San Francisco Mayor to Take Another Look at Apple's Proposed Union Square Store Following Criticism

[MacRumors]

Earlier this week, the San Francisco Chronicle addressed some criticisms of Apple's proposed flagship store for the city's Union Square retail district, a store that would replace the current flagship a few blocks to the south. While the announcement of Apple's plans several weeks ago had been accompanied by glowing remarks from city politicians, critics have pointed to a long blank wall along Stockton Street and the removal of a popular fountain behind the store as significant issues for the plans.

The Chronicle now follows up on the situation, quoting San Francisco mayor Ed Lee as saying that he hadn't realized Apple's plans called for removal of the fountain and reporting that he would be taking another look to see if it could be kept.

"We weren't necessarily focused on that side," Lee said, referring to a plaza along Stockton Street where the fountain stands. "It wasn't part of our discussion." [...]

"I need to take a look and visualize" how the fountain would or would not complement Apple's proposal for a raised narrow plaza between its store and the Grand Hyatt. The hotel tower was built in tandem with the plaza and the retail building in the early 1970s. "We have to see whether it might fit in."

Lee also addressed the issue of the 80 foot-long blank wall along Stockton Street, noting that city officials had raised objections to it during initial discussions and that Apple had been "very receptive" to those concerns. The city places distinct emphasis on activating the street-level experience in the pedestrian-oriented Union Square shopping district, and Apple's plans would create a significant gap in that experience.

The project still needs to proceed through reviews by the city's planning and historic preservation commissions, and it could see tweaks as a result of discussions with those groups. Apple has not commented further on the project, and the Grand Hyatt hotel that owns the property and fountain simply notes that "it's too premature" to address whether there may be changes to the proposal.

Article Link: San Francisco Mayor to Take Another Look at Apple's Proposed Union Square Store Following Criticism

 

[rdlink]

I've been to Union Square many times. That store as drawn up in that rendering would be the best looking thing in the area. Period.

It's one thing to try to blend into historic buildings and architecture. But 1970s architecture is not really something we should be trying to preserve...

 

[ArtOfWarfare]

Politicians being politicians as usual.

I hate them all at this point.

He's either lying about caring about the fountain or lying not about noticing it's gone, or he's inept. I'd rather have more frank leaders who actually spoke their mind at the risk of offending a few constituents. Just say, "You know what, you're right, it's gone and I didn't notice because I don't care." - it sounds a lot better to me. A few whiners will feel whiney, but that's the way life works.

 

[Capt Underpants]

Both of the concerns mentioned in the article seem reasonable.

 

[mrgraff]

Politicians being politicians as usual.

I hate them all at this point.

He's either lying about caring about the fountain or lying not about noticing it's gone, or he's inept. I'd rather have more frank leaders who actually spoke their mind at the risk of offending a few constituents. Just say, "You know what, you're right, it's gone and I didn't notice because I don't care." - it sounds a lot better to me. A few whiners will feel whiney, but that's the way life works.

This. He either didn't care or didn't think to care, and worst of all hoped nobody would notice.

I've been to Union Square many times. That store as drawn up in that rendering would be the best looking thing in the area. Period.

It's one thing to try to blend into historic buildings and architecture. But 1970s architecture is not really something we should be trying to preserve...

I had to find a street view of the artist's rendering to get a feel for what all the fuss is about. I see what you mean...

 

[Kaibelf]

Both of the concerns mentioned in the article seem reasonable.

Yes, totally reasonable. Who needs a big thick blank wall when the whole store could just be made of solid glass in an earthquake-prone area?.....

Either way, this is stupid. You keep the fountain, and wave goodbye to the commercial activity and jobs that store would bring, and why? So that bums have a place to wash up?

 

[Small White Car]

Politicians being politicians as usual.

I hate them all at this point.

Ah, yes. A proposal is made. The public responds. The proposal is re-evaluated based on the public's concerns. All sides are heard.

Democracy: What a drag!

 

[gleepskip]

Apple need to save the huge red-on-black logo in the window from the existing Levi's structure. They can plaster that to the 80-foot wide wall. The residents seem to have no problem with how tacky the logo looks now and the side wall will no longer be blank.

 

[GoldenJoe]

It's simple. Take the offer off the table, and build the store in a city that treats businesses well and encourages growth. I understand that you won't pull the same numbers everywhere you go, but as long as you keep building in places like this and paying taxes to the same old anti-business government, you're going to continue receiving the same poor treatment.

 

[Jsameds]

So it is receiving criticism because the designs are so good it will make the rest of the square look bad?

Mayor Lee - “San Francisco is the Innovation Capital of the World"

In light of this 'criticism' it seems SF is in fact stuck in the past.

 

[rei101]

The fountain is horrible but the design of the new store is not doing any better neither.

If they are going to place an store, the architect needs to really work, the actual design is lazy not to say mediocre.

 

[Capt Underpants]

Yes, totally reasonable. Who needs a big thick blank wall when the whole store could just be made of solid glass in an earthquake-prone area?.....

Either way, this is stupid. You keep the fountain, and wave goodbye to the commercial activity and jobs that store would bring, and why? So that bums have a place to wash up?

Thin sidewalks and an 80' blank wall aren't exactly pedestrian friendly.

And if the fountain is popular -- if people do sit on it or congregate around it -- maybe Apple could incorporate a similar water feature or seating element into their design.

 

[ifij775]

They should just get Apple to build them a new fountain that doesn't look like a melting candle.

 

[Capt Underpants]

It's simple. Take the offer off the table, and build the store in a city that treats businesses well and encourages growth. I understand that you won't pull the same numbers everywhere you go, but as long as you keep building in places like this and paying taxes to the same old anti-business government, you're going to continue receiving the same poor treatment.

Or Apple could address the city's concerns, and end up with a better design.

For all of Apple's great product designs -- they fall short with their architecture. Their spaceship campus is the most glaring example of this.

 

[ArtOfWarfare]

Ah, yes. A proposal is made. The public responds. The proposal is re-evaluated based on the public's concerns. All sides are heard.

Democracy: What a drag!

We're not in a democracy though - if we were, we wouldn't have representatives - everything would be decided through extensive polling of all of the people.

We live in a democratic republic where people vote for leaders who are then supposed to make decisions on our behalf. Ideally, there's enough viable candidates that everyone is able to vote for someone who shares much of their same values. We don't have that though - we have a two party system where every representative is either a screwball that takes everything to the extremes or a flip flop that you're not sure what they believe.

From time to time I actually hear candidates that actually have values that aren't at their extremes, but their campaigns always die in the primaries (which thinking about it now... It seems to me the primaries might actually be the key flaw in our system that ensures we always have only two viable candidates...)

 

[IGregory]

I've been to Union Square many times. That store as drawn up in that rendering would be the best looking thing in the area. Period.

It's one thing to try to blend into historic buildings and architecture. But 1970s architecture is not really something we should be trying to preserve...

Not that I am in favor of all this historic preservation crap but I would say a significant structure that dates back to the 1970s (40 years ago) would meet the definition of historic. The reason I know is, you see I too am a relic. I go back 20 years earlier.

I'm sure, Apple being Apple, will come back with a plan that satisfies everyone.

 

[samcraig]

Ah, yes. A proposal is made. The public responds. The proposal is re-evaluated based on the public's concerns. All sides are heard.

Democracy: What a drag!

QFT

They should just get Apple to build them a new fountain that doesn't look like a melting candle.

You know - if you don't like the fountain - that's one thing. But reducing someone's art the way you have and implying it should be tossed and just replaced is unfortunate commentary.

I think the proposed Apple building would be a great addition to the square. I don't, however think it needs to come at the expense of the fountain. Surely there can be a compromise.

 

[Jacquesvw]

.

 

[Kaibelf]

Thin sidewalks and an 80' blank wall aren't exactly pedestrian friendly.

And if the fountain is popular -- if people do sit on it or congregate around it -- maybe Apple could incorporate a similar water feature or seating element into their design.

It's a store. Why don't they just put a koi pond next to every register and a bamboo garden? And since when does a wall being blank have anything to do with being pedestrian friendly? The front of the store is wide open. There's a similar design on Michigan Avenue in Chicago, and yet, lo and behold, people still manage to walk by without feeling like the world is going to end.

----------

Ah, yes. A proposal is made. The public responds. The proposal is re-evaluated based on the public's concerns. All sides are heard.

Democracy: What a drag!

This isn't a democracy, this is a republic.

 

[JayCee842]

I'm sure he's a Samsung fanboy. If Samsung were opening up a store of their own, he and everyone who opposes this plan would be on their knees.

Haters gonna hate.

 

[Small White Car]

We're not in a democracy though

This isn't a democracy, this is a republic.

I did not say we were.

Should I have said: "The democratic process! What drag!" Sorry for not being more clear.

I was talking about how the process whereby city planning is done with the public's input is a democratic process. A representative republic still has democracy IN it even if it's not a "pure democracy."

You seem to think that making these choices behind closed doors between elected officials with no one else's involvement is the way to go. I don't agree with that.

Let's look at another example: It sure would be easier to just elect a school superintendent and give him full power. "That's representative democracy," we'd say. But instead of that we've decided that school boards that hold public meetings is a better plan. City-planning works the same way.

 

[JayCee842]

Ah, yes. A proposal is made. The public responds. The proposal is re-evaluated based on the public's concerns. All sides are heard.

Democracy: What a drag!

Ummm, not a democracy, it's a republic...

 

[Capt Underpants]

It's a store. Why don't they just put a koi pond next to every register and a bamboo garden? And since when does a wall being blank have anything to do with being pedestrian friendly? The front of the store is wide open. There's a similar design on Michigan Avenue in Chicago, and yet, lo and behold, people still manage to walk by without feeling like the world is going to end.

It's a store -- with a few flaws. The design could be better.

 

[Four oF NINE]

I'm not sure that particular fountain is especially noteworthy, I don't see the appeal of that one.

Not sure what could be done with the blank wall, but someone will get creative with it.

 

[dennno]

It's an ugly fountain. It's not exactly a historic piece of architecture. It will probably turn tourists off the place. This criticism is stupid.