San Francisco Transbay development

File:MillenniumTower-2016-06-21.jpg

The original Transbay Terminal opened in 1939 as the San Francisco terminus for the Key System and other commuter trains that travelled across the new San Francisco–Oakland Bay Bridge to the East Bay. Train service to San Francisco was discontinued in 1958 and the Transbay Terminal was reconfigured for buses. Transbay train service would resume in 1974 with the opening of BART and the Transbay Tube, but the BART tracks were routed under Market Street, bypassing the Transbay Terminal. By the end of the 20th century, the Transbay Terminal was underused and rundown, handling an average of about 20,000 commuters per day.{{cite news |url=http://www.sfgate.com/default/article/Ambitious-Plan-For-Rebuilding-S-F-Transit-Hub-2951740.php |title=Ambitious Plan For Rebuilding S.F. Transit Hub / Ideas for new Transbay Terminal |first=Edward |last=Epstein |date=February 16, 2001 |accessdate=January 22, 2014 |work=The San Francisco Chronicle}}

In 1985, San Francisco adopted the Downtown Plan, which slowed development in the Financial District north of Market Street and directed it to the area South of Market around the Transbay Terminal.{{cite web |url=http://commissions.sfplanning.org/cpcmotions/2012/R18630%20TCDP_GenPlanAmendments.pdf |title=Transit Center District Plan – General Plan Amendments |date=May 24, 2012 |accessdate=April 11, 2013}} In the early 1990s, the Embarcadero Freeway was demolished following the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake, freeing up numerous city blocks for development south of the Transbay Terminal. In 1995, Caltrain agreed to study extending its commuter rail service from its Fourth and King terminus closer to the Financial District, including whether the obsolete Transbay Terminal should be removed, remodeled, or rebuilt.{{cite news |url=http://www.sfgate.com/default/article/CalTrain-moves-a-step-closer-to-Financial-District-3137905.php |title=CalTrain moves a step closer to Financial District |last=Mitchell |first=Eve |work=San Francisco Chronicle |date=August 4, 1995 |accessdate=April 11, 2013}}

Ultimately, it was decided that the Transbay Terminal should be rebuilt, with the rail extension entering the Terminal under Second Street. In 1996, then-San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown issued the idea of redeveloping the earthquake-damaged Transbay Transit Center. To that end, Brown tapped his then-new deputy Mayor Maria Ayerdi Kaplan to head the project. Kaplan created, and then became executive director of, the Transbay Joint Powers Authority in 2008.{{cite news | url=https://oaklandnewsnow.com/index.php/2018/08/26/maria-ayerdi-kaplan-developer-of-salesforce-transit-center-part-one-of-her-story/ | title=Maria Ayerdi-Kaplan, Salesforce Transit Center Builder, TJPA Creator: Her Story Part One|work=Oakland News Now | date=August 26, 2018}}

To finance the projects and promote development in the area, the Transbay Redevelopment Plan was adopted by the City of San Francisco in June 2005. By raising a number of building height limits and selling former freeway parcels, the plan envisions the development of over 2,500 new homes, 3 million square feet of new office and commercial space, and 100,000 square feet of retail.{{cite web |url=http://transbaycenter.org/project/redevelopment-plan |title=Transbay Transit Center – Redevelopment Plan |accessdate=April 11, 2013 |archive-date=October 11, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121011200311/http://transbaycenter.org/project/redevelopment-plan |url-status=dead }}

{{main|Salesforce Transit Center}}

Designed by Pelli Clarke Pelli, the new Salesforce Transit Center replaced the former Transbay Terminal at a cost of roughly $2 billion USD{{cite news |last1=Dineen |first1=J.K. |title=Park, housing key to future of SF's new high-rise neighborhood |url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/Park-housing-key-to-future-of-SF-s-new-13148490.php |accessdate=August 18, 2018 |work=San Francisco Chronicle |date=August 12, 2018}} and has been dubbed the "Grand Central Station of the West" by proponents.{{cite web |url=http://transbaycenter.org/project/program-overview |title=Transbay Transit Center – The Program |accessdate=January 22, 2014}} The new center is planned to eventually include an extension of the Caltrain commuter rail service into the station from its current northern terminus at 4th and King Streets in Mission Bay via tunnels which would also carry the Bay Area segment of the future California High-Speed Rail (CAHSR) and terminate at the station, as mandated by California voters in Proposition 1A, the ballot measure authorizing CAHSR construction. This extension would cost an additional $2–4 billion and is currently unfunded.{{cite news |last1=Swan |first1=Rachel |title=Salesforce Transit Center puzzle: When will the trains get to the station? |url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/Salesforce-Transit-Center-puzzle-When-will-the-13142498.php |accessdate=August 18, 2018 |work=San Francisco Chronicle |date=August 9, 2018}}

File:Transbay Transit Center under construction, Spring 2013.png

The Transit Center currently has three levels plus a {{convert|5.4|acre|adj=on}} public rooftop park. The ground level is the street entrance to the Transit Center. Above that are administrative offices, retail shops, restaurants, and the Amtrak/Greyhound waiting room. The final indoors level services Transbay buses from San Francisco's Muni, the East Bay's AC Transit, and WestCAT, as well as long-distance buses operated by Greyhound and Amtrak Thruway.{{cite web |url= http://transbaycenter.org/project/transit-center |title=Transbay Transit Center – The Project: Transit Center |accessdate=May 20, 2013}} Future Caltrain and HSR service would utilize two underground levels, the lower of which would house the tracks and platforms, and the upper of which would house a retail concourse and waiting areas.

{{main|Salesforce Tower}}

Adjacent to the Transit Center and at the center of the redevelopment effort is a signature skyscraper at First and Mission Streets. The proposal featured plans from several major architecture firms including Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, Richard Rogers Partnership, and Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects. Eventually the plan from Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects was picked.{{cite web |url=http://www.socketsite.com/archives/2007/08/san_franciscos_transbay_terminal_design_competition_des.html |title=San Francisco's Transbay Terminal Design Proposals: Highlights |publisher=SocketSite |date=August 7, 2007}} The original plans from Pelli Clark Pelli Architects called for a {{convert|1200|ft|m|adj=on}} tower as the main tower and a massive three-block-long Transbay Center. However, due to considerations about how the tower would cast a shadow over some of the city's parks, the height was eventually reduced to {{convert|1070|ft|m}}.{{cite web |url=http://sf.curbed.com/archives/2012/03/14/transbay_terminal_still_pretty_still_tall_just_shorter.php |title=Transbay Terminal, Still Pretty, Still Tall, Just Shorter |date=March 14, 2012 |first=Philip |last=Ferrato |publisher=CurbedSF}}{{cite web |url=http://sf.curbed.com/archives/2008/05/01/transbay_terminal_plan_newandimproved.php |title=Transbay Terminal Plan: New-and-Improved |date=May 1, 2008 |first=Sarah|last=Hromack |publisher=CurbedSF}}

The designs to the supertall tower changed during its planning phase, its final design eventually incorporates slits at each side of its angular top along with an altered terminal station design.{{cite web |url=http://www.socketsite.com/archives/2012/09/transbay_transit_tower_design_tweaks_and_timing.html |title=Transbay Tower Tweaks, Cuts And Timing |date=September 24, 2012 |publisher=SocketSite}} However some of the original design cues were later restored and reincorporated due to complaints about the design modifications.{{cite news |url=http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/place/article/Transbay-center-design-change-proposed-4359348.php#photo-4332517 |title=Transbay center design change proposed |first=John |last=King |newspaper=San Francisco Chronicle |date=March 15, 2013}} The tower and the new terminal had their groundbreaking ceremonies on March 27, 2013.{{cite press release |url=http://www.marketwatch.com/story/boston-properties-and-hines-close-on-record-land-sale-for-transbay-transit-tower-parcel-2013-03-26 |title=Boston Properties and Hines Close on Record Land Sale for Transbay Transit Tower Parcel |date=March 26, 2013 |publisher=BusinessWire via MarketWatch}} The office tower opened in early 2018, followed by the Transit Center in August of that same year.

With the adoption of the Transit Center District Plan in 2012, height limits were raised for several parcels in the vicinity of the Transit Center.{{cite news |url=http://www.socketsite.com/archives/2012/05/san_franciscos_transit_center_district_and_tower_plan_u.html |title=Planning's Towering Transit Center District Plan Decision: Approved |work=SocketSite |date=May 24, 2012 |accessdate=April 11, 2013}} Among the parcels zoned for taller buildings are 50 First Street, 181 Fremont Street, 350 Mission Street, Golden Gate University's campus at 536 Mission Street, the proposed Palace Hotel Residential Tower, and the Salesforce Tower site.

Following the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake, the Embarcadero Freeway was torn down, opening up a number of blocks for development. Several other parcels, near Beale and Howard streets, were used for the East Loop Ramp of the Transbay Terminal and are not needed for the new Transit Center.{{cite news |title=The Transbay Redevelopment |url=http://www.socketsite.com/archives/2006/10/the_transbay_redevelopment.html |date=October 26, 2006 |work=SocketSite |accessdate=June 1, 2013}} In 2007, the state of California officially agreed to transfer the state-owned parcels to the City and County of San Francisco.{{cite news |title=California Transportation Commission Approves Land Transfer to TJPA, City and County of San Francisco for Transbay Transit Center Project and Redevelopment |url=http://transbaycenter.org/uploads/2009/11/TJPA_StateLandTransfer_Release_12-13-073.pdf |date=December 13, 2007}}

The former freeway parcels are located mostly along the north side of Folsom Street between Essex and Spear and have been zoned for residential use.{{cite web |url=http://sfocii.org/sites/default/files/Transbay%20Project%20Area%20Summary%20Sheet_0.pdf | title=Office of Community Investment and Infrastructure (OCII) Transbay Project Area |accessdate=June 30, 2017}} Other lots, called Parcel F, Parcel M, and Parcel T, have been zoned for office buildings.{{Cite web| title=Transbay redevelopment project area | url=http://transbaycenter.org/uploads/2008/09/Development_Presentation-09-16-08.pdf | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110211044751/http://transbaycenter.org/uploads/2008/09/Development_Presentation-09-16-08.pdf | archive-date=2011-02-11}} Parcel T is the site of Salesforce Tower. As of 2013, Transbay Joint Powers Authority has accepted proposals for Blocks 6/7 and Block 9.{{cite news |url=http://www.socketsite.com/archives/2013/01/the_smart_design_for_block_6_folsom_street_from_fremont.html |title=The Green Designs For Block 6: Folsom Street From Fremont To Beale |work=SocketSite |date=January 10, 2013 |accessdate=April 11, 2013}}{{cite news |url=http://www.socketsite.com/archives/2013/02/the_winning_design_and_developer_for_transbay_block_9_a.html |title=The Winning Design And Developer For Transbay Block 9 |work=SocketSite |date=February 15, 2013 |accessdate=April 11, 2013}} The first parcel developed was Block 11, also known as the Rene Cazenave Apartments, an affordable housing project located at 25 Essex Street.{{cite news |url=http://www.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco/blog/real-estate/2012/04/affordable-transbay-housing-project.html |title=Bridge, Community Housing break ground on Transbay affordable project |last=Dineen |first=J.K. |work=San Francisco Business Times |date=April 2, 2012 |accessdate=April 11, 2013}}

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| Block 2 || Residential || || || Temporary Transbay Terminal || {{coord|37.789271|N|122.392612|W}} ||

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| Block 3 || Park ||style="text-align:center"| — ||style="text-align:center"| — || Temporary Transbay Terminal; Slated to become Transbay Park || {{coord|37.789688|N|122.393132|W}} ||

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| Block 4 || Residential || || || Temporary Transbay Terminal || {{coord|37.790097|N|122.393618|W}} ||

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| Block 5 || Residential || 2015 ||style="text-align:center"| $172.5 million || Although zoned for residential, will become Park Tower at Transbay office building || 250 Howard Street || {{cite news |url=http://www.socketsite.com/archives/2014/04/unforeseen_circumstances_result_in_an_unexpected_transb.html |title=An Unexpected Transbay Twist And Block Redesign |date=April 3, 2014 |publisher=SocketSite |accessdate=April 26, 2014}}{{cite news |url=http://www.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco/blog/real-estate/2015/07/park-tower-office-san-francisco-jll-transbay.html |title=Soaring office tower approved to hit San Francisco's skyline |first=Cory |last=Weinberg |date=July 13, 2015 |work=San Francisco Business Times}}

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| Block 6 || Residential || 2013 ||style="text-align:center"| $30 million || 300-foot tower with 409 market-rate units and 70 affordable units || 299 Fremont Street ||rowspan=2| {{cite news| url=http://www.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco/blog/real-estate/2013/04/30m-housing-deal-will-help-bankroll.html?page=all | title=$30 million deal will help bankroll San Francisco's Transbay Terminal}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.socketsite.com/archives/2013/01/the_winning_bid_to_develop_folsom_between_freemont_and.html|title = The Winning Bid and Plan to Develop Folsom from Fremont to Beale| date=January 9, 2013 }}{{Cite web| title=Committee/board of supervisors - agenda packet contents list | url=http://www.sfbos.org/ftp/uploadedfiles/bdsupvrs/bosagendas/materials/bag091713_130794.pdf | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924100758/http://www.sfbos.org/ftp/uploadedfiles/bdsupvrs/bosagendas/materials/bag091713_130794.pdf | archive-date=2015-09-24}}{{Cite web|url=http://news.theregistrysf.com/transbay-block-6-new32-story-luxury-apartments-complex-announced-in-san-franciscos-soma-district/|title=Transbay Block 6, New 32-story Luxury Apartments Complex, Announced in San Francisco's SoMa District|date=October 31, 2013}}

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| Block 7 || Residential || 2013 ||style="text-align:center"| — || 77 units to be built by Mercy Housing || {{coord|37.788948|N|122.393939|W}}

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| Block 8 || Residential || 2014|| style="text-align:center"|$72 million||550-foot, 740-unit residential tower || {{coord|37.787941|N|122.394358|W}} || {{cite news |url=http://www.socketsite.com/archives/2014/03/rem_koolhaas_design_selected_for_folsom_street_tower_de.html |title=Rem Koolhaas Design Selected For Folsom Street Tower |publisher=SocketSite |date=March 18, 2014 |accessdate=April 26, 2014}}

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| Block 9 || Residential || 2013 || $43.32 million || 400-foot, 563-unit residential tower under construction || 500 Folsom Street || {{cite news| url=http://www.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco/blog/real-estate/2013/02/avant-essex-win-transbay-block-9-bid.html | title=Avant, Essex win Transbay Block 9 bid}}

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| Block 10 || Park ||style="text-align:center"| — ||style="text-align:center"| — || Planned Transbay Terminal Under Ramp Park || {{coord|37.786657|N|122.395924|W}} || {{cite news|url=https://www.cmgsite.com/project/transbay-under-ramp-park/|title=Transbay Terminal Under Ramp Park|newspaper=CMG Landscape Architecture |accessdate=June 29, 2018}}

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| Block 11 || Residential || 2011 ||style="text-align:center"| — || 120-unit Rene Cazenave Apartments || 25 Essex Street ||

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| Block 12 || Residential || || || || {{coord|37.784363|N|122.394771|W}} ||

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| Parcel F || Commercial Office || 2016 ||style="text-align:center"| $160 million || 61-story, 800-foot tower, with 16 floors of offices, a 220-room hotel, and 175 condos || {{coord|37.787636|N|122.397695|W}} || {{cite news |url=http://www.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco/blog/real-estate/2016/06/parcel-f-transbay-tower-urban-pacific-hines-gs.html |title=Exclusive: Last Transbay tower site sells for $160 million |first=Roland |last=Li |date=June 22, 2016 |work=San Francisco Business Times}}{{cite web |url=http://www.socketsite.com/archives/2017/03/refined-parcel-f-tower-plans-formally-submitted-to-planning.html |title=Parcel F Plans Formally Submitted to Planning |work=SocketSite |date=March 15, 2017}}

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| Parcel M || Commercial Office || || || || {{coord|37.791324|N|122.394637|W}} ||

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| Parcel T || Commercial Office || 2013 || $191.8 million || Salesforce Tower || 415 Mission Street || {{cite news| url=http://www.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco/blog/2013/03/hines-boston-properties-sling.html?page=all | title=Hines, Boston Properties sling ceremonial dirt in Transbay ground-breaking}}

|}

The Transbay Joint Powers Authority (TJPA) oversees the design, construction, operation, and maintenance of the Salesforce Transit Center. The charter of the TJPA includes three initiatives:

• Replacing the San Francisco Transbay Terminal
• Extending the Caltrain rail line
• Redeveloping the area surrounding the Salesforce Transit Center

The TJPA was created in 2001 as a collaboration of several Bay Area government and transportation agencies. It coordinates the efforts of 11 local, regional, and statewide transit systems.{{Cite web|url=https://www.transportation.gov/tifia/financed-projects/transbay-transit-center|title=Transbay Transit Center|date=January 20, 2015|website=US Department of Transportation|language=en|access-date=March 31, 2019}}{{Cite web|url=http://tjpa.org/tjpa/about-the-tjpa|title=About the TJPA « Transbay Program|language=en-US|access-date=March 31, 2019}}

{{Portal|San Francisco Bay Area}}

• List of tallest buildings in San Francisco

{{Reflist|30em}}

• {{official website|http://transbaycenter.org/}}
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20140707005100/http://www.sfredevelopment.org/index.aspx?page=54 Transbay Redevelopment Project Area – S.F. Office of Community Investment and Infrastructure]
• [http://pcparch.com/project/transbay-transit-center-and-tower Transbay Transit Center proposal from Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects]

{{DEFAULTSORT:San Francisco Transbay Development}}

Category:Transit centers in the United States

Category:South of Market, San Francisco

Category:César Pelli buildings

Category:Salesforce