2020August
"Facebook exec expresses confidence in office real estate"
Brian Rosenthal says Manhattan offices play key role in recruitment
“…having a physical space in New York is critical for the social media giant.
“So much of what we do is collaborative,” Rosenthal said. “[Software is] like writing a book together where all the plots have to connect and make sense and there are thousands of authors. It’s really hard to do if you’re not co-located in the same space and it’s important to even be able to see each other in the same space.”
...More"High-density, high-amenity neighborhoods are not going away"
As we explored in my last post from the beginning of our republic there has been predictions of the coming demise of high-density big cities. All of them have been wrong.
...More"West Oakland Still Poised For TOD Transformation"
In a year that has radically altered many plans, the two to add nearly 2,000 units to West Oakland are still a go.
...More"Still on Track"
East Bay TOD projects push ahead amid pandemic
Over the past decade or so, transit-oriented development has picked up steam in the East Bay with projects popping up from Hayward to Hercules – many of Then the pandemic hit, putting into jeopardy a central component in the TOD concept – mass ridership, which has plunged as social distancing, sheltering in place and working from home have taken precedence.
...More"The four magic ingredients for a good neighbourhood, according to Jane Jacobs"
According to Jane Jacobs, all four conditions must be met in order to design a successful, vibrant, diverse and attractive neighbourhood.
These are the four conditions: Primary Mixed uses…., and Density.
...More"How risky is riding BART during the pandemic?"
It’s probably safer than you think, according to medical professionals — and could become safer in the future, if technologies the transit agency is testing now pan out.
...More"Solving San Francisco’s Homeless Crisis"
City Could Add over 6000 Housing Units for Unhoused in 2 Years
Can San Francisco finally solve its homeless crisis? When I saw widespread visible homelessness on the city’s streets begin in 1982 I never dreamed it would continue for forty years.
...More"UPDATE: Divided San Jose City Council gives whopping break to high-rise developers"
Downtown high-rise developers will receive a huge discount during the pandemic but their savings will come at the expense of low-income housing.
...More"City Gardens’ HVAC provides each apartment 24/7 fresh air & MERV 13 filtration in all apartments"
There are three main ways to lower your chances of meeting the virus up close and personal, as relates to HVAC systems. These are in my order of preference:
1. Dilute it
2. Zap it
3. Trap it
"When It Comes to Covid-19, Density Doesn’t Kill—Sprawl Does"
Since the advent of Covid-19, there has emerged a critique of urban density as deadly in fighting the current and future pandemics, and that the answer lies in dispersed development, otherwise known as sprawl.
...More
