Plans have been hatched for the new Apple super corner on Post Street, and tomorrow the Planning Commission will vote on its approval. Now that Levi Strauss flagship has moved to 4th and Market, the existing four-story triangular Levi store and adjacent plaza, home to a Ruth Asawa-designed fountain, will be scrapped in favor of a three-story shiny glass box flagship Apple Store designed by Foster + Partners (yeah, that Norman Foster). After the original design caused a lot of outrage over the removal of the fountain, the design has been tweaked to sit as an L-shape on the site and keep the fountain by scootching it over a few feet. There's still mixed feelings about the project: the building is part of the large Grand Hyatt hotel site and the Service Employees International Union has expressed opposition because they think it needs full environmental review, and the Historic Preservation Commission isn't convinced the design wasn't convinced the old design was compatible with Union Square. On the other hand, the Union Square Business Improvement District supports the project. Planning staff is recommending approval because it brings a prominent retail tenant to Union Square, will make less of a shadow on Union Square, retains the fountain, and "holds the corner at Post and Stockton Streets."
UPDATE:
Correction - the Historic Preservation Commission wasn't happy with the previous iteration of the design that they reviewed back in December. Yesterday they blessed the new design with a 6-1 approval vote.
· Downtown Authorization - 300 Post Street [SF Planning]
· Previous Coverage of 300 Post [Curbed SF]
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