680/690 Folsom
A plugged-in tipster brightens our weekend (and hopefully yours) with a current shot of 680/690 Folsom (above) and the scoop on what’s to come via a redesign (below).
690 Folsom: Redesign Rendering
As out tipster notes, “this is the two-story old Pac Bell service garage on the 3rd & Folsom corner and the office building next to that,” and it’s the “greener view in the works for some at BLU” (and Museum Parc) that we pointed out last year.
Credit goes to TMG partners for the (re)development vision, and SOM for the (re)design.
A Greener View In The Works For Some At BLŪ (And Others) [SocketSite]

14 thoughts on “Wet Weekend Special (And Scoop): The Designs For 680/690 Folsom”
  1. this is great news. i live in museum parc and i have always wondered what would become of the vacant monster nearby, along with that adjoining odd garage. this looks promising and i can’t wait for this renovation to unravel.

  2. Great redesign. The current building is a bland, banal box. The glass will certainly improve the image of the building and surrounding neighborhood. I am disappointed that TMG Partners isn’t proposing removing the two-story parking garage next to the office building. After examining the zoning maps, the site is zoned for a 320′ building. TMP could easily add a tall, slender residential or office tower to their plans.

  3. What is the point in reimagining a building exterior that is already built?? Waste of resources, time, effort, and construction noise for neighbors at St. Francis Place. No point in trying to change history. Leave it as it is or demolish it and build new.

  4. Gee, we get one new box instead of one old box? If you are going to rip a building apart, why not try something a little more creative?

  5. “What is the point in reimagining a building exterior that is already built?? Waste of resources, time, effort, and construction noise for neighbors at St. Francis Place. No point in trying to change history. Leave it as it is or demolish it and build new.”
    You have got to be kidding. This approach SAVES resources and construction time/noise. Neighbors should be doing cartwheels. More trees!

  6. Nice however the problem w/this structure is not its skin but its thorough disregard for the pedestrian. Walking past this on Folsom and 3rd St sides doesn’t get any more boring & tedious. One speeds up to minimize the experience rather than be visually engaged. Worse, it that has a step down moat-like entrance to further alienate city life. I can’t tell from the pic what’s happening on street level. And, while the new facade sizzles (sort of), the period 70s look has its useful place in our layered fabric of architectural history.

  7. Much better than what is there now but like what sfny said, i wish they would add another tower on the corner of third and folsom. It would look great facing east in line with the W and the St. Regis. How about a Sofitel or a Shangri La?

  8. How about an affordable sushi restaurant or some more good local retail? There’s lots of folks living here now, we need more street level retail and services.
    I do agree that it’s better than tearing down the old building and still I feel sorry for the poor schmoes in the apartments across the street. Lots of noise and people staring into your apartment.

  9. All glass facades are the flavor of the month (Infinity, Millenium, Blu). I wonder when the look will become obsolete (can’t you just hear people saying “that’s so 2008”).

  10. a reskin is far more economical than a complete ground up, that is obvious. and given the size and bulk and location of this monster, a new facade would be an asset to the current drag streetfron along folsom.
    think of how much more appealing the neighborhood will be if they widened the sidewalk at the bus stop, added many much needed trees! – and created a future plaza… some of the things that downtown SF severely lacks.

  11. This looks an awful lot like the renderings for Bloomington Central Station. Is this the same building? The mid-westernization (Westfield) of San Francisco is very disturbing.

  12. Just wondering what an earthquake will bring to the neighborhood… possibly lots of slithers of glass and more folks injured? I guess my question is, “Is the glass skin stronger than glass made say… 10 years ago? Anyone “in the know” please respond. Thanks ahead of time.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *