In examining the question of whether a new high rise development in San Francisco achieves success at street level, John King picks up an age-old, but always relevant, debate.
John King, urban design critic for the San Francisco Chronicle, reviews the Lumina development in the quickly growing neighborhood of Rincon Hill.
King's main concern is that this "vertical neighborhood" managed to improve life at the street level. The summarized assessment: "Now Lumina is complete, and the ground-level moves aren’t nearly as seductive as those in the air. But they’re a strong addition to their surroundings, and likely to get better with age."
At the street level of this pair of 37- and 42-story high-rises and two eight-story buildings: "a parking garage, and the amenity spaces for residents of the 656 condominiums include a climbing wall, a soundproof music studio and a plush screening room."
"Two essential pieces were missing until last month," writes King: "a 9,500-square-foot grocery store, at the corner of Folsom and Main, and a mid-block plaza between Lumina’s south edge and the Bay Area Metro Center. The latter, home to several regional government agencies, occupies a surprisingly inviting remake of an industrial block by Perkins + Will."
King provides an account of the human experience at the street level of the new development, while the development is a relatively new addition to an urban district in the making.
FULL STORY: Lumina’s sexy, slinky condos work to make Rincon Hill a neighborhood
Studio Gang-Designed Tower Proposal Shows Need for Zoning Exceptions in San Francisco
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?
Supermarket Sweep
Large supermarkets in San Francisco are being replaced with higher-end specialty grocers, and some say it's a bad thing for many customers.
Part of San Francisco Waterfront Highway to Become Pedestrian-Only in April
Two miles of the ‘Great Highway’ will be permanently closed to cars, in part due to erosion that makes the road unsafe for vehicles.
What ‘The Brutalist’ Teaches Us About Modern Cities
How architecture and urban landscapes reflect the trauma and dysfunction of the post-war experience.
‘Complete Streets’ Webpage Deleted in Federal Purge
Basic resources and information on building bike lanes and sidewalks, formerly housed on the government’s Complete Streets website, are now gone.
The VW Bus is Back — Now as an Electric Minivan
Volkswagen’s ID. Buzz reimagines its iconic Bus as a fully electric minivan, blending retro design with modern technology, a 231-mile range, and practical versatility to offer a stylish yet functional EV for the future.
Healing Through Parks: Altadena’s Path to Recovery After the Eaton Fire
In the wake of the Eaton Fire, Altadena is uniting to restore Loma Alta Park, creating a renewed space for recreation, community gathering, and resilience.
San Diego to Rescind Multi-Unit ADU Rule
The city wants to close a loophole that allowed developers to build apartment buildings on single-family lots as ADUs.
Electric Vehicles for All? Study Finds Disparities in Access and Incentives
A new UCLA study finds that while California has made progress in electric vehicle adoption, disadvantaged communities remain underserved in EV incentives, ownership, and charging access, requiring targeted policy changes to advance equity.
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.
City of Albany
UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
City of Piedmont, CA
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research