps?q=250+Airport+Blvd,+Burlingame,+CA&hl=en&sll=37.77493,-122.419416&sspn=0.181818,0.243416&oq=250+air&t=h&hnear=250+Airport+Blvd,+Burlingame,+California+94010&z=16).

[rocketman_95046]

New 49ers stadium in Santa Clara begins to rise!

http://www.mercurynews.com/southbayfootball/ci_21193791/san-francisco-49ers-stadium-beams-rise-from-dirt

http://director.mercurynews.com/p.php?a=ZmF4bCM9OCJ3fm5nfzQxOixgZmAlMjMwKz85MS4nMyU%2BIi0qPyciKD87LiY0LTsuOjoyJT46&m=1343689581
http://director.mercurynews.com/p.php?a=ZmF4bCM9OCJ3fm5nfzQxOixgZmAlMjMwKz85MS4nMyU%2BIi0qPyciKD87LiY0LTsuOjoyJT46&m=1343689581

http://director.mercurynews.com/p.php?a=ZmF4bCM9OCJ3fm5nfzQxOSxgZmAlMjMwKz85MS4nMyU%2BIi0qPyciKD87LiY0LTsuOjoyJT46&m=1343689657
http://director.mercurynews.com/p.php?a=ZmF4bCM9OCJ3fm5nfzQxOSxgZmAlMjMwKz85MS4nMyU%2BIi0qPyciKD87LiY0LTsuOjoyJT46&m=1343689657

http://director.mercurynews.com/p.php?a=ZmF4bCM9OCJ3fm5nfzQxOCxgZmAlMjMwKz85MS4nMyU%2BIi0qPyciKD87LiY0LTsuOjoyJT46&m=1343689665
http://director.mercurynews.com/p.php?a=ZmF4bCM9OCJ3fm5nfzQxOCxgZmAlMjMwKz85MS4nMyU%2BIi0qPyciKD87LiY0LTsuOjoyJT46&m=1343689665

http://director.mercurynews.com/p.php?a=ZmF4bCM9OCJ3fm5nfzQxPixgZmAlMjMwKz85MS4nMyU%2BIi0qPyciKD87LiY0LTsuOjoyJT46&m=1343689685
http://director.mercurynews.com/p.php?a=ZmF4bCM9OCJ3fm5nfzQxPixgZmAlMjMwKz85MS4nMyU%2BIi0qPyciKD87LiY0LTsuOjoyJT46&m=1343689685

[ElDuderino]

Nice!! Great to see steel going up :tup:

[peanut gallery]

There's an apartment construction boom underway in the South Bay. From the SJ Mercury News (http://www.mercurynews.com/business/ci_21274644/rents-rise-so-does-silicon-valley-apartment-construction):

As rents rise, so does Silicon Valley apartment construction
By Pete Carey
San Jose Mercury News
Posted: 08/09/2012 12:41:51 PM PDT

An apartment building boom is breaking records in the South Bay as developers race to complete projects for the tens of thousands of new hires in Silicon Valley's expanding economy.

The surge in construction will add 4,000 new apartments this year to San Jose alone, a record, and eventually bring an estimated 9,000 units to the South Bay, according to city officials and apartment industry analysts.

...

In Silicon Valley, builders are responding to a wave of hiring that has added more than 30,000 jobs in the past 12 months, many of them in the well-paid professional, technical or computing areas. In addition, the tight housing market means many people who want to buy can't find homes and end up in apartments.

...

On one corner of San Jose's North First Street, Equity Residential is speeding completion of a 444-unit complex, using a modular construction system in which completed apartments are hoisted into place with giant cranes. That will be followed by a second phase of 554 units.

Not far away, Irvine Co. is building the 1,750-unit Crescent Village, where a one-bedroom rents for about $2,200 a month. It is scheduled for completion next summer. About 400 people have already moved into a recently completed section.

And across the street from the campus of semiconductor design company Cadence, the Palo Alto-based Essex Property Trust is building the 769-unit Epic Apartments.

There's more, including some figures from Milpitas and Mt. View in the article (http://www.mercurynews.com/business/ci_21274644/rents-rise-so-does-silicon-valley-apartment-construction) as well.

[pesto]

There's an apartment construction boom underway in the South Bay. From the SJ Mercury News (http://www.mercurynews.com/business/ci_21274644/rents-rise-so-does-silicon-valley-apartment-construction):



There's more, including some figures from Milpitas and Mt. View in the article (http://www.mercurynews.com/business/ci_21274644/rents-rise-so-does-silicon-valley-apartment-construction) as well.

Yeah, I knew something was up 'cause I'm getting bombarded by realtors telling me how they can sell my house.

The in-fill in North SJ is nice to see since this area can legitimately become urban (transit, convenient to DT amenities, employment, etc.). The MV core also has lots of potential for walkability. Milpitas is really booming as well although the pieces are a bit disconnected.

[ElDuderino]

$850 million secured for Rohnert Park casino, backer says

By GUY KOVNER
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT
Published: Wednesday, August 15, 2012 at 6:08 p.m.
Last Modified: Thursday, August 16, 2012 at 7:24 a.m.

An $850 million financing package, said to be the largest in the history of Native American gaming, is now secured, the Las Vegas-based backer of the casino next to Rohnert Park announced Wednesday.

The package will pay for the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria's 3,000-slot-machine casino and resort on Wilfred Avenue, according to Station Casinos, which will manage the facility.

Station Casinos announced the financing -- which includes a $375 million loan and a $450 million combination of bonds and a development loan -- in its financial report for the quarter that ended June 30.

The company did not identify the financial institutions providing the funding.

Also included in the package is $25 million worth of revolving credit to be used after the casino opens.

Station Casinos said the financing will close Wednesday and reported the "blended cost" of the package was about 9.6 percent.

The Graton tribe, which had sought a casino for nearly a decade, broke ground on the 64-acre site just south of Home Depot in mid-June. The casino is expected to open before the end of next year, Station Casinos said...

full article: http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20120815/ARTICLES/120819719/1350?Title=-850-million-secured-for-Rohnert-Park-casino-construction

[pesto]

full article: http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20120815/ARTICLES/120819719/1350?Title=-850-million-secured-for-Rohnert-Park-casino-construction

Sounds like a big gamble.

[yakumoto]

Sounds like a big gamble.

I think they're betting they can get some of the traffic from River Rock.

[rriojas71]

full article: http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20120815/ARTICLES/120819719/1350?Title=-850-million-secured-for-Rohnert-Park-casino-construction

This project sounds like a real crap shoot.

[rocketman_95046]

EARTHQUAKES STADIUM GROUNDBREAKING ON 10/21:cheers:

http://www.sjearthquakes.com/news/2012/08/quakes-announce-groundbreaking-date-new-stadium

http://www.sjearthquakes.com/sites/sanjose/files/imagecache/620x350/image_nodes/2010/09/Stadium4.jpg

SAN JOSE, Calif. – The San Jose Earthquakes announced today that the club will break ground on its new privately financed 18,000-seat stadium at 1125 Coleman Ave. in San Jose with a public ceremony on Sunday, Oct. 21. To celebrate the landmark event, the Earthquakes will aim to break the Guinness World Record for most people taking part in a groundbreaking ceremony, a figure that stands at 4,532.

The ceremony is free to attend and will take place the same day as the club’s final home match of the MLS regular season, a 4 p.m. PT date with the LA Galaxy, presented by Wells Fargo. The Quakes’ first season in the new stadium is now set for 2014...

[peanut gallery]

I missed this on Friday, but Facebook has hired Frank Gehry to design the new buildings at their Menlo Park campus. Here is some background from SocketSite (http://www.socketsite.com/archives/2012/08/frank_gehry_engaged_to_design_facebooks_menlo_park_expa.html):

http://www.socketsite.com/Facebook%20Campus%20Rendering%20Large.jpg

Frank Gehry Engaged To Design Facebook's Menlo Park Expansion
SocketSite
August 24, 2012

Quoting a Facebook exec:

It will be a large, one room building that somewhat resembles a warehouse. Just like we do now, everyone will sit out in the open with desks that can be quickly shuffled around as teams form and break apart around projects. There will be cafes and lots of micro-kitchens with snacks so that you never have to go hungry. And we’ll fill the building with break-away spaces with couches and whiteboards to make getting away from your desk easy.

We’ve paid just as much attention to the outside as well. The exterior takes into account the local architecture so that it fits in well with its surroundings. We’re planting a ton of trees on the grounds and more on the rooftop garden that spans the entire building. The raw, unfinished look of our buildings means we can construct them quickly and with a big emphasis on being eco-friendly. Of course, we’ll maintain our current campus and use an underground tunnel to connect the two.

Just to remind everyone, this is a plot of land across Bayfront Expressway from the campus they bought from Sun Microsystems. There is an existing tunnel under the expressway that connects the two properties but that Sun never used as they never built on that land.

[pesto]

EARTHQUAKES STADIUM GROUNDBREAKING ON 10/21:cheers:

http://www.sjearthquakes.com/news/2012/08/quakes-announce-groundbreaking-date-new-stadium

http://www.sjearthquakes.com/sites/sanjose/files/imagecache/620x350/image_nodes/2010/09/Stadium4.jpg

SAN JOSE, Calif. – The San Jose Earthquakes announced today that the club will break ground on its new privately financed 18,000-seat stadium at 1125 Coleman Ave. in San Jose with a public ceremony on Sunday, Oct. 21. To celebrate the landmark event, the Earthquakes will aim to break the Guinness World Record for most people taking part in a groundbreaking ceremony, a figure that stands at 4,532.

The ceremony is free to attend and will take place the same day as the club’s final home match of the MLS regular season, a 4 p.m. PT date with the LA Galaxy, presented by Wells Fargo. The Quakes’ first season in the new stadium is now set for 2014...

Sounds cool. Sign up before you go though. They are going to need a bunch of shovels.

[pesto]

I missed this on Friday, but Facebook has hired Frank Gehry to design the new buildings at their Menlo Park campus. Here is some background from SocketSite (http://www.socketsite.com/archives/2012/08/frank_gehry_engaged_to_design_facebooks_menlo_park_expa.html):



Just to remind everyone, this is a plot of land across Bayfront Expressway from the campus they bought from Sun Microsystems. There is an existing tunnel under the expressway that connects the two properties but that Sun never used as they never built on that land.

Lower profile than Apple's Cupertino expansion with rooom for 12,000 and ludicrously expensive curved glass windows. I guess it has to do with market cap.

[llamaorama]

Is the Prologis thing happening on the Alameda Air Field?

Where will Mythbusters do stuff now ? :D

[peanut gallery]

Not to worry, Prologis is developing the old Oakland Army Base, which is to the north and near the eastern touchdown of the Bay Bridge. There is nothing imminent slated for the old Alameda Air Station. From what I've heard, the military is dragging their heals on Alameda as the clean-up cost is supposed to be staggering.

[peanut gallery]

I worked near downtown Redwood City years ago and thus spent a lot of time there. It has good bones and a lot going for it, but an excess of people has not been one of them. Sounds like that could change in a big way in the near future. From the SF Business Times (http://www.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco/print-edition/2012/08/24/redwood-citys-downtown-seeing-sunny.html?page=all):

Redwood City’s downtown seeing sunny days
Developers flock to city’s call for office and housing
San Francisco Business Times by J.K. Dineen, Reporter
Friday, August 24, 2012, 3:00am PDT

Redwood City’s downtown plan has moved from pipe dream to pile driving.

After a decade of planning and debate, the scheme to add housing and office space to one of the Bay Area’s most promising downtowns is becoming real. Old buildings are being knocked down to make way for new rental housing. Developers are buying underutilized sites. Barring a pronounced economic downturn, the next two to three years will bring 1,000 housing units and 350,000 square feet of Class A office space to greater downtown Redwood City.

That is a lot of development for a downtown that has seen virtually no new housing or office buildings for 10 years.

So far work is under way on three market-rate housing projects: BRE’s 264-unit development at 640 Veterans Blvd., Raintree Partners’ 116-unit project at 201 Marshall St., and 132 units at 333 Main St., which is a joint venture between Sares Regis Group of Northern California and Matteson Cos. Meanwhile, Greystar Real Estate Partners is in the early stages of planning a 300-unit project between El Camino Real and the Caltrain tracks, just west of the Franklin Street Apartments.

...

The most dramatic impact over the next year will be the start of construction at Depot Circle, a 2.5-acre surface parking lot bordered by Jefferson Avenue, Middlefield Road and the Caltrain tracks. Redwood City staff selected Hunter/Storm and Kilroy Realty Corp. to develop the site, while Lowe Enterprises is negotiating to build 110 units on a smaller city-owned lot across the street.

640 Veterans used to be a large car dealership and 201 Marshall was a surface lot. There are more detailed posts about the Depot Circle proposal previously in this thread. This mix is very exciting as it will put more feet on the street both day and night, weekdays and weekends.

[timbad]

I worked near downtown Redwood City years ago and thus spent a lot of time there. It has good bones and a lot going for it, but an excess of people has not been one of them. Sounds like that could change in a big way in the near future. From the SF Business Times (http://www.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco/print-edition/2012/08/24/redwood-citys-downtown-seeing-sunny.html?page=all): ...

I currently work near downtown RC, and take the train every day, so this is exciting news for me too. if I'm still doing that when Depot Circle gets going, I should be able to get pics regularly. 201 Marshall is across the street from the train station, so I see that every day. when there is something of note to get a pic of, I'll share it.

[San Frangelino]

This was on The San Jose Blog (http://www.thesanjoseblog.com/)

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2012

n1: North First Campus
This is easily the most impressive office project that is underway right now in Silicon Valley. n1 consists of 1.8 million square feet of office space, tons of outdoor spaces, new cafes, and impressive athletic facilities (check out those rooftop tennis courts in the second to last photo). The entire development is off of North 1st with Component Drive bisecting the project and providing access to parking. There will be a new street called campus way that looks almost like a little downtown street and connects all of the main entrances to each buildings and hopefully some retail. You can see this in the fifth photo. Everything is within a 10min walk to lightrail, providing easy access to Downtown and other companies on First St., Tasman, etc.

Click Here for more images (http://www.thesanjoseblog.com/2012/09/n1-north-first-campus.html)

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-G66dsOnq2AU/UFY36QqsArI/AAAAAAAAGEw/THFVn41qh1M/s1600/n1-2.png

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HjWqQJwGP40/UFY383xjYmI/AAAAAAAAGFI/kpG6MgvE3dg/s1600/n1-5.png

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-S3PrLwz208U/UFY348DDICI/AAAAAAAAGEo/tvteKKhztgc/s1600/n1-1.png

[pesto]

Interesting. Not old-school high-tech, because there is some retail as well as food built into the walkable environment. Reminds me of the London and Amsterdam suburbs, with little centers of everything needed for living except the housing. It's an open question but I think this approach (with high density housing available nearby by transit) is the best way to go. High-rise is definitely in low-demand as a working environment for anything but the traditional suit and tie professions and even passe for them.

SJ is developing an interesting "downtown" extending from SJS up 1st through civic center, the airport and toward Gt. America and the SC Convention Center and 49er Stadium complex. All nicely linked by VTA.

[timbad]

This was on The San Jose Blog (http://www.thesanjoseblog.com/)

...

Click Here for more images (http://www.thesanjoseblog.com/2012/09/n1-north-first-campus.html)

the 'main street' I suppose is nice, but six large parking garages when there is a light-rail stop adjacent? obviously not a high expectation that public transport will be used to get there. needless to say, poor use of space, not good for the environment or health. too typical for that part of the Bay Area, unfortunately.

[pesto]

the 'main street' I suppose is nice, but six large parking garages when there is a light-rail stop adjacent? obviously not a high expectation that public transport will be used to get there. needless to say, poor use of space, not good for the environment or health. too typical for that part of the Bay Area, unfortunately.

The transit option is there for those who want to use it and so is the parking option.

[easy as pie]

yeah, i just usually try to avoid leaving the city or reading about anything happening outside of the city, best policy.

[krudmonk]

Oh, so just like the other 800,000? Thanks for informing us.

[northbay]

yeah, i just usually try to avoid leaving the city or reading about anything happening outside of the city, best policy.

So what are you doing in a thread dedicated specifically to development outside of SF proper?

[rriojas71]

Oh, so just like the other 800,000? Thanks for informing us.

The other 799,999... I actually care about stuff outside of SF as far as the bay area is concerned.

[San Frangelino]

This has been under construction for so long...I'd forgotten all about it.

From: The Registry (http://news.theregistrysf.com/great-expectations-as-jack-london-square-and-market-near-finish/)


Great Expectations As Jack London Square and Market Near Finish
OCTOBER 11, 2012 by PUBLISHER in BREAKING NEWS, COMMERCIAL
By Mike Coppinger

OAKLAND, Calif. – Jack London Square peeks over the bay, a beautiful sprawling space lined with trees and upscale eateries. The park named after the famed author (his Klondike cabin was relocated to the area) is a beacon of light in a city looking for an upswing.

One of the staples of that anticipated rise is 55 Harrison St., a five-level, 172,000-square-foot property that is 90 percent leased and is expected to bring ample visitors to the waterfront hub as it nears completion.

Read On.... (http://news.theregistrysf.com/great-expectations-as-jack-london-square-and-market-near-finish/)

http://news.theregistrysf.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Jack-London-Square-The-Registry-real-estate.jpeg


There is also this little tidbit in the article
Further bolstering the area, commercial brokerage Cassidy Turley said Oct. 3 that it has been retained by San Francisco’s Shorenstein Properties LLC to do the pre-leasing of 601 City Center, a 23-story, 597,000-square-foot Class A office development. Located on 12th Street adjacent to the BART Station, 601 City Center will be connected to Jack London Square via the B shuttle. Shorenstein plans to develop the building upon the signing of an anchor tenant. The building was designed to achieve LEED Platinum certification, the highest level.

Here's the website for 601 City Center (http://www.601citycenter.com/index.php)

[northbay]

Not bad, certainly a welcome addition to Oakland's skyline.

[ElDuderino]

:previous: Definitely nothing spectacular, but its not a bad design, and it will be nice to finally see something new rise in Oaktown

[San Frangelino]

From: Curbed (http://sf.curbed.com/archives/2012/10/17/samsung_takes_over_san_jose.php)

Samsung is building a new innovation headquarters in San Jose
Samsung is building a new innovation headquarters in San Jose, the largest ever for the company in California. Plans to build a 1.1 million sq.ft. facility north of downtown San Jose on the current Samsung property will include offices and a high-tech R&D research space. NBBJ (http://www.nbbj.com/) will design the new campus, with their past work including offices for Google, Amazon, Microsoft, Tencent, and Alipay. Though the project is still in its design phase and isn't expected to be completed until 2014, it's set to include a large exhibition center, employee wellness areas, and indoor workplace/outdoor connections.

[San Frangelino]

From: The Registry (http://news.theregistrysf.com/essex-bets-on-downtown-san-jose-again/)

Essex Bets On Downtown San Jose—Again
OCTOBER 23, 2012 by PUBLISHER 3 in BREAKING NEWS, RESIDENTIAL

By Sharon Simonson

Palo Alto’s Essex Property Trust Inc. plans another major foray into downtown San Jose with the construction of a 21-story tower at one of the most desirable street corners in Silicon Valley’s only high-rise city center.
Read On.... http://news.theregistrysf.com/essex-bets-on-downtown-san-jose-again/


http://news.theregistrysf.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/One-South-Market.jpg

[San Frangelino]

Here is video of the Bay Meadow (http://baymeadows.com/)s Development, which is currently under construction in San Mateo.

See more videos here https://vimeo.com/steelblue

50860998

[San Frangelino]

From The San Jose Blog (http://www.thesanjoseblog.com/2012/11/samsung-is-planning-to-build-two-office.html)

Samsung is Planning to Build Two Office Towers in San Jose
The good news train keeps on rolling. Samsung is expanding in San Jose, and they are deciding to build up instead of sprawl across a larger campus. They are going to tear down their current buildings and build two 10-story towers. The new development will total 650,000 sqft (i.e. these will be massive 10-story buildings) and allow Samsung to triple their workforce in San Jose to 900 employees.

Continue Reading....
(http://www.thesanjoseblog.com/2012/11/samsung-is-planning-to-build-two-office.html)

http://extras.mnginteractive.com/live/media/site568/2012/1102/20121102_111105_1102samsung.jpg

[San Frangelino]

From The Silicon Valley Business Journal (http://www.bizjournals.com/sanjose/blog/2012/10/republic-barry-swenson-starting.html?s)

Republic, Barry Swenson starting construction on midtown apartments
Silicon Valley / San Jose Business Journal by Nathan Donato-Weinstein, Real Estate Reporter
Date: Monday, October 15, 2012, 1:25pm PDT

A mixed-use apartment project in San Jose’s midtown should start construction within weeks now that the developer has closed on a $42 million construction loan.
Republic Urban Properties is now ready to start constructing 218 rental units and 15,800 square feet of ground-floor retail that have long been planned for the 3.5-acre site at 1400 West Carlos St.

Read On... (http://www.bizjournals.com/sanjose/blog/2012/10/republic-barry-swenson-starting.html?s)

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--i3SAvHvfw0/T1u44NInOJI/AAAAAAAADJM/7LVj1YlZF_Q/s1600/meridian1.png

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-774Zlyzg_Q4/T1u45NL7WwI/AAAAAAAADJU/cVxdJMmFCEE/s1600/meridian2.png

[1977]

Some density for Berkeley? Seems long overdue, imo.

First high-rise in 40 years planned for downtown Berkeley

http://www.berkeleyside.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Perspective-ShattuckAtAllston_121812-1024x637.jpg

A Los Angeles real estate group submitted an application Thursday to build Berkeley’s first high-rise in 40 years — a 17-story luxury apartment complex on Harold Way that connects to the historic Hinks Department Store on Shattuck Avenue.

HSR Berkeley Investments wants to spend as much as $200 million to construct a 180-foot tall tower with 355 residences next to the property that now houses the Shattuck Cinemas and various offices.

The new apartments, called The Residences at Berkeley Plaza, are designed to appeal to empty nesters and high-income professionals, such as those who work at booming San Francisco technology companies like Twitter and Salesforce.com, but who are having difficulty landing an apartment in the city.


In addition to the cinemas (which used to hold Hinks Department Store) the property, formally known as Berkeley Center, houses Habitot Children’s Museum, a Starbucks, and offices. The Hotel Shattuck Plaza sits on the block, but was not included in the transaction.

The complex, right by the downtown BART station, will be an L-shaped building with one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments. There will be three towers, one five or six stories high, another 13 stories tall, and a third on the corner of Allston and Harold Way that reaches 17 stories, according to Mark Rhoades, a former city of Berkeley planner whose company, Mark Rhoades Planning Group, will lead the entitlement process.


Source and article: http://www.berkeleyside.com/2012/12/21/first-highrise-in-40-years-proposed-for-downtown-berkeley/

[easy as pie]

a nice little update on the oaktown airport connecter progress: http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/BART-to-airport-connector-is-on-track-4156219.php#photo-3960767

it's at 65% completion, with a sept 2014 delivery date. heinously, however, and unlike any people-mover i've ever taken, fares will run between $4-6.