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

[sjinsjca]

This from the city that just last month, despite much handwringing and months of hesitation, acted to ban public defecation, urination and masturbation on its subways. http://blogs.sfweekly.com/thesnitch/2013/05/bart_ban.php

Brave, brave politicians, these.

I'd much rather see the city's teeming bureaucrats and vote-whores bash the proposed store for looking like a gigantic toaster oven than for removing a stinky fountain in an area that's an eyesore. If the street people that infest the city want to wash up, let 'em migrate to Fisherman's Wharf like the giant rats that have free run there, and freshen up in the festering waters by the docks.

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I like the idea of building underground

Problematic in SF.

 

[AidenShaw]

Re: underground

Problematic in SF.

Perhaps you didn't know that underneath Union Square is a huge multi-level underground parking garage.... And on the opposite corner of the square the St. Francis has a big underground parking. Nearby, the Civic Center Plaza also has a huge underground parking lot.

I'm sure that Apple could find a way to put a "Genius" bar underground, since across the street hundreds of cars are parked underground.

ps: North and south Moscone Centers are mostly underground as well.

 

[GermanyChris]

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.

Good Bye..It's been nice knowing you..

 

[GoldenJoe]

Good Bye..It's been nice knowing you..

You might want to read the article again. Apple is building the store, not me.

 

[GermanyChris]

You might want to read the article again. Apple is building the store, not me.

and that was referencing Apple not you thats why I highlighted the part I did.

 

[TC25]

Yes, folks, everyone is up in arms over this incredibly ugly fountain. Are they frickin' serious? And the artist who made this fountain should have his or her credentials revoked!

The artist was ahead of their time. How'd they know what the Borg Cube was going to look like?

 

[West Egg]

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.

I love how cities that don't reflexively allow businesses to do whatever the heck they want are automatically labeled "anti-business".

 

[RenoG]

I think it would be cool for Apple to use the same foot print as the Levi bldg, Just one big Triangle, that'll solve the long big blank wall issue. And that fountain, (sitting just right of the picture on the steps) its very interesting, unique, and very very ugly and unsightly in my opinion. In fact the last time I looked at it I thought to myself, "what a nasty ugly clump of art". They can simply transport it over into the park across the street if its that serious.

70's architecture is the ugliest IMO, all the bldgs in sf built in that era are simply drab and uninspiring. Its like the 70's was a transitional pierod, exiting the beautiful old and stepping into the creative future thus creating a period of grossly stale mundaneness. For this reason I hate 70's architecture and union square has plenty of it, just look. When new bldgs come up in the area I welcome it with open arms since I have to see them everyday. By the way I love how forever21 use the old bldg on Market but have rather seen Apple use that space as they do a wonderful job at occupying old buildings worth maintaining.

 

[GermanyChris]

I love how cities that don't reflexively allow businesses to do whatever the heck they want are automatically labeled "anti-business".

It's the reason America is in the situation it's in..

it's always a good idea to keep Harlan County in mind

 

[msimpson]

Who cares?

This is a San Francisco issue. I do visit S.F. from time to time and usually visit the Union Square area, but I don't live there, so could really care less. Let the local citizens decide what their city is like.

It would be good if commentators would please post their qualifications to comment on the issue:

1) Resident of San Francisco
2) Resident of the overall San Francisco Bay Area or Silicon Valley
3) Homeless person from San Francisco
4) Not a resident of San Francisco or California
5) Alien being from another planet living in San Francisco.

 

[IGregory]

Negative to a Positive

I see it this way. The controversy gives Apple an opportunity to turn a negative for it into a positive. If the fountain stays, more people will come to see it. What's the godsend of any retail business with a store front? Pedestrian traffic. People come to see the fountain, Oh, there's Apple. Lets go in and buy something.

 

[sunspot42]

Moronic

Having an Apple store built in my neighborhood several years back (Chicago north side), I can first hand say this is a hidious piece of archecture. A square building with too much sun-exposed glass that let's the blinding hot sun in most of the day that actually physically makes me dizzy when i walk in there (even the employees complain).

You've gotta be kidding me. This is San Francisco. You're lucky if the sun is shining. And that wall of glass faces south, so forget about 'blinding hot' sun from spring thru fall.

If you have 'blinding hot' sun in San Francisco, brace yourself for the apocalypse, because the sun just went nova.

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Like I said, I challenge the people who so strongly object to the fountain to explain why instead of making these unclassy shoot-from-the-hip comments.

It's an eyesore.

There. That wasn't so hard, was it?

It looks like a giant squatted over the edge of the plaza and crapped an enormous terd on the stairs.

But it has a patina, so we're all supposed to appreciate it. Or something.

The manhole covers in the area also have a patina and 'intricate' designs. Are we supposed to appreciate those as well, der kommissar?

 

[AidenShaw]

If you have 'blinding hot' sun in San Francisco, brace yourself for the apocalypse, because the sun just went nova

San Francisco has many micro-climates - and Union Square is in a generally sunny area.

There's even an SF Micro-climate app for the Apple phone - http://www.sfclimates.com/

Note the street view picture (https://forums.macrumors.com/posts/17331242/) , the fountain picture (https://forums.macrumors.com/posts/17331494/), the one I took (https://forums.macrumors.com/posts/17334060/ - at 19:30, Union Square is in the shadow of the buildings, but the buildings are in the sun) and the one just above (https://forums.macrumors.com/posts/17345872/). (And, although I didn't take any outdoor pictures, I was in the City for Mother's Day and it was bright and sunny at Union Square then.... I was also there yesterday - and yep, sunny.)

All show a nice, sunny location for the Levi's building.

 

[sunspot42]

Union Square - Freezing Cold On Sunday

San Francisco has many micro-climates - and Union Square is in a generally sunny area.

Dude, I was there on Sunday. Freezing cold, blowing fog, in the middle of the afternoon.

I'm from Phoenix. San Francisco doesn't even know what "blinding sun" is. I have flashlights brighter than the summer sun most days in San Francisco.

That wall of south-facing glass the new Apple store will sport is a non-issue. The giant Macy's on the other side of Union Square has an immense wall of glass that faces north, and it hasn't burst into flames or sent customers screaming into the streets.

But I do love the hysterics from the usual suspects.

If we could harness hysteria here in San Francisco we'd have a limitless source of energy.