Replacing the Concourse - Page 3

Huge project in Showplace Square begins new residential push in the eastern neighborhoods

08.02.11 - 9:12 pm | Maggie Beidelman |

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Developers propose to replace the Concourse Exhibition Center with 674 homes

GUARDIAN PHOTO BY MIRISSA NEFF

Bay West argues that the apartments it plans to build at the Concourse site would be "workforce housing" with less than 1:1 parking (actual parking would work out to .79:1 at the 801 Brannan site and .64:1 at the One Henry Adams site). More than 40 percent of the units would be larger two-bedroom units intended for families.

Yet Kelly says that that by offering the apartments at market rates, none are appropriate for new families. "For all the talk about keeping families here, then how come we're not building family housing?"

It's a max-out project, says San Francisco architect Dick Millet, of the Potrero Boosters Neighborhood Association. "In the end, under their breath, they're all going to say, I wouldn't live there myself."

Comments

Wow, SF has this long

Wow, SF has this long tradition of arts and crafts and only 2 possible venues for smaller shows. Demolition of the Concourse would eliminate one of these and I, along with many other artisans would be hard hit by the loss. As a long time artisan In SF I feel the economic squeeze in every facet of my business and this loss would add a considerable strain.
Please let the Concourse remain a public venue for the people of SF.
Sarah Shriver

Posted by Guest on Aug. 04, 2011 @ 12:27 am

Corporate greed over neighborhoods needs.

Please help save the Concourse Exhibition Center at 8th and Brannan streets.

There are many shows and vendors that depend on this exhibition center.

Losing it would not only be a loss for the neighborhood, it would be a loss for many non profits, green technology, cannabis, alternative lifestyle and other groups who would be shut out of the city. There are no other centrally located suitable alternatives venues despite the developer's misleading claims. The Cow Palace is not an alternative. Have you have tried to get there by public transportation?

Most of the affordable units won't even be built on site. All of the other apartments will be market rate, without rent control. San Francisco needs this low cost exhibition center. Its loss would be a loss for many.

Posted by David Elliott Lewis on Aug. 04, 2011 @ 7:00 am

As an exhibitor at the KPFA

As an exhibitor at the KPFA craft fair, I wonder if there'd be an affordable venue left after the Concourse has been taken down. We need a location in San Francisco for ease of commuting in order to maintain our show attendees. We, and the other businesses who use this building will most likely have to pay more for our fees to enter a show, and we will lose faithful attendees who may not want to travel to a far away venue for the show. In these economic times, we need as much stability as possible. "Mom and Pop" may sound cute, but we are trying to make a living, and we are running small businesses which need avenues for sales. In San Francisco, we need support for the Arts. Please reconsider taking this long standing unique building and venue away from the Bay Area people.

thank you.

Posted by Guest on Aug. 06, 2011 @ 9:52 am

You want people to live in

You want people to live in the city, you want infill instead of leap frong, but if you don't build the housing there then it will have to be built somewhere else.

Posted by Garrett on Aug. 22, 2011 @ 10:52 pm