JK Dineen wrote about this project last week. Here are some tidbits I found enlightening.
Some of the neighbors issues:
Quote:
Many of the objections center on the impact of construction on a frail older population. The "noise of the demolition will be absolutely frightening," said Ted Weber, a 90-year-old Sequoias resident. He said the development would prevent residents from opening their windows.
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"The closer the tower comes to the property line, the closer they are to that section of our building," said Kathie Cheatham, 70, president of the Sequoias residents association. "It's too close for comfort if you are in a room where you can't get out."
She said they two curb cuts along Post Street would create pedestrian safety issues for seniors who walk around the neighborhood doing errands. She also said the tower would make a windy hilltop windier.
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Cheatham said her group would support a 260-foot alternative proposed by the architecture firm Heller Manus. The developer is also doing an environmental study of the shorter building as an alternative.
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From Adco:
Quote:
Eric Grossberg of the Adco Group said the objections the neighbors are raising - shadows, construction noise, wind - will be similar whether the tower is 260 feet or 400 feet.
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Adco said it has asked to present the project to Sequoias residents and board, but have not been invited to.
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The city's view:
Quote:
Planning Director John Rahaim said the design has improved, but that planning staff is still "struggling with the height."
"There is no question (Cathedral Hill) is a place for tall buildings - they are already there," he said. "The only question is whether 400 feet is appropriate. We are still looking at it and considering it."
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You can basically throw away the demolition noise, wind and shadow concerns as those don't change anything for the Sequoias whether it's 400' or 260' and they've said they would support 260'. So those obviously aren't really their issues at all and we're left with proximity to their building as their remaining complaint.
I can just see Planning giving the OK to Adco's design but at the 260' height (which will look atrocious) as a compromise to both parties. But in reality that won't address the neighbors' one apparently real complaint at all: proximity. It will be chopped down to a little nub for nothing.
Note: there are several renderings of the proposed ground floor treatments at the
link. Not sure how finished they actually are but it gives some indication of where they are headed.