Legacies are a mixed bag. As often as not the effect an individual has on the world is hidden in the hearts of their friends and family, not readily apparent to the world at large.
On March 3, San Francisco voters will decide on Proposition E, a ballot item that carries heavy weight in terms of the future of many union construction jobs. Sponsored by Todco, a nonprofit affordable housing management organization in the South of Market neighborhood, Prop E would restrict approvals on new office space if the city falls short on state-mandated affordable housing creation.
A five-story building at 95 Hawthorne Street that’s been vacant is up for demolition to be replaced by a new 42-story mixed-use residential development at the corner of Hawthorne and Folsom streets within the Transit Center District Plan Area. The property, which was the site of the San Francisco Passport Agency office, is now owned by John Hancock Financial Services that’s building the 444-foot structure to add 392 units to the city’s housing stock as well as 3,500 square feet of ground floor retail.
The year 2019 started with a ribbon cutting of the Moscone Center expansion, and included the opening of the greatest indoor arena in the world in Chase Center.
World class arena? Check. Tallest residential building west of the Mississippi River? Check. What’s left for San Francisco to build? The answer is plenty. From massive developments to tall skyscrapers, San Francisco is just getting started, and it’s the members of the building trades getting the job done.
The use of technology in the building trades is becoming more common, especially at large, complex projects like the Warriors’ Chase Center. San Francisco’s new world-class arena, developed by Clark Construction with joint venture partner Mortenson Construction, cost $1.4 billion and was completed on schedule despite extraordinary technical challenges.
At an October 24 hearing, Planning Commissioners denied an appeal of the approval of a residential project at 65 Ocean Avenue in proximity to the Balboa BART station. Presidio Bay Ventures plans to construct 193 dwelling units on a 0.9-acre site that also includes a a childcare facility with 6,013 square feet of classroom space and 2,613 of dedicated private open space, ground floor commercial, both private and shared open space, and below-grade parking.
A number of the San Francisco Building and Construction Trades Council’s endorsements fared well on election day, which should bode well for the future of key issues like the creation of affordable housing, workers’ rights and improvements in public education—issues at the heart of Labor’s fight for working people and their families.
The San Francisco Building and Construction Trades Council has endorsed candidates for Mayor, Board of Supervisors District 5, District Attorney and School Board for the November 5, 2019 election. The SFBCTC also backed incumbents in several citywide races that are not contested.
