The demolition of 45 Lansing
Paul Hwang of Skybox Realty captures the demolition of 45 Lansing. Cater-corner to One Rincon Hill, 45 Lansing is slated to become 305 uberluxury condominiums (“the most upscale development the new neighborhood has seen, with “exotic” marble baths, Italian Snaidero cabinetry, Gaggenau cooking appliances, Jacuzzi hydrotherapy tubs with built-in TVs, individual security systems, and 12-foot penthouse ceilings”) in a 40-story tower.
And a little to the south east, another pluggged-in reader notices the parking lot surrounding Watermark is being broken up and wonders what’s in the works. Anyone have the inside scoop (or even just a camera)?
True Luxury Condos At 45 Lansing? [SocketSite]
Six Relatively Quick Flips At The Sold Out Watermark (501 Beale) [SocketSite]

33 thoughts on “Out With The Old: 45 Lansing And The Lot Around Watermark”
  1. I heard from a south beach realtor and a resident of the Watermark that the parking lot surrounding the building will become a park.

    The resident was looking forward to the new landscaping for the building needed to improve it’s ground floor curb appeal from the Embarcadero St side.

  2. They ripped up the lot next to the Watermark and put in a new Impark lot. Its complete now w/ trees, stripes, etc.

  3. Hmm… I kind of wonder if they’re just redoing the parking lot a bit, prettying it up. The Port is still pursuing legislation that would allow them to squeeze money out of that parking lot and Parking Lot A (by AT&T Park) to help with their budget problems. They’ve already got zoning approval for two more buildings on that seawall lot, but state law prevents them from leasing or otherwise going forward with allowing development of residential/office/retail on the sites at the moment.
    I have no doubt there will be buildings on that land in the future … it’d be wonderful to have a park instead. Rincon Hill and South Beach could use more park space.

  4. Yup, the city convinced the Port of SF (the parking lot owner) into refurbishing the lot for the all-star game, since it will be seen by millions during a televised event at pier 30-32.
    I’m sure something will eventually be built at seawall lot 330 (in a few years at the earliest), but the heights being discussed nowadays are much lower than originally planned. The Port recently discussed at a public meeting the idea that from now on, the tallest new construction would be inland and the shortest new construction would be on the waterfront, to ensure that as few views are impaired as possible.

  5. Does anyone know what the expected start date for construction of 45 Lansing will be? For example, we know that The Californian at Rincon Hill will start in November. Will we have The Californian, One Rincon II and 45 Lansing under construction at the same time? Will this cause an issue in terms of cranes being too close to one another?
    I think that the sprucing up of the parking lot is a good step, but I’d like to see them do something about the piers sooner than later. I think it would do wonders for the neighborhood to have parks, restaurants, etc in that area. Even if there are no parks, if they put up shops and restaurants, it would really liven the neighborhood and get rid of the current eyesore.

  6. Does anyone know what is planned for the gas station right there on the corner?
    The reason I ask is that I don’t see Turnberry “turnberrying” much of a profit if that nasty gas station immediately adjacent to what are supposed to be “uberluxury condos” remains there.

  7. “That gas station has been landmarked as the last remaining gas station in SF.”
    I assume that’s a reference to the Russian Hill resident cooks and their beloved earthquake cottages…
    What a city I live in.

  8. I was referring to the increasingly rare occurence of gas stations in this city. They’re all being replaced by condos.

  9. “I was referring to the increasingly rare occurence of gas stations in this city. They’re all being replaced by condos.”
    And that’s a problem because……?

  10. “I was referring to the increasingly rare occurence of gas stations in this city. They’re all being replaced by condos.”
    Maybe this is the city indirectly promoting people not to drive, but to live closer to their work and either walk or use public transportation.

  11. It’s only a problem when you’re looking for gas so you can escape the miserable weather here in the summer.

  12. “It’s only a problem when you’re looking for gas so you can escape the miserable weather here in the summer.”
    Interesting perspective…you’ve obviously never lived in Houston, Atlanta, L.A., Arizona during a summer. Oh, yeah, but cross Arizona off that list because even though it’s a 120 degrees, it’s only dry heat.
    And all kidding aside…your statement really only applies to the west side of the city, which doesn’t included Rincon Hill.

  13. Anyone have any idea what’s happening with the parking lot on Folsom (x street 1st)? Its behind Guy Pl/Lansing Street.
    I have heard rumors that the city may be building a shelter there.

  14. “I think that the sprucing up of the parking lot is a good step, but I’d like to see them do something about the piers sooner than later. I think it would do wonders for the neighborhood to have parks, restaurants, etc in that area. Even if there are no parks, if they put up shops and restaurants, it would really liven the neighborhood and get rid of the current eyesore.”
    Posted by: SFhighrise
    I totally agree. The shops and restaurants will certainly come in time. How could they not with so many thousands of new residents with at least a bit of spending $$ moving to the area.
    The piers are a lot trickier. Pier 30-32 would cost something like $150 million to seismically upgrade. And brannan street wharf is underfunded by something like $5 million. I thought I heard there would be a bond measure this fall to fund pier improvements along the embarcadero.

  15. “heaven forbid a SHELTER!!! and so near to the UBERluxury condos? oh my…What will the NIMBY’s say?”
    I think anon @ 12:25 was just messing with everyone to see who would bite. Everyone knows that the liberal elite don’t actually want to live anywhere near where the impoverished actually reside.
    Just ask John Edwards (aka “The Millionaire Working Mans’ Politician”)

  16. I think anon @ 12:25 was just messing with everyone to see who would bite. Everyone knows that the liberal elite don’t actually want to live anywhere near where the impoverished actually reside.
    No, they really are trying to put up a “supportive housing” building there. It’s got a number of people who live in the area alarmed.

  17. Folks who live in the area shouldn’t be alarmed … they should just be ready to hold drug addicts trying to recover to a high standard, not allow them to light up their pipe in our neighborhood, and support them with smiles and a welcoming feeling (say good morning, and simple stuff like that when walking by). If they bring problems, we gotta stand up and let them know there’ll be hell to pay. None of us need to coward off and give up our quality of life … you set the expectations and hold ’em to it.

  18. I might remind folks that Delancy Street was one of the first residential complexes in South Beach…and it’s not only one of the handsomest buildings (at least in the historicist sub-category for all you modernist afficianados), but the folks who live there have been an asset to the community. (I do wish Delancy Street would fill up their retail spaces, but that’s another matter).
    Also, there’s an interesting SRO apartment complex on the edge of Rincon Hill on 2nd between Harrison and the freeway. When I last looked at it, it was oriented towards housing the working poor, and was doing a fabulous job.
    Everyone knows that it does no good to concentrate poverty, and yet siting things like supportive housing are very difficult. I assume with all the market rate developoment in the area, it will only get more difficult. I think Delancy Street was VERY lucky to get in when they did.

  19. I personally like Delancey Street. I see these people as having made mistakes, but trying to get their life back in order. I’ve eaten at their restaurants and have used their moving company, having had my expectations exceeded every time.
    I also like what has been done with low income housing, be it on Rincon Hill or over in Mission Bay.
    However, I have a different opinion of homeless shelters in the city. Whether we’re talking about the run-down shelter on Fremont/Harrison or the other one over at 5th & Bryant, these tend to be places where people loiter outside, create lots of human waste, smells and other stuff. I know that we want to be responsible about taking care of these folks, but in cleaning up the neighborhood, this seems to counteract all of the efforts by the city to make it a premier neighborhood. Now, maybe I’m being a NIMBY about this and my views aren’t PC, but I personally am tired of having to step over tons of homeless people and getting panhandled as I walk by the transbay terminal area, and I don’t want to see another place like this show up on Folsom, which is supposed to be the “new Chestnut Street”.

  20. SF Highrise, you make good points too. I would just say, see what kind of “supportive housing” is being proposed. May not be a shelter, but something a step or two up, without those kind of problems. I wouldn’t want to live next to a classic shelter either.

  21. “However, I have a different opinion of homeless shelters in the city. Whether we’re talking about the run-down shelter on Fremont/Harrison or the other one over at 5th & Bryant, these tend to be places where people loiter outside, create lots of human waste, smells and other stuff. I know that we want to be responsible about taking care of these folks, but in cleaning up the neighborhood, this seems to counteract all of the efforts by the city to make it a premier neighborhood. Now, maybe I’m being a NIMBY about this and my views aren’t PC, but I personally am tired of having to step over tons of homeless people and getting panhandled as I walk by the transbay terminal area, and I don’t want to see another place like this show up on Folsom, which is supposed to be the “new Chestnut Street”.”
    Not only are SFHighrise’s points good points, they are THE points that distinguish something like the Delancey Foundation (whose restaurant I frequent) and the typical run of the mill shelter and I for one am not interested in being within 5 miles of the latter if at all possible. I apologize as well if this makes me non-PC. I would have no problem giving my money to an organization like the DF but that’s a far cry from handing out money to panhandlers that loiter in front of or around the shelters that SFHighrise is describing.

  22. So I am confused, which of the new towers is claiming they will be the highest psf cost? The Lansing or Millennium or? I am curious in that Infinity may have the best location, but is not getting the “buzz” that some of these other projects have created. Is it all about umbrellas and cocktails or does location still mean anything when buying a unit?

  23. Not sure which will be more expensive, but I believe that despite the better location of the Infitity the developer of both the places that you’ve alluded to is trying to convince people to pay a higher amount for added product offerings (premium interiors, more amenities such as fire pits, etc, higher ceilings). I personally wouldn’t pay the additional $500 psf for an inferior location. Then again, some people pay more for a brand name hotel, such as a Ritz Carlton in downtown LA, as opposed to a Westin in Beverly Hills. I guess its all in the eye of the beholder.

  24. It is strange that the Lansing and Millennium seem to both be in a battle to try to be the most expensive. As for the Ritz Carlton tower in L.A., I am amazed at how many people are stepping up to reserve those units and heard Arnold (the Gov.) even is buying one. Talk about a nasty location! For less cost you could buy into L.A.’s “Gold Coast” which is the Wilshire Corridor between Beverly Hills and Westwood. I have a friend in the “Mirabella” building, and I cannot think of any new tower in our city that approaches the level of service and ammenities in her building and some of the neighbor towers. A little gossip, Ron Burkle (mega-billions) bought Bill Clinton a place half a block down in another Wilshire building where the ex. pres. spends a lot of time without Hillary, doing what you can only imagine. As for our city, I am seriously thinking of the second tower (whenever it goes up) at Infinity.

  25. “So I am confused, which of the new towers is claiming they will be the highest psf cost? The Lansing or Millennium or? I am curious in that Infinity may have the best location, but is not getting the “buzz” that some of these other projects have created. Is it all about umbrellas and cocktails or does location still mean anything when buying a unit?”
    Excellent points, Morgan!
    https://socketsite.com/archives/2007/06/millennium_tower_301_mission_website_alive_and_kicking.html#comments

  26. So why can’t we build supportive housing for the homeless … in modesto?
    You could build three times as much housing for the same dollar. And it’s not like they need to be near their jobs since they don’t have any.

  27. “So why can’t we build supportive housing for the homeless … in modesto?
    You could build three times as much housing for the same dollar. And it’s not like they need to be near their jobs since they don’t have any.”
    Excellent point.

  28. It would be ideal to build these housing developments in cheaper areas, for the reason stated above and the fact that many people in this city, including myself would rather not have homeless people living here. However there are some key flaws to this argument:
    1. These people have to actually WANT to move. I know that some did want to leave and did that one way bus pass, but many would not leave SF, unless forced to do so.
    2. The people in those other cities may not approve of this happening. One reason why many homeless people end up in SF is because SF is more tolerant than other cities in terms of allowing them to stay, providing them services, etc. I’m not saying I agree with this, but this is how it is.
    3. More homeless people are going to show up. As stated in #2, SF is more tolerant, so you can do all you want to get rid of many, but others will show up. Until our city leaders take a harder stance on the homeless issue, it’ll never be resolved here. It may have peaked in terms of how many are here, but I don’t think you’ll ever see 100% leave.

  29. “So I am confused, which of the new towers is claiming they will be the highest psf cost? The Lansing or Millennium or? I am curious in that Infinity may have the best location, but is not getting the “buzz” that some of these other projects have created. Is it all about umbrellas and cocktails or does location still mean anything when buying a unit?”
    The difference in location between Infinity and the other new projects planned or built is not that big a deal….generally 2 or 3 blocks. Yes…the Infinity location is closer to the Embarcadero, but that is not always a good thing. I lived less than a block from there and traffic can get pretty jammed up.

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