Curbed SF - SF housing, design trends, and more in 2018: The year in review Love where you live2018-12-28T11:14:49-08:00http://sf.curbed.com/rss/stream/179219202018-12-28T11:14:49-08:002018-12-28T11:14:49-08:00Trends we want to see in 2019
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<img alt="bikes in sf" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/zjH34y2lJH5tPPP1fJNaR-Kvdh8=/0x0:2765x2074/1310x983/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/62748698/450443744.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Industry experts and local notables reveal ideas that would make SF better</p> <p class="p--has-dropcap" id="d1CsUL">As the year claws its way to the end—at last—it’s time to look forward to 2019. What will happen. What could be. Next, please. And while much of the same will remain (political upheaval, perilous <a href="https://www.curbed.com/2017/6/7/15749900/how-to-stop-climate-change-actions">climate change</a>, a <a href="https://sf.curbed.com/2018/9/19/17861316/midmarket-neighborhood-development-mission">chronically frayed Mid-Market</a>), change is most certainly afoot. </p>
<p id="BYoUkC">We asked a group of industry experts and local notables to reveal what trends they would like to see unfurl in 2019. From cheaper construction and more housing to a variety of art atop the Salesforce Tower, here’s what we’d like to see click next year. </p>
<hr class="p-entry-hr" id="KC4vpP">
<h5 id="UNDMw6">
<a href="https://twitter.com/BrockKeeling">Brock Keeling</a> (editor, Curbed SF): </h5>
<p id="GQszc2">“My list is endless, but here are a few golden nuggets: Denser and taller residential growth in western SF neighborhoods; aggressive residential growth for all Silicon Valley hamlets, starting with <a href="https://www.bizjournals.com/sanjose/news/2018/09/20/cupertino-vallco-development-agreement.html">Cupertino</a> and <a href="https://sf.curbed.com/2017/11/20/16671112/silicon-valley-cupertino-teardown-house-crisis">Sunnyvale</a>; a return to comfortable restaurants (e.g., tablecloths, no communal seating); maximalist options beyond splatter prints at <a href="https://sf.curbed.com/maps/sf-furniture-stores-home-decor-vintage">design and furniture stores</a>; and <a href="https://www.curbed.com/2018/1/3/16842200/barbara-stauffacher-solomon-sea-ranch-supergraphics">Barbara Stauffacher Solomon’s supergraphics</a> regularly appearing atop Salesforce Tower.”</p>
<h5 id="FgQELO">
<a href="https://twitter.com/aarieff"><strong>Allison Arieff</strong></a><strong> (columnist, </strong><em><strong>New York Times</strong></em><strong>):</strong>
</h5>
<p id="Zn4iMP">“The abolishment of single-family zoning. Minneapolis did it; San Francisco can, too. Would also love to see an embrace of infrastructure, both physical (a second tube!) and social (libraries, public space...more places where you can go without having to buy something).”</p>
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<p class="sidebar">A look back at the biggest and boldest ideas changing where and how we live.
<br>
»<a href="https://sf.curbed.com/2018/12/18/18146632/san-francisco-bay-area-most-beautiful-homes-2018" class="sidebar">Curbed SF’s most beautiful homes of 2018</a>
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»<a href="https://sf.curbed.com/2018/12/19/18148879/sf-best-new-building-projects-2018-plans-bay-area" class="sidebar">Best new building projects of 2018</a>
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»<a href="https://sf.curbed.com/2018/12/21/18151447/best-sf-favorite-neighborhoods-2018-neighborhood" class="sidebar">Favorite SF neighborhoods of 2018</a>
<br>
»<a href="https://sf.curbed.com/2018/12/21/18151573/least-favorite-problematic-neighborhoods-2018-worst-troubled-tired" class="sidebar">SF neighborhoods we broke up with in 2018</a>
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»<a href="https://sf.curbed.com/2018/12/20/18149202/2018-trends-design-architecture-interior-tired-over" class="sidebar">Trends that grew tired in 2018</a>
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»<a href="https://sf.curbed.com/2018/12/27/18155000/trends-sf-housing-development-tech-scooters-2018" class="sidebar">2018 trends that will seem strange in 20 years</a>
<br>
»<a href="https://sf.curbed.com/2018/12/27/18158111/most-expensive-home-house-listing-sf-2018" class="sidebar">The most expensive listing of 2018</a>
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»<a href="https://sf.curbed.com/2018/12/28/18158195/trends-building-wishlist-2019-bay-area-hosuing-design" class="sidebar">Trends we want to see in 2019</a>
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<h5 id="Q4xKHF">
<a href="http://www.dlcid.com/about/"><strong>Jon de la Cruz</strong></a><strong> (interior architecture and design, DLC-ID):</strong>
</h5>
<p id="z2d32W">“More color—gardens, interior walls, upholstery, people. A return to tablecloths in restaurants. Restorations over remodels. More lamp light and less overhead recessed LEDs. More one-way streets in SF.”</p>
<h5 id="sIdNca">
<a href="https://twitter.com/MikeIsaac"><strong>Mike Isaac</strong></a><strong> (technology reporter, </strong><em><strong>New York Times</strong></em><strong>):</strong>
</h5>
<p id="D5nIWg">“More trees! I’m a big fan of the <a href="https://www.fuf.net/mobile-home-page/">Friends of the Urban Forest</a> planting trees in my neighborhood, and I’d love to see more greenery around the city—especially, say, downtown, which is a concrete jungle. Also perhaps we could do with more sidewalk seating zoned from the city. I do love it when a cafe or restaurant applies to get parking taken out from in front of their storefronts and replaces it with benches and greenery. It cuts down on incentives to drive cars—which is a good thing—and beautifies the outdoor space.”</p>
<h5 id="uDVfT8">
<a href="https://twitter.com/NeverSassyLaura"><strong>Laura Foote</strong></a><strong> (executive director, YIMBY Action):</strong>
</h5>
<p id="vRdVYn">“Fourplexes and <a href="http://missingmiddlehousing.com/">missing middle housing</a>. There’s growing <a href="https://sf.curbed.com/2018/12/12/18138248/sf-illegal-demolition-bill-act-peskin-housing-new">political opposition</a> to ‘monster homes’ these days, which hopefully can open the conversation toward encouraging fourplexes or little courtyard apartment buildings instead. This kind of gentle infill should be exactly what anti-mansion activists are looking for!”</p>
<h5 id="TMUWVy">
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/mikekchino/"><strong>Mike Chino</strong></a><strong> (senior editor, </strong><em><strong>Dwell</strong></em><strong>):</strong>
</h5>
<p id="QYs7OJ">“I think San Francisco still has a long way to go with cycling infrastructure—I’d love to see separated bike lanes in North Beach and along the entire Valencia Corridor. Biking down Valencia used to be a breeze, but now one must dodge double-parked vehicles, erratic Uber and Lyft drivers, and swinging car doors from both sides of the lane.”</p>
<h5 id="MNtso4">
<a href="https://twitter.com/bethspotswood"><strong>Beth Spotswood</strong></a><strong> (digital editor, </strong><em><strong>Alta Magazine</strong></em><strong>; columnist, </strong><em><strong>San Francisco Chronicle</strong></em><strong>):</strong>
</h5>
<p id="BZX6Oo">“<a href="https://www.curbed.com/2017/3/23/15026328/sunken-living-room-conversation-pit">Sunken living rooms</a> and recessed lighting in affordable single-family homes.”</p>
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<h5 id="pX8G7e">
<a href="https://vanguardproperties.com/agent-157-Kevin-Ho.php"><strong>Kevin K. Ho</strong></a><strong> and </strong><a href="https://vanguardproperties.com/agent-431-Jonathan-McNarry.php"><strong>Jonathan B. McNarry</strong></a><strong> (realtors, Vanguard Properties):</strong>
</h5>
<p id="t4gnDG">“Given that <a href="https://www.curbed.com/2018/10/8/17951692/climate-change-report-cities-un">climate change is really here to stay</a>, it’s high time we get smarter home heating, cooling and—now—air filtration systems in homes as we’re going to be forced to stay indoors more and more. Green building technologies and materials are oftentimes the exception rather than the rule but should become the rule rather than the exception.”</p>
<h5 id="1WiT8R">
<a href="https://twitter.com/EskSF"><strong>Joe Eskenazi</strong></a><strong> (managing editor and columnist, Mission Local) and </strong><a href="https://twitter.com/jmark345"><strong>Julian Mark</strong></a><strong> (reporter, Mission Local):</strong>
</h5>
<p id="scCvwC">“All of the 100-percent affordable projects in the pipeline—eight total here in the Mission—to actually break ground. So far, only two have.”</p>
<h5 id="06iLfE">
<a href="http://www.fougeron.com/"><strong>Anne Fougeron</strong></a><strong> (architect and founder, Fougeron Architecture):</strong>
</h5>
<p id="ODhmkw">“Cheaper construction! Impossible to build anything with these crazy prices. And windows that line up (see <a href="https://sf.curbed.com/2018/12/20/18149202/2018-trends-design-architecture-interior-tired-over">here</a>).”</p>
<h5 id="T5F6wf">
<a href="https://twitter.com/linecook"><strong>Richie Nakano</strong></a><strong> (restaurant consultant):</strong>
</h5>
<p id="125r6E">“Playfulness. The <a href="https://sf.curbed.com/2018/11/1/18051160/eye-of-sauron-salesforce-tower-halloween-night">Eye of Sauron atop Salesforce Tower</a> was funny. More weird, dumb stuff like that. Sometimes I think this city takes itself too seriously.”</p>
<h5 id="n2rWpJ">
<a href="https://sfbike.org/about/staff/"><strong>Brian Wiedenmeier</strong></a><strong> (executive director, San Francisco Bicycle Coalition):</strong>
</h5>
<p class="c-end-para" id="VrhErV">“1) Even more people <a href="https://sf.curbed.com/2018/10/1/17901484/cycling-bus-muni-how-to-bart-walking-pedestrian-guide">biking, walking, and taking transit in SF</a>, 2) fewer people driving and riding in Lyft and Uber cars, 3) radical changes in SF’s streets to facilitate No. 1 and No. 2.”</p>
<p id="ngR70j"></p>
https://sf.curbed.com/2018/12/28/18158195/trends-building-wishlist-2019-bay-area-hosuing-designBrock Keeling2018-12-27T13:04:13-08:002018-12-27T13:04:13-08:00This Russian Hill home was San Francisco’s most expensive listing of 2018
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<figcaption>Photo by <a class="ql-link" href="https://jacobelliott.com/" target="_blank">Jacob Elliott</a>, courtesy of <a class="ql-link" href="https://www.pacificunion.com/agents/9850-Val-Steele" target="_blank">Pacific Union International</a></figcaption>
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<p>All yours for $45 million</p> <p id="0Jth9V">Featuring a Japanese water-filtration system that allegedly improves your skin and hair, a cantilevered infinity pool, and a shower and sauna with glass walls overlooking the city, this contemporary construction on Russian Hill hit the market for $45 million, making it <a href="https://sf.curbed.com/2018/10/22/18010400/san-francisco-most-expensive-home-house-sale-location">the most expensive listing of 2018 in San Francisco</a>.</p>
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<p class="sidebar">A look back at the biggest and boldest ideas changing where and how we live.
<br>
»<a href="https://sf.curbed.com/2018/12/18/18146632/san-francisco-bay-area-most-beautiful-homes-2018" class="sidebar">Curbed SF’s most beautiful homes of 2018</a>
<br>
»<a href="https://sf.curbed.com/2018/12/19/18148879/sf-best-new-building-projects-2018-plans-bay-area" class="sidebar">Best new building projects of 2018</a>
<br>
»<a href="https://sf.curbed.com/2018/12/21/18151447/best-sf-favorite-neighborhoods-2018-neighborhood" class="sidebar">Favorite SF neighborhoods of 2018</a>
<br>
»<a href="https://sf.curbed.com/2018/12/21/18151573/least-favorite-problematic-neighborhoods-2018-worst-troubled-tired" class="sidebar">SF neighborhoods we broke up with in 2018</a>
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»<a href="https://sf.curbed.com/2018/12/20/18149202/2018-trends-design-architecture-interior-tired-over" class="sidebar">Trends that grew tired in 2018</a>
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»<a href="https://sf.curbed.com/2018/12/27/18155000/trends-sf-housing-development-tech-scooters-2018" class="sidebar">2018 trends that will seem strange in 20 years</a>
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»<a href="https://sf.curbed.com/2018/12/27/18158111/most-expensive-home-house-listing-sf-2018" class="sidebar">The most expensive listing of 2018</a>
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<p id="VO8N3T">Located one block away from street’s famous curves, 950 Lombard takes up two hillside lots and comes with such accents as a gated entrance with a Batcave-like tunnel; a garden with olive trees; an outdoor kitchen; a humidity-controlled, two-story art gallery; a glass elevator to all four floors; marble-encased master bathrooms, and an air-filter system that changes the entire home’s air 12 times a day.</p>
<p id="vUW7fl">But the roughly 9,500-square-foot estate wasn’t without controversy. </p>
<p id="cjbEsG">The home’s developer, Troon Pacific, paid the largest illegal-demolition fine in San Francisco history (<a href="https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/SF-supervisor-s-bill-takes-aim-at-illegal-home-13455786.php">a whopping $400,000</a>) after it purchased 950 Lombard—formerly the site of a <a href="https://sf.curbed.com/2012/3/26/10385134/magical-russian-hill-wonderland-up-for-grabs-plus-real-world-san">circa-1907 shingled Willis Polk</a> home, a designated historic resource—and removed the exterior walls and windows, going beyond what the building permit allowed.</p>
<p id="M1fbvv">The verboten razing (along with the <a href="https://sf.curbed.com/2018/1/8/16864696/largent-house-richard-neutra-demolished">Neutra leveling</a> in Twin Peaks) helped prompt San Francisco lawmakers to create the Housing Preservation and Expansion Reform Act, <a href="https://sf.curbed.com/2018/12/12/18138248/sf-illegal-demolition-bill-act-peskin-housing-new">legislation that would increase fines for illegal demolition</a>.</p>
<p id="ZU5qfA">The house remains on the market for $45 million.</p>
<aside id="haJXSK"><div data-anthem-component="newsletter" data-anthem-component-data='{"slug":"sf-curbed"}'></div></aside><ul><li id="lZHMNZ">
<a href="https://sf.curbed.com/2018/10/22/18010400/san-francisco-most-expensive-home-house-sale-location">San Francisco has a new most-expensive home for sale</a> [Curbed SF]</li></ul>
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https://sf.curbed.com/2018/12/27/18158111/most-expensive-home-house-listing-sf-2018Brock Keeling2018-12-27T09:25:23-08:002018-12-27T09:25:23-08:002018 trends that will seem the strangest in 20 years
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<img alt="San Francisco Battles New Electric Scooter Rentals" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/jpO8zFIqTmaw514amTohjJ2LmHA=/64x0:2835x2078/1310x983/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/62743268/947732326.jpg.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>From expensive construction to virtual assistants</p> <p class="p--has-dropcap" id="VhaCiM">Will the world one day laugh <a href="https://www.vox.com/the-goods/2018/10/22/18010410/chip-wilson-lululemon-athleisure-book">athleisure trend</a>, when we started wearing workout attire to formal events? Will people double over remembering an age when Michelin-starred restaurants forced us to sit at <a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2014/03/alone-together-the-return-of-communal-restaurant-tables/284481/">communal tables</a>? Or will we giggle thinking about an era when we used primitive smartphones instead of <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2017/7/24/16019530/three-sqaure-market-implant-office-keycard-biohacking-wisconsin">subdermal</a> <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2017/7/21/15999544/biohacking-finger-magnet-human-augmentation-loss">implants</a> that Apple is probably 18 months away from marketing?</p>
<p id="LNjLy7">What trends and designs that are popular now might seem bizarre 20 years from now in 2038? We asked a group of local experts and local notables to weigh in on what will seem strange in a couple of decades. Here’s what they had to say. </p>
<hr class="p-entry-hr" id="AJ9FuL">
<h5 id="KIaR7q">
<a href="https://twitter.com/kimmaicutler"><strong>Kim-Mai Cutler</strong></a><strong> (partner, Initialized Capital):</strong>
</h5>
<p id="fSxHFA">“I think land-use is going to have to wise-up to the realities of climate change, STAT. Does that mean better building codes for fire? Or does that mean places that are definitely off-limits to expansion because of fire risk? I don’t know. Probably a combination of both.”</p>
<h5 id="UNDMw6">
<a href="https://twitter.com/aarieff"><strong>Allison Arieff</strong></a><strong> (columnist, </strong><em><strong>New York Times</strong></em><strong>):</strong>
</h5>
<p id="RIqpr7">“I hope it takes less than 20 years for everyone to realize that ‘smart’ homes aren’t smart and that Alexa is neither helpful nor is she your friend.”</p>
<h5 id="D5nIWg">
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/mikekchino/"><strong>Mike Chino</strong></a><strong> (senior editor, </strong><em><strong>Dwell</strong></em><strong>):</strong>
</h5>
<p id="btktEd">“Electric scooters will seem trite when we have <em>real</em> hoverboards.”</p>
<h5 id="eEYQqJ">
<a href="http://www.fougeron.com/"><strong>Anne Fougeron</strong></a><strong> (architect and founder, Fougeron Architecture):</strong>
</h5>
<p id="LV0J5q">“Cheaper construction! Impossible to build anything with these crazy prices. And windows that line up.”</p>
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<p class="sidebar">A look back at the biggest and boldest ideas changing where and how we live.
<br>
»<a href="https://sf.curbed.com/2018/12/18/18146632/san-francisco-bay-area-most-beautiful-homes-2018" class="sidebar">Curbed SF’s most beautiful homes of 2018</a>
<br>
»<a href="https://sf.curbed.com/2018/12/19/18148879/sf-best-new-building-projects-2018-plans-bay-area" class="sidebar">Best new building projects of 2018</a>
<br>
»<a href="https://sf.curbed.com/2018/12/21/18151447/best-sf-favorite-neighborhoods-2018-neighborhood" class="sidebar">Favorite SF neighborhoods of 2018</a>
<br>
»<a href="https://sf.curbed.com/2018/12/21/18151573/least-favorite-problematic-neighborhoods-2018-worst-troubled-tired" class="sidebar">SF neighborhoods we broke up with in 2018</a>
<br>
»<a href="https://sf.curbed.com/2018/12/20/18149202/2018-trends-design-architecture-interior-tired-over" class="sidebar">Trends that grew tired in 2018</a>
<br>
»<a href="https://sf.curbed.com/2018/12/27/18155000/trends-sf-housing-development-tech-scooters-2018" class="sidebar">2018 trends that will seem strange in 20 years</a>
<br>
»<a href="https://sf.curbed.com/2018/12/27/18158111/most-expensive-home-house-listing-sf-2018" class="sidebar">The most expensive listing of 2018</a>
<br>
»<a href="https://sf.curbed.com/2018/12/28/18158195/trends-building-wishlist-2019-bay-area-hosuing-design" class="sidebar">Trends we want to see in 2019</a>
</p>
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<h5 id="n2rWpJ">
<a href="https://sfbike.org/about/staff/"><strong>Brian Wiedenmeier</strong></a><strong> (executive director, San Francisco Bicycle Coalition):</strong>
</h5>
<p id="pJrdwN">“People driving alone to work.”</p>
<h5 id="2kYp8V">
<a href="https://twitter.com/bethspotswood"><strong>Beth Spotswood</strong></a><strong> (digital editor, </strong><em><strong>Alta Magazine</strong></em><strong>; columnist, </strong><em><strong>San Francisco Chronicle</strong></em><strong>):</strong>
</h5>
<p id="jgGUFa">“Hopefully, in 20 years, spending more than 50 percent of one’s income on housing will seem bizarre.”</p>
<h5 id="Q4xKHF">
<a href="http://www.dlcid.com/about/"><strong>Jon de la Cruz</strong></a><strong> (interior architecture and design, DLC-ID):</strong>
</h5>
<p id="aRl9fD">“USB ports integrated into wall outlets.”</p>
<h5 id="CErfT5">
<a href="https://twitter.com/MikeIsaac"><strong>Mike Isaac</strong></a><strong> (technology reporter, </strong><em><strong>New York Times</strong></em><strong>):</strong>
</h5>
<p id="7WkSia">“Perhaps someone will look back on the giant Salesforce phallus penetrating the San Francisco skyline as a bad architectural decision—I certainly hope so. The thing is ugly as sin.”</p>
<h5 id="uDVfT8">
<a href="https://twitter.com/NeverSassyLaura"><strong>Laura Foote</strong></a><strong> (executive director, YIMBY Action):</strong>
</h5>
<p id="VsYdpj">“Am I allowed to say <a href="https://la.curbed.com/2016/10/17/13304912/history-proposition-13-property-taxes">Prop. 13</a>?”</p>
<h5 id="pX8G7e">
<a href="https://vanguardproperties.com/agent-157-Kevin-Ho.php"><strong>Kevin K. Ho</strong></a><strong> and </strong><a href="https://vanguardproperties.com/agent-431-Jonathan-McNarry.php"><strong>Jonathan B. McNarry</strong></a><strong> (realtors, Vanguard Properties):</strong>
</h5>
<p id="7z3yON">“Urban farmhouse decor. We do not have many farms inside San Francisco proper that necessitate us needing to store the fall harvest’s bounty. So why did we need all those farmhouse sinks, distressed wood countertops and irregular wall tile again? “</p>
<h5 id="1WiT8R">
<a href="https://twitter.com/EskSF"><strong>Joe Eskenazi</strong></a><strong> (managing editor and columnist, Mission Local) and </strong><a href="https://twitter.com/jmark345"><strong>Julian Mark</strong></a><strong> (reporter, Mission Local):</strong>
</h5>
<p id="Yx5jDE">“How about YIMBY-backed politicians fighting <em>against </em>taxing wealthy corporations to fund thousands of units of housing. Or YIMBY-backed politicians fighting <em>against </em>doing away with mandatory minimum parking requirements. Or, depending on how things go, YIMBYs. </p>
<p id="6qbvO1">Or maybe it will be ‘Mission For All,’ a nonprofit group 100-percent funded by Maximus Real Estate, the would-be developers of the so-called Monster in the Mission. Earlier this year, the principal of Mission High School claimed one of their members called him up and impersonated a city Planning Commissioner. That was weird.”</p>
<h5 id="T5F6wf">
<a href="https://twitter.com/linecook"><strong>Richie Nakano</strong></a><strong> (restaurant consultant):</strong>
</h5>
<p id="Y5w3DQ">“I assume that in 20 years the entire state will be on fire and slipping into the ocean, so I guess id say that strangest trend will be us all throwing our hands up in the air and going ‘but what is to be done about these wildfires!?’ while we ride around in Ubers and Lyfts that commute here from Modesto and Sacramento everyday.”</p>
<aside id="sXEaiV"><div data-anthem-component="newsletter" data-anthem-component-data='{"slug":"sf-curbed"}'></div></aside>
https://sf.curbed.com/2018/12/27/18155000/trends-sf-housing-development-tech-scooters-2018Brock Keeling2018-12-21T12:00:05-08:002018-12-21T12:00:05-08:00SF neighborhoods we broke up with in 2018
<figure>
<img alt="Mid-Market" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/RWLYUepsYD-zz6MTnx7LWNuiu4k=/50x0:1827x1333/1310x983/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/62722870/EC_Collaboration_PChang_5466.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Market Square Plaza just outside Twitter headquarters in Mid-Market.</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Canceled?</p> <p class="p--has-dropcap" id="zPbpER">There’s much to love about San Francisco—and much to loathe. And to confuse neighborhood ire and frustration with flippant snark would be a disservice to our readers and to the city we adore so deeply. Which is why we’ve asked our handful of industry experts and local notables to thoughtfully weigh in on the areas of San Francisco they had enough of in 2018.</p>
<hr class="p-entry-hr" id="OlgFQA">
<h5 id="dEk2nd">
<a href="https://twitter.com/johnkingsfchron?lang=en">John King</a> (urban design critic, <em>San Francisco Chronicle</em>):</h5>
<p id="swPdVq">“I hate to say this, but <a href="https://sf.curbed.com/2018/9/19/17861316/midmarket-neighborhood-development-mission">Mid-Market</a> has become a symbol of <a href="https://www.sfchronicle.com/news/article/Arts-groups-decry-miserable-state-of-Mid-Market-12724787.php">civic inadequacy</a>—too immersive an example of social challenges that the city is struggling with, as yet with too little signs of positive change.”</p>
<h5 id="n2rWpJ">
<a href="https://sfbike.org/about/staff/">Brian Wiedenmeier</a> (executive director, San Francisco Bicycle Coalition):</h5>
<p id="2JD1EE">“<a href="https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/heatherknight/article/Small-businesses-pay-the-price-as-city-fails-to-13109430.php">Mid-Market</a>.”</p>
<h5 id="06iLfE">
<a href="http://www.fougeron.com/">Anne Fougeron</a> (architect and founder, Fougeron Architecture):</h5>
<p id="VwTdd5">“Van Ness which I now refer to as Van Mess. What happened? It went from bad to worse. Time to finish the road construction and tear down that <a href="https://www.google.com/maps/place/1200+Van+Ness+Ave,+San+Francisco,+CA+94109/@37.7869376,-122.4215397,3a,75y,106.01h,100.97t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sp38NDu8598CrRYtjCWA99w!2e0!7i16384!8i8192!4m5!3m4!1s0x80858094344a56d7:0xf80397977d95089e!8m2!3d37.7867765!4d-122.4213349">hideous 1980s postmodernist building</a>. Leave some room for beautiful high-rises with tons of affordable housing.”</p>
<h5 id="Q4xKHF">
<a href="http://www.dlcid.com/about/">Jon de la Cruz</a> (interior architecture and design, DLC-ID):</h5>
<p id="CeV2eZ">“Overnight it seems that <a href="https://sf.curbed.com/neighborhood/1589/hayes-valley">Hayes Valley</a> became <a href="https://www.7x7.com/union-st-neighborhood-guide-2428101206.html">Union Street</a>.”</p>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt="Glen Park" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/vt0w6Qqm0NRFsOnqN75qD8to2_I=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/9289297/GlenParkBart_PChang_0480.jpg">
<figcaption>Glen Park BART station.</figcaption>
</figure>
<h5 id="UNDMw6">
<a href="https://twitter.com/aarieff">Allison Arieff</a> (columnist, <em>New York Times</em>):</h5>
<p id="1H7viM">“Someone on Twitter recently referred to <a href="https://sf.curbed.com/neighborhood/1584/glen-park">Glen Park</a>, where I live, as “the Atherton of San Francisco” and they’re not wrong. It’s enormously frustrating that a 10,000 -foot-house (<a href="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13643571/image008.jpg">like this one</a>) can be approved in SF, but a four- or six-unit building of smaller square footage would never be. This isn’t about neighborhood character; it’s about a fundamental misunderstanding that living in a city means living <em>with and amongst other people</em>.”</p>
<h5 id="Rd7R7a">
<a href="https://twitter.com/MikeIsaac">Mike Isaac</a> (technology reporter, <em>New York Times</em>):</h5>
<p id="EUwNmh">“I’m breaking up with a neighborhood that doesn’t exist: ‘<a href="https://sf.curbed.com/2018/8/2/17644196/east-cut-sf-neighborhood-name-supervisors-election">the East Cut</a>.’ It’s <em>supposed</em> to be the ’hoods Rincon Hill and South of Market near the Embarcadero, but I hate that it’s become a real estate marketing project where they just decided to make a name up and blast it out to everyone here. THE EAST CUT DOES NOT EXIST. It’s just Rincon Hill, SoMa, and the Embarcadero.”</p>
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</center>
<p class="sidebar">A look back at the biggest and boldest ideas changing where and how we live.
<br>
»<a href="https://sf.curbed.com/2018/12/18/18146632/san-francisco-bay-area-most-beautiful-homes-2018" class="sidebar">Curbed SF’s most beautiful homes of 2018</a>
<br>
»<a href="https://sf.curbed.com/2018/12/19/18148879/sf-best-new-building-projects-2018-plans-bay-area" class="sidebar">Best new building projects of 2018</a>
<br>
»<a href="https://sf.curbed.com/2018/12/21/18151447/best-sf-favorite-neighborhoods-2018-neighborhood" class="sidebar">Favorite SF neighborhoods of 2018</a>
<br>
»<a href="https://sf.curbed.com/2018/12/21/18151573/least-favorite-problematic-neighborhoods-2018-worst-troubled-tired" class="sidebar">SF neighborhoods we broke up with in 2018</a>
<br>
»<a href="https://sf.curbed.com/2018/12/20/18149202/2018-trends-design-architecture-interior-tired-over" class="sidebar">Trends that grew tired in 2018</a>
<br>
»<a href="https://sf.curbed.com/2018/12/27/18155000/trends-sf-housing-development-tech-scooters-2018" class="sidebar">2018 trends that will seem strange in 20 years</a>
<br>
»<a href="https://sf.curbed.com/2018/12/27/18158111/most-expensive-home-house-listing-sf-2018" class="sidebar">The most expensive listing of 2018</a>
<br>
»<a href="https://sf.curbed.com/2018/12/28/18158195/trends-building-wishlist-2019-bay-area-hosuing-design" class="sidebar">Trends we want to see in 2019</a>
</p>
</div></div></div>
<h5 id="pX8G7e">
<a href="https://vanguardproperties.com/agent-157-Kevin-Ho.php">Kevin K. Ho</a> and <a href="https://vanguardproperties.com/agent-431-Jonathan-McNarry.php">Jonathan B. McNarry</a> (realtors, Vanguard Properties):</h5>
<p id="cMaEM6">“The Sunset-Parkside industrial complex. Having to tell our buyers that the $899,000 list price for another four-bed, four-bath, 2,300-square-foot remodeled Sunset house is just a teaser price is getting tedious. Also, would a bit of design originality in the area hurt anyone? The folks at East Star Building Supply have dictated more of how San Franciscans live than many of the city’s best designers. And did every house flipper get the Thermador three-piece appliance special that included a dishwasher or hood too?”</p>
<h5 id="uDVfT8">
<a href="https://twitter.com/NeverSassyLaura">Laura Foote</a> (executive director, YIMBY Action):</h5>
<p id="GOLmf9">“SoMa will never be a real neighborhood until we stop prioritizing cars over people. So much has been built in SoMa, but six-lane streets cut through the neighborhood and make it feel dystopian. Cars just blast through a neighborhood that is full of families and people who want to walk to work. The infrastructure has to catch up with the housing, and that’s going to mean taking lanes away from cars—always a politically difficult proposal.”</p>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/uzdVG1N4fmvzFagfxN9zsoWsw4w=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13643524/SFCityGuides_PChang_6612_Shoppers_and_diners_along_Valencia__2_.jpg">
<figcaption>The Mission’s Valencia Street.</figcaption>
</figure>
<h5 id="D5nIWg">
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/mikekchino/">Mike Chino</a> (senior editor, <em>Dwell</em>):</h5>
<p id="WmYvXH">“I’ve lived in the Mission District for 11 years—and although we’ve yet to break up, let’s just say it’s complicated. The churn is real, and the neighborhood loses a little luster every time a friend or favored business packs up and moves to the East Bay.”</p>
<h5 id="1WiT8R">
<a href="https://twitter.com/EskSF">Joe Eskenazi</a> (managing editor and columnist, Mission Local) and <a href="https://twitter.com/jmark345">Julian Mark</a> (reporter, Mission Local):</h5>
<p id="xUa0ob">“Valencia Street is just <em>too</em> knit cozies on the bike infrastructure/small batch-artisanal everything. And has been for some time.”</p>
<h5 id="2kYp8V">
<a href="https://twitter.com/bethspotswood">Beth Spotswood</a> (digital editor, <em>Alta Magazine</em>; columnist, <em>San Francisco Chronicle</em>):</h5>
<p id="IL8f1M">“I’m breaking up with the Pacific Heights part of Fillmore Street—AND I WILL TELL YOU WHY: I used to find it so casually luxurious, but other than a few prime restaurants, it’s full of stores that never have sales, impossible parking, and people who take up more than their allotted table time at the Grove.”</p>
<h5 id="T5F6wf">
<a href="https://twitter.com/linecook">Richie Nakano</a> (restaurant consultant):</h5>
<p class="c-end-para" id="KBcxJb">“West Portal. There’s never parking and meter maids seem to gather there.”</p>
<aside id="LZcifj"><div data-anthem-component="newsletter" data-anthem-component-data='{"slug":"sf-curbed"}'></div></aside>
https://sf.curbed.com/2018/12/21/18151573/least-favorite-problematic-neighborhoods-2018-worst-troubled-tiredBrock Keeling2018-12-21T07:30:09-08:002018-12-21T07:30:09-08:00Favorite SF neighborhoods of 2018
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/yIBswosB77BhteuaSG-bwfCsheU=/396x0:4477x3061/1310x983/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/62722070/shutterstock_311812817.1545404246.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by <a class="ql-link" href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/san-francisco-ca-aug-30-2015-311812817?src=ChUEGPO646zYxAcopGKkqw-1-2" target="_blank">jejim</a>/Shutterstock</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>From North Beach to the Outer Sunset </p> <p class="p--has-dropcap" id="TauOJE">While San Francisco’s <a href="https://sf.curbed.com/2018/8/2/17644196/east-cut-sf-neighborhood-name-supervisors-election">newest neighborhood</a> didn’t get any love this year from our gaggle of notables and experts—perhaps <a href="https://sf.curbed.com/2018/9/25/17903758/transbay-transit-center-closed-salesforce-park">this</a> had something to do with it?—some of the city’s other nascent ’hoods did see a tip of the hat, including the unfairly maligned <a href="https://sf.curbed.com/neighborhood/1639/mission-bay">Mission Bay</a> neighborhood.</p>
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</center>
<p class="sidebar">A look back at the biggest and boldest ideas changing where and how we live.
<br>
»<a href="https://sf.curbed.com/2018/12/18/18146632/san-francisco-bay-area-most-beautiful-homes-2018" class="sidebar">Curbed SF’s most beautiful homes of 2018</a>
<br>
»<a href="https://sf.curbed.com/2018/12/19/18148879/sf-best-new-building-projects-2018-plans-bay-area" class="sidebar">Best new building projects of 2018</a>
<br>
»<a href="https://sf.curbed.com/2018/12/21/18151447/best-sf-favorite-neighborhoods-2018-neighborhood" class="sidebar">Favorite SF neighborhoods of 2018</a>
<br>
»<a href="https://sf.curbed.com/2018/12/21/18151573/least-favorite-problematic-neighborhoods-2018-worst-troubled-tired" class="sidebar">SF neighborhoods we broke up with in 2018</a>
<br>
»<a href="https://sf.curbed.com/2018/12/20/18149202/2018-trends-design-architecture-interior-tired-over" class="sidebar">Trends that grew tired in 2018</a>
<br>
»<a href="https://sf.curbed.com/2018/12/27/18155000/trends-sf-housing-development-tech-scooters-2018" class="sidebar">2018 trends that will seem strange in 20 years</a>
<br>
»<a href="https://sf.curbed.com/2018/12/27/18158111/most-expensive-home-house-listing-sf-2018" class="sidebar">The most expensive listing of 2018</a>
<br>
»<a href="https://sf.curbed.com/2018/12/28/18158195/trends-building-wishlist-2019-bay-area-hosuing-design" class="sidebar">Trends we want to see in 2019</a>
</p>
</div></div></div>
<p id="w0jpQi">Places like <a href="https://sf.curbed.com/neighborhood/1573/north-beach">North Beach</a>, the finger-snapping beatnik joint of yore; the <a href="https://sf.curbed.com/neighborhood/1575/castro">Castro</a>, the country’s queer mecca; and the <a href="https://sf.curbed.com/neighborhood/1629/outer-sunset">Outer Sunset</a>, the westside’s sleepy village poised for a major growth spurt, also received adoration.</p>
<p id="mfZbB7">But two of Curbed SF’s favorites—<a href="https://sf.curbed.com/2015/2/24/9988326/san-francisco-sherwood-forest">Sherwood Forest</a> and <a href="https://sf.curbed.com/neighborhood/1617/presidio-heights">Presidio Heights</a>, two tony yet off-the-radar neighborhoods—didn’t make this year’s cut, either. (To which we say, pish posh.) </p>
<p id="nlChEZ">To take a look at the year that was, we asked a handful of people in real estate, urban planning, media, architecture, and transit to offer their thoughts. Here are their favorite SF stomping grounds in 2018.</p>
<hr class="p-entry-hr" id="gtVnyw">
<h5 id="MNtso4">
<a href="https://twitter.com/bethspotswood">Beth Spotswood</a> (digital editor, <em>Alta Magazine</em>; columnist, <em>San Francisco Chronicle</em>):</h5>
<p id="skB7X6">“I rediscovered the glory of the <a href="https://sf.curbed.com/neighborhood/1629/outer-sunset">Outer Sunset</a> this year, having finally shaken the teenage trauma of having attended high school in that fog bank of a neighborhood. The funky little shops (including my friends’ spot <a href="https://avenuesdrygoods.com/">Avenues Dry Goods</a>), the ocean breeze, and that lack of noticeable millionaires was refreshing in 2018—despite the anxiety the Outer Sunset caused me in 1995.”</p>
<h5 id="Q4xKHF">
<a href="http://www.dlcid.com/about/">Jon de la Cruz</a> (interior architecture and design, DLC-ID):</h5>
<p id="ef3Opz">“The <a href="https://sf.curbed.com/neighborhood/1596/dogpatch">Dogpatch</a>. Even during continued development, the neighborhood and its denizens still retain a lot of original SF flavor.”</p>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/hIUQL5z5qmlR8DYvPZ0PjbAHWSo=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13643344/SFCityGuides_PChang_6459_rainbow_4_way_cross_walk__1_.jpg">
<cite>Photo by Patricia Chang</cite>
<figcaption>The Castro.</figcaption>
</figure>
<h5 id="TJYqm3">
<a href="https://sfbike.org/about/staff/">Brian Wiedenmeier</a> (executive director, San Francisco Bicycle Coalition):</h5>
<p id="obGedD">“The <a href="https://sf.curbed.com/neighborhood/1575/castro">Castro</a>.”</p>
<h5 id="UNDMw6">
<a href="https://twitter.com/aarieff">Allison Arieff</a> (columnist, <em>New York Times</em>):</h5>
<p id="Vcwz2E">“Never thought I’d say this—<a href="https://sf.curbed.com/neighborhood/1639/mission-bay">Mission Bay</a>. Though the pedestrian experience is not perfect, what was once a veritable ghost town is really coming together. It’s even got a super market—Gus’ Market is opening there this month. My 80-year-old dad moved there recently and he can do everything he needs to without a car, which should really be the goal of all SF neighborhoods. There’s affordable housing there and some nice solid multifamily residential architecture. Just wish those buildings were taller and that transit would expand in line with the growing population there, especially after the <a href="https://sf.curbed.com/2018/2/21/17036730/chase-center-starting-to-look-like-an-arena">Warriors stadium</a> opens.”</p>
<div class="c-wide-block"> <figure class="e-image">
<img alt="Outer Sunset." data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/nX-vZNmHvws5o7Mbu4IpqwAMPzQ=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/9867591/shutterstock_753926794.jpg">
<cite>Photo by <a class="ql-link" href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1516509&xs=1&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.shutterstock.com%2Fg%2Fdorinser&referrer=archive.curbed.com&sref=https%3A%2F%2Fsf.curbed.com%2F2018%2F12%2F21%2F18151447%2Fbest-sf-favorite-neighborhoods-2018-neighborhood" target="_blank" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener">dorinser</a>/Shutterstock</cite>
<figcaption>Outer Sunset.</figcaption>
</figure>
</div>
<h5 id="T5F6wf">
<a href="https://twitter.com/linecook">Richie Nakano</a> (restaurant consultant):</h5>
<p id="uuogjh">“Someone recently told me that I don’t live in the Outer Sunset, that I actually live in Parkside (?)—so I guess <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parkside,_San_Francisco">Parkside</a>. Why the hell is it called Parkside and not Lake Merced Heights or something?”</p>
<h5 id="pX8G7e">
<a href="https://vanguardproperties.com/agent-157-Kevin-Ho.php">Kevin K. Ho</a> and <a href="https://vanguardproperties.com/agent-431-Jonathan-McNarry.php">Jonathan B. McNarry</a> (realtors, Vanguard Properties):</h5>
<p id="AtbZwi">While not yet done, the <a href="https://sf.curbed.com/neighborhood/1639/mission-bay">Mission Bay</a>/Central Waterfront/Dogpatch/<a href="https://sf.curbed.com/building/2655/pier-70">Pier 70</a> mega corridor is pretty inspiring. It shows you what joining aspirations of greatness and piles of money can do. Sure, it’s driving up building costs in the rest of the city by causing a labor shortage of skilled trades people—and is not really addressing the housing crisis, either—but it’s <em>still</em> a hotbed of activity and a spectacle to behold. Whether it turns out to be a neighborhood we fell in love with or broke up with in next year’s remains to be seen. </p>
<h5 id="uDVfT8">
<a href="https://twitter.com/NeverSassyLaura">Laura Foote</a> (executive director, YIMBY Action):</h5>
<p id="fSEk8f">“I moved to <a href="https://sf.curbed.com/neighborhood/1573/north-beach">North Beach</a> this year and I love it. Much of it was built before we had zoning that emphasized coherent ‘neighborhood character’ and the hodgepodge of building heights is breathtaking. Striking towers rise on the hillside, and the medley feels so dramatic on evening walks.”</p>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt="Lower Haight." data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/ZADg1GH-LOf_1PJz8d2m0VG4jmc=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/9867541/6152184570_a858656832_o.jpg">
<cite>Photo by <a class="ql-link" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/brandondoran/6152184570/" target="_blank">Brandon Doren</a></cite>
<figcaption>Lower Haight.</figcaption>
</figure>
<h5 id="z2d32W">
<a href="https://twitter.com/MikeIsaac">Mike Isaac</a> (technology reporter, <em>New York Times</em>):</h5>
<p id="l0GJdU">“Big fan of <a href="https://sf.curbed.com/2016/4/18/11452540/dan-jackson-guide-to-the-lower-haight">Lower Haight</a>. Lot of stuff going on over there—great food, bars, tattoo parlors—and it feels more vibrant compared to the other end of the Haight, especially since many shops on <a href="https://sf.curbed.com/neighborhood/1571/upper-haight">Upper Haight</a> are turning over and some mainstays are going out of business. </p>
<p id="JRO5ei">It’s also a stone’s throw from my ’hood, <a href="https://sf.curbed.com/neighborhood/1597/duboce-triangle">Duboce Triangle</a>.</p>
<p id="y46Hi1">Though I’d say it almost ties with <a href="https://sf.curbed.com/neighborhood/1603/japantown">Japantown</a>/<a href="https://sf.curbed.com/neighborhood/1607/fillmore">Fillmore</a>, where I’ve been spending more time lately. It’s awesome to be able to grab a hot steamed meat bun or some berry and red bean mochi on a stick from the <a href="https://japancentersf.com/">Japan Center mini mall</a> with all the amazing shops off of Geary and Fillmore. I’ve lived in the Bay Area since 2004 (with a two-year stint in NYC and some other minor six- to nine-month residencies), and feel like I’m still discovering new stuff every year.”</p>
<div> <figure class="e-image">
<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/uGBI_kInwUfW94YYQl9DDV0VM7E=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13643359/shutterstock_311812817.jpg">
<cite>Photo by <a class="ql-link" href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1516509&xs=1&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.shutterstock.com%2Fimage-photo%2Fsan-francisco-ca-aug-30-2015-311812817%3Fsrc%3DChUEGPO646zYxAcopGKkqw-1-2&referrer=archive.curbed.com&sref=https%3A%2F%2Fsf.curbed.com%2F2018%2F12%2F21%2F18151447%2Fbest-sf-favorite-neighborhoods-2018-neighborhood" target="_blank" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener">jejim</a>/Shutterstock</cite>
<figcaption>North Beach.</figcaption>
</figure>
</div>
<h5 id="1WiT8R">
<a href="https://twitter.com/EskSF">Joe Eskenazi</a> (managing editor and columnist, Mission Local) and <a href="https://twitter.com/jmark345">Julian Mark</a> (reporter, Mission Local):</h5>
<p id="Ji5H9y">“For the purposes of this survey, we’re going to keep everything (ahem) Mission Local.” </p>
<h5 id="D5nIWg">
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/mikekchino/">Mike Chino</a> (senior editor, <em>Dwell</em>):</h5>
<p class="c-end-para" id="KnxPLp">“I’ve really enjoyed sinking into <a href="https://sf.curbed.com/neighborhood/1573/north-beach">North Beach</a> since I started working in the area. There are touristy elements, and the area is changing (like everywhere else), but it still feels like a vibrant, livable neighborhood with deep history and a host of historic institutions that are alive and well.”</p>
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https://sf.curbed.com/2018/12/21/18151447/best-sf-favorite-neighborhoods-2018-neighborhoodBrock Keeling2018-12-20T09:00:06-08:002018-12-20T09:00:06-08:00Trends that grew tired in 2018
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/sWbmUWNeOCpd0mOKO_B-hgtUF5Y=/223x0:2000x1333/1310x983/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/62712334/SFCityGuides_PChang_6841_555_Fulton_Street__Exteriors.0.jpg" />
</figure>
<p>From urban McMansions to restaurant murals</p> <p class="p--has-dropcap" id="pI4t5I">To paraphrase <a href="https://www.starwars.com/news/the-starwars-com-10-best-yoda-quotes">Yoda</a>, fear is the path to the dark side—fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate, and hate leads to suffering years of Edison bulbs and white subway tile. While San Francisco and Silicon Valley are known for innovation, architects and builders tread too timidly when it comes to adopting bold new looks or ideas when it comes to design.</p>
<p id="O9aRcP">But with each passing year comes the chance to shed the old. White antiseptic interiors have long been over, even though they remain the most popular look for many new homes and renovation. (Save for popular dark kitchens, a trend we hope to see more of next year.) Low-rise residential buildings are most certainly due to come to a much-needed conclusion. And the less said of reclaimed wood accents the better.</p>
<p id="CdYPsA">To take a look at the year that was, we asked a handful of people in real estate, urban planning, media, architecture, and transit to offer their thoughts. Here’s what bored them in 2018.</p>
<hr class="p-entry-hr" id="mn6t1g">
<h5 id="1WiT8R">
<a href="https://twitter.com/EskSF">Joe Eskenazi</a> (managing editor and columnist, Mission Local) and <a href="https://twitter.com/jmark345">Julian Mark</a> (reporter, Mission Local):</h5>
<p id="rj5Tiy">Buildings that look like a Rubik’s Cube or the structure on the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stolichnaya#/media/File:Stolichnaya_etiketka.JPG">Stolichnaya label</a> have grown tiresome.</p>
<h5 id="uDVfT8">
<a href="https://twitter.com/NeverSassyLaura">Laura Foote</a> (executive director, YIMBY Action):</h5>
<p id="c7FC2X">“The war on <a href="https://sf-planning.org/decks-stairs-residential">decks</a>. People who don’t watch <a href="https://sfgovtv.org/">SF Government TV</a> might not know that there is a war on decks being waged, but in an effort to make housing less expensive by making it more mediocre, the Planning Commission is constantly removing decks from housing proposals.”</p>
<h5 id="CErfT5">
<a href="https://twitter.com/MikeIsaac">Mike Isaac</a> (technology reporter, <em>New York Times</em>):</h5>
<p id="rqitR0">“It’s difficult for me to see ultramodern apartment complexes being built mostly of large paned glass and concrete. That, next to a <a href="https://sf.curbed.com/2018/9/18/17875880/hayes-valley-victorian-house-home-page-sale-period">Victorian in</a> <a href="https://sf.curbed.com/2017/3/27/15076820/hayes-valley-victorian-laguna-condo-sf">Hayes Valley</a>, seems somewhat off and incongruous. Don’t get me wrong—I’m a proponent of building new housing in a city that is <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/30/us/bay-area-housing-market.html">drastically limited on housing supply</a> while <a href="https://sf.curbed.com/2018/3/27/17169094/census-population-immigration-san-francisco-paragon">adding new transplants</a> every single day. But perhaps we could be doing some building with a bit more wooden exteriors, or something that plays on the grand tradition of San Franciscan victorian architecture? </p>
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<p class="sidebar">A look back at the biggest and boldest ideas changing where and how we live.
<br>
»<a href="https://sf.curbed.com/2018/12/18/18146632/san-francisco-bay-area-most-beautiful-homes-2018" class="sidebar">Curbed SF’s most beautiful homes of 2018</a>
<br>
»<a href="https://sf.curbed.com/2018/12/19/18148879/sf-best-new-building-projects-2018-plans-bay-area" class="sidebar">Best new building projects of 2018</a>
<br>
»<a href="https://sf.curbed.com/2018/12/21/18151447/best-sf-favorite-neighborhoods-2018-neighborhood" class="sidebar">Favorite SF neighborhoods of 2018</a>
<br>
»<a href="https://sf.curbed.com/2018/12/21/18151573/least-favorite-problematic-neighborhoods-2018-worst-troubled-tired" class="sidebar">SF neighborhoods we broke up with in 2018</a>
<br>
»<a href="https://sf.curbed.com/2018/12/20/18149202/2018-trends-design-architecture-interior-tired-over" class="sidebar">Trends that grew tired in 2018</a>
<br>
»<a href="https://sf.curbed.com/2018/12/27/18155000/trends-sf-housing-development-tech-scooters-2018" class="sidebar">2018 trends that will seem strange in 20 years</a>
<br>
»<a href="https://sf.curbed.com/2018/12/27/18158111/most-expensive-home-house-listing-sf-2018" class="sidebar">The most expensive listing of 2018</a>
<br>
»<a href="https://sf.curbed.com/2018/12/28/18158195/trends-building-wishlist-2019-bay-area-hosuing-design" class="sidebar">Trends we want to see in 2019</a>
</p>
</div></div></div>
<p id="BprRW5">I might be alone on that, or just a grumpy old man. But who wants to see someone half-naked in their fourth floor apartment through floor-to-ceiling windows that surround the entire apartment? Not me, no thanks.”</p>
<h5 id="ChGj2k">
<a href="https://twitter.com/johnkingsfchron?lang=en">John King</a> (urban design critic, <em>San Francisco Chronicle</em>):</h5>
<p id="eCmpFT">“Glass as symbol of ‘porosity’ and ‘transparency’ and ‘contemporary.’ Which probably was my vote last year, and probably will be in 2019 as well.”</p>
<h5 id="UNDMw6">
<a href="https://twitter.com/aarieff">Allison Arieff</a> (columnist, <em>New York Times</em>):</h5>
<p id="BPjZQV">“<a href="https://www.curbed.com/2016/9/13/12891086/housing-trends-mcmansions-united-states">Urban McMansions</a>. I gotta ask these folks—was it always your dream to live in the Apple store? And if you want to live in 10,000 square feet, maybe you should move to the suburbs?”</p>
<h5 id="D5nIWg">
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/mikekchino/"><strong>Mike Chino</strong></a><strong> (senior editor, </strong><em><strong>Dwell</strong></em><strong>): </strong>
</h5>
<p id="BZ7O0J">“The Memphis revival feels like it’s wearing a little thin, and we’re probably approaching peak terrazzo. I also think the Danes would breathe a sigh of relief if we relaxed on hygge and stopped using it to sell candles and sweaters every holiday season.”</p>
<h5 id="eEYQqJ">
<a href="http://www.fougeron.com/">Anne Fougeron</a> (architect and founder, Fougeron Architecture):</h5>
<p id="kXJ0yH">“Unaligned windows—i.e., when the windows do not line up from floor to floor, It’s so popular there’s even a Pinterest board dedicated to these facades. I could never reach the end <a href="https://www.pinterest.com/pin/410883165981279431/?lp=true">with so many examples</a>. Is there an app that just does this to your facade when you’re not looking? Maybe it is a virus—the Unaligned Window Influenza.”</p>
<h5 id="T5F6wf">
<a href="https://twitter.com/linecook">Richie Nakano</a> (restaurant consultant):</h5>
<p id="hZYIHA">“The ubiquitous restaurant mural or <a href="https://sf.eater.com/2015/1/28/7932929/san-francisco-neon-signs-best-restaurants-bars-signage#0">neon sign</a>. It’s the Edison bulb of 2018.”</p>
<h5 id="8LodkY">
<a href="http://www.dlcid.com/about/">Jon de la Cruz</a> (interior architecture and design, DLC-ID):</h5>
<p id="sTbWz6">“<a href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1516509&xs=1&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.westelm.com%2Fproducts%2Flive-edge-wood-table-h1850%2F%3FKenshoo%3D_k_EAIaIQobChMIoICspfus3wIVHx-tBh12WgJaEAAYASAAEgJjWfD_BwE_k_%26cm_ven%3DNonBrandSearch%26cm_cat%3DGoogle%26cm_pla%3DNonBrand-Search_DSA%26cm_ite%3D%26gclid%3DEAIaIQobChMIoICspfus3wIVHx-tBh12WgJaEAAYASAAEgJjWfD_BwE&referrer=archive.curbed.com&sref=https%3A%2F%2Fsf.curbed.com%2F2018%2F12%2F20%2F18149202%2F2018-trends-design-architecture-interior-tired-over" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Live edge wood tables</a>. Tricky ornamental metalwork on buildings. The <a href="https://sf.curbed.com/2018/7/11/17561466/napa-farmhouse-contemporary-modern-sale-new-home">modern farmhouse</a>. Postmodern parklets. <a href="https://www.instagram.com/birdgraveyard/">Scooter vandalism</a>. Ubers that <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/sanfrancisco/comments/4adv86/double_parking_uber_and_lyft_drivers/">double park</a>.”</p>
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<h5 id="2kYp8V">
<a href="https://twitter.com/bethspotswood">Beth Spotswood</a> (digital editor, <em>Alta Magazine</em>; columnist, <em>San Francisco Chronicle</em>):</h5>
<p id="ngy80A">“I’m sick of downtown buildings falling apart and screwing up traffic for everyone, whatever the hell they’re doing to Van Ness. Also, I’m done with indoor foliage. Enough with the fiddle leaf fig plants. We get it.”</p>
<h5 id="n2rWpJ">
<a href="https://sfbike.org/about/staff/">Brian Wiedenmeier</a> (executive director, San Francisco Bicycle Coalition):</h5>
<p id="gOsSq0">“Three things: ‘Amazon rooms’ for e-commerce package delivery, value engineering, and mega-conventions at Moscone Center shutting down Howard Street and its bike lane for week-long stretches.”</p>
<h5 id="pX8G7e">
<a href="https://vanguardproperties.com/agent-157-Kevin-Ho.php">Kevin K. Ho</a> and <a href="https://vanguardproperties.com/agent-431-Jonathan-McNarry.php">Jonathan B. McNarry</a> (realtors, Vanguard Properties): </h5>
<p class="c-end-para" id="08ihkj">“Given that climate change is really here to stay, it’s high time we get smarter home heating, cooling and—now—air filtration systems in homes as we’re going to be forced to stay indoors more and more. Green building technologies and materials are oftentimes the exception rather than the rule but should become the rule rather than the exception.”</p>
<p id="YqUx6U"></p>
https://sf.curbed.com/2018/12/20/18149202/2018-trends-design-architecture-interior-tired-overBrock Keeling2018-12-19T12:36:42-08:002018-12-19T12:36:42-08:00The best new building projects of 2018
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/rbg-6LviNI6tXCYgPrU-tdijmvQ=/55x0:2724x2002/1310x983/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/62711030/CChavarria_Curbed_Rebuilding_After_Santa_Rosa_Fire_Hi_Res_11.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by <a class="ql-link" href="https://www.carloschavarria.com/" target="_blank">Carlos Chavarria</a></figcaption>
</figure>
<p>New projects, plans, and constructions that stood out this year</p> <p class="p--has-dropcap" id="FeB8LE">Among the flurry of openings this year, few compared with the magnitude—or the plot twist—of the <a href="https://sf.curbed.com/2018/8/10/17667682/transbay-transit-center-opening-san-francisco-pelli">Transbay Transit Terminal and Salesforce Park</a>, a $2.2-billion transportation center with a sprawling 5.4-acre rooftop park in the city’s newly christened <a href="https://sf.curbed.com/2018/8/2/17644196/east-cut-sf-neighborhood-name-supervisors-election">East Cut</a> <em>arrondissement</em>.</p>
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<img src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13635993/Bestof2018.0.gif" alt="Curbed Best of 2018" width="325" height="auto">
</center>
<p class="sidebar">A look back at the biggest and boldest ideas changing where and how we live.
<br>
»<a href="https://sf.curbed.com/2018/12/18/18146632/san-francisco-bay-area-most-beautiful-homes-2018" class="sidebar">Curbed SF’s most beautiful homes of 2018</a>
<br>
»<a href="https://sf.curbed.com/2018/12/19/18148879/sf-best-new-building-projects-2018-plans-bay-area" class="sidebar">Best new building projects of 2018</a>
<br>
»<a href="https://sf.curbed.com/2018/12/21/18151447/best-sf-favorite-neighborhoods-2018-neighborhood" class="sidebar">Favorite SF neighborhoods of 2018</a>
<br>
»<a href="https://sf.curbed.com/2018/12/21/18151573/least-favorite-problematic-neighborhoods-2018-worst-troubled-tired" class="sidebar">SF neighborhoods we broke up with in 2018</a>
<br>
»<a href="https://sf.curbed.com/2018/12/20/18149202/2018-trends-design-architecture-interior-tired-over" class="sidebar">Trends that grew tired in 2018</a>
<br>
»<a href="https://sf.curbed.com/2018/12/27/18155000/trends-sf-housing-development-tech-scooters-2018" class="sidebar">2018 trends that will seem strange in 20 years</a>
<br>
»<a href="https://sf.curbed.com/2018/12/27/18158111/most-expensive-home-house-listing-sf-2018" class="sidebar">The most expensive listing of 2018</a>
<br>
»<a href="https://sf.curbed.com/2018/12/28/18158195/trends-building-wishlist-2019-bay-area-hosuing-design" class="sidebar">Trends we want to see in 2019</a>
</p>
</div></div></div>
<p id="dXAZOg">It lasted six seeks before closing <a href="https://sf.curbed.com/2018/11/27/18112921/transbay-transit-center-salesforce-park-opening-reopening-date">after cracks were found</a> in structural steel beams.</p>
<p id="UFvHIn">¯\_(ツ)_/¯</p>
<p id="r0G1fX">Other noteworthy albeit less tumultuous openings: <a href="https://sf.curbed.com/2018/5/18/17369014/181-fremont-condos-soma-sale-interiors-design-instagram">181 Fremont</a>, a $850 million mixed-use tower that’s home to Instagram, multimillion homes, and millionaires living in the building’s top residential units; <a href="https://sf.curbed.com/2018/5/22/17382172/salesforce-tower-grand-opening">Salesforce Tower</a>, which seems like it opened eons ago, but in fact started moving in workers in May; and an invigorated <a href="https://sf.eater.com/2018/10/24/18018872/bi-rite-cafe-civic-center-open-sf-soft-serve-sandwiches">Civic Center Plaza</a>. </p>
<p id="VB0b5P">To take a look at the year that was, we asked a handful of people in real estate, urban planning, media, architecture, and transit to offer their thoughts. Here are their favorite building openings or approved building projects of 2018.</p>
<hr class="p-entry-hr" id="rQllsT">
<h5 id="Q7BAfJ">
<a href="https://twitter.com/johnkingsfchron?lang=en">John King</a> (urban design critic, <em>San Francisco Chronicle</em>):</h5>
<p id="qa6ywF">“The transit center, sigh, despite the rather rude plot twist. Even in limbo, it shows the potential of infrastructure as a tool to organize and energize districts. And people really, really, really liked the park.”</p>
<h5 id="uDVfT8">
<a href="https://twitter.com/NeverSassyLaura">Laura Foote</a> (executive director, YIMBY Action):</h5>
<p id="p6OGf5">“I still have hope that <a href="https://sf.curbed.com/2016/2/9/10953590/initial-plans-revealed-for-big-new-laurel-heights-development">3333 California</a> will transform a suburban office park to a beautiful mixed use community, adding desperately needed housing and thriving retail. But a nearby neighborhood association is doing everything it can to block the proposal. Their worst fearing is that the proposed ‘little village’ will be so cool it will draw people from other neighborhoods to visit Laurel Heights and therefore increase traffic!”</p>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/VDgOMBRKCv6-8le5IdhH7afTJws=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/11966385/TransbayTransitCenter_PChang_0261.jpg">
<cite>Photo by Patricia Chang</cite>
<figcaption>Inside the Transbay Transit Terminal.</figcaption>
</figure>
<h5 id="CErfT5">
<a href="https://twitter.com/MikeIsaac">Mike Isaac</a> (technology reporter, <em>New York Times</em>):</h5>
<p id="K1HhV1">“I mean, look: I am staunchly anti-Salesforce Spacedick Tower. But I do like the idea that they’re building <a href="https://sf.curbed.com/2018/8/10/17667682/transbay-transit-center-opening-san-francisco-pelli">a giant park</a> in the middle of downtown. Super pro-greenery, and everything downtown right now is concrete and grey. So any efforts to build foliage into the urban environment, I’m a big proponent of.”</p>
<h5 id="UNDMw6">
<a href="https://twitter.com/aarieff">Allison Arieff</a> (columnist, <em>New York Times</em>):</h5>
<p id="0N0eEN">“The transformation of the Civic Center. Finally, this space is being put to great use! Which wouldn’t have happened without the tremendous effort and collaboration of so many people like Amy Cohen from the city’s Office of Economic and Workforce Development, Neil Hrushowy from City Planning, Andrea Cochran, and Eric Rodenbeck from Stamen (and a hundred other people I’m leaving out, please forgive me). BiRite has a <a href="https://sf.eater.com/2018/10/24/18018872/bi-rite-cafe-civic-center-open-sf-soft-serve-sandwiches">cafe there now</a>; teens taking selfies with the public art, kids playing at the fabulous new playground, nearby workers enjoying their lunch. There are places to sit! It’ll be an ongoing project but it’s becoming the public space it always was meant to be.”</p>
<h5 id="n2rWpJ">
<a href="https://sfbike.org/about/staff/">Brian Wiedenmeier</a> (executive director, San Francisco Bicycle Coalition):</h5>
<p id="bQ8ltR">“The Upper Market Street <a href="https://www.sfmta.com/blog/new-protected-bike-lanes-upper-market">protected bike lanes</a>.”</p>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/HaSGv8ZLKDYIk0PWpCBZRpl-eqA=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13639004/CChavarria_Curbed_Rebuilding_After_Santa_Rosa_Fire_Hi_Res_11.jpg">
<cite>Photo by <a class="ql-link" href="https://www.carloschavarria.com/" target="_blank">Carlos Chavarria</a></cite>
<figcaption>Rebuilding of Santa Rosa’s Coffey Park neighborhood following the 2017 firestorm.</figcaption>
</figure>
<h5 id="2kYp8V">
<a href="https://twitter.com/bethspotswood">Beth Spotswood</a> (digital editor, <em>Alta Magazine</em>; columnist, <em>San Francisco Chronicle</em>):</h5>
<p id="VhaCiM">“The best construction projects are those of last year’s <a href="https://www.curbed.com/2018/10/10/17955628/santa-rosa-sonoma-california-tubbs-fire">North Bay fire victims who were able to start rebuilding</a>.”</p>
<h5 id="1WiT8R">
<a href="https://twitter.com/EskSF">Joe Eskenazi</a> (managing editor and columnist, Mission Local) and <a href="https://twitter.com/jmark345">Julian Mark</a> (reporter, Mission Local):</h5>
<p id="zdlcCo">“If you’re talking mere propositions, <a href="https://missionlocal.org/2018/09/meda-upgrades-plans-12-story-tower-at-18th-and-mission-the-tallest-building-in-the-mission/">MEDA’s 12-story affordable condo tower</a> proposed for 2205 Mission Street on top of a historic and derelict building. If built, it would be the tallest building in the Mission. If we’re talking about groundbreakings: <a href="https://missionlocal.org/2018/06/after-a-decade-a-fully-affordable-housing-development-breaks-ground-in-sfs-mission/">MEDA’s 1296 Shotwell</a> (senior housing) and <a href="https://missionlocal.org/2018/11/mission-housing-breaks-ground-at-490-south-van-ness-affordable-housing-project/">Mission Housing 490 South Van Ness</a>—both fully affordable.”</p>
<h5 id="T5F6wf">
<a href="https://twitter.com/linecook">Richie Nakano</a> (restaurant consultant):</h5>
<p id="CZgK0U">“Well, it was Salesforce Park for about a few weeks.”</p>
<h5 id="8LodkY">
<a href="http://www.dlcid.com/about/">Jon de la Cruz</a> (interior architecture and design, DLC-ID):</h5>
<p class="c-end-para" id="mBbgob">“The <a href="https://sfmade.org/blog/the-manufacturing-foundry-at-150-hooper/">Manufacturing Foundry at 150 Hooper</a>, part of a larger mixed use commercial campus creating more real estate for manufacturing businesses in SF that is functional, accessible, and affordable.”</p>
<aside id="B57tZw"><div data-anthem-component="newsletter" data-anthem-component-data='{"slug":"sf-curbed"}'></div></aside><p id="emPXsy"></p>
https://sf.curbed.com/2018/12/19/18148879/sf-best-new-building-projects-2018-plans-bay-areaBrock Keeling2018-12-19T10:28:10-08:002018-12-19T10:28:10-08:00The biggest surprises of 2018
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/i-RnuvZGKHykM5rhufPWlM2kGHc=/0x0:2000x1500/1310x983/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/62709961/TransbayTransitCenter_PChang_0044.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by <a class="ql-link" href="https://www.patriciachangphotography.com/" target="_blank">Patricia Chang</a></figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Here’s what made people pause and say, “Oh!”</p> <p class="p--has-dropcap" id="cxAYhs">From the Salesforce Tower’s possibly appeal in the skyline to the passing of numerous housing bills, many surprises unfurled this year in the Bay Area, a region already accustomed to twists and turns. </p>
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<p class="sidebar">A look back at the biggest and boldest ideas changing where and how we live.
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»<a href="https://sf.curbed.com/2018/12/18/18146632/san-francisco-bay-area-most-beautiful-homes-2018" class="sidebar">Curbed SF’s most beautiful homes of 2018</a>
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»<a href="https://sf.curbed.com/2018/12/19/18148879/sf-best-new-building-projects-2018-plans-bay-area" class="sidebar">Best new building projects of 2018</a>
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»<a href="https://sf.curbed.com/2018/12/21/18151447/best-sf-favorite-neighborhoods-2018-neighborhood" class="sidebar">Favorite SF neighborhoods of 2018</a>
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»<a href="https://sf.curbed.com/2018/12/21/18151573/least-favorite-problematic-neighborhoods-2018-worst-troubled-tired" class="sidebar">SF neighborhoods we broke up with in 2018</a>
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»<a href="https://sf.curbed.com/2018/12/20/18149202/2018-trends-design-architecture-interior-tired-over" class="sidebar">Trends that grew tired in 2018</a>
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»<a href="https://sf.curbed.com/2018/12/27/18155000/trends-sf-housing-development-tech-scooters-2018" class="sidebar">2018 trends that will seem strange in 20 years</a>
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»<a href="https://sf.curbed.com/2018/12/27/18158111/most-expensive-home-house-listing-sf-2018" class="sidebar">The most expensive listing of 2018</a>
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»<a href="https://sf.curbed.com/2018/12/28/18158195/trends-building-wishlist-2019-bay-area-hosuing-design" class="sidebar">Trends we want to see in 2019</a>
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<p id="eFDUt0">A few eyebrow-cocking moments in 2018: Both <a href="https://sf.curbed.com/2018/6/13/17461558/london-breed-mayor-yimby-win-housing">housing advocates</a> and <a href="https://sf.curbed.com/2018/11/8/18075464/yimby-sf-election-vote-2018-trauss-housing-development">staunch progressives</a> won at the polls (San Francisco had two key elections this year). Light was shed on the <a href="https://sf.curbed.com/2016/10/24/13394504/bayview-hunters-point-shipyard-development">Hunters Point shipyard project</a>, where almost half of the toxic clean up was <a href="https://sf.curbed.com/2018/1/26/16916742/hunters-point-shipyard-toxic-cleanup">questionable or faked</a>, according to review. And the city of San Francisco ordered the owner of a now-demolished modernist masterpiece to <a href="https://sf.curbed.com/2018/12/17/18143932/neutra-largent-house-demolished-replica">rebuild an exact replica of the historic home</a>. </p>
<p id="g6V8ve">And no one expected <a href="https://sf.curbed.com/2018/9/25/17903758/transbay-transit-center-closed-salesforce-park">this to happen</a>.</p>
<p id="vzWPCI">To take a look at the year that was, we asked a handful of people in real estate, urban planning, media, architecture, and transit to offer their thoughts. Here’s what surprised them in 2018. </p>
<hr class="p-entry-hr" id="dij5dh">
<h5 id="VhaCiM">
<a href="https://twitter.com/kimmaicutler">Kim-Mai Cutler</a> (partner, Initialized Capital): </h5>
<p id="9U4QCd">“I don’t know if this is a surprise, but San Francisco <a href="https://sf.curbed.com/2018/6/13/17461558/london-breed-mayor-yimby-win-housing">elected a strong YIMBY mayor in June</a> with London Breed and then turned around an <a href="https://sf.curbed.com/2018/11/8/18075464/yimby-sf-election-vote-2018-trauss-housing-development">elected a strong progressive board</a> in November. Voters do seem to like a balance of power; at the same time, it definitely feels like conventional or traditional lines are being blurred. Both Mark Benioff and YIMBYs sided with <a href="https://sf.curbed.com/2018/10/18/17965810/proposition-c-sf-homeless-tech-tax-election-2018">Prop. C</a>, the homelessness measure, splitting with a huge part of the technology industry. At the same time, it feels like some newer progressive supervisorial candidates are being much more careful and thoughtful about positions that could de facto end up being detrimental to housing production over the long-term. I’m looking forward to a much more collaborative relationship going forward over the next few years between YIMBY, tenant and neighborhood groups in the Bay Area.”</p>
<h5 id="8LodkY">
<a href="http://www.dlcid.com/about/">Jon de la Cruz</a> (interior architecture and design, DLC-ID): </h5>
<p id="vS170f">“My growing fondness of the <a href="https://sf.curbed.com/2018/5/22/17382172/salesforce-tower-grand-opening">Salesforce Tower</a> in the city skyline.”</p>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/F9Mib7-ob-gzdHR71aXjh9ic16o=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/11534061/AP_18157828684796.jpg">
<cite>Photo by AP Photo/Jeff Chiu</cite>
<figcaption>San Francisco Mayor London Breed.</figcaption>
</figure>
<h5 id="2kYp8V">
<a href="https://twitter.com/bethspotswood">Beth Spotswood</a> (digital editor, <em>Alta Magazine</em>; columnist, <em>San Francisco Chronicle</em>): </h5>
<p id="T9cXx4">“I’m surprised that wildfires seem to be such a constant in California life. No one even talk about earthquakes anymore. That used to be our official disaster. Now it’s <a href="https://sf.curbed.com/2018/12/17/18136410/prepare-fire-wildfire-safety-list-resistant-house-plants">fires</a>—and I’m significantly more terrified of fire.”</p>
<h5 id="CErfT5">
<a href="https://twitter.com/MikeIsaac">Mike Isaac</a> (technology reporter, <em>New York Times</em>): </h5>
<p id="rchLVh">“The <a href="https://sf.curbed.com/2018/9/25/17903758/transbay-transit-center-closed-salesforce-park">crack in the new Transbay Terminal</a> was both shocking and yet not at all surprising. Darkly hilarious, they spent all that time and money to build something that is immediately coming apart at the seams and cannot be used. Though, I suppose, when one of the largest buildings in the city is <a href="https://sf.curbed.com/2017/7/19/15998338/millennium-tower-leaning-sinking-sf-more">literally sinking into the earth </a>you can’t expect everything else to go swimmingly.”</p>
<h5 id="eEYQqJ">
<a href="http://www.fougeron.com/"><strong>Anne Fougeron</strong></a><strong> (architect and founder, Fougeron Architecture):</strong>
</h5>
<p id="uWLs6P">“How all of a sudden it was 2019! What happened to this year? I guess I was too busy keeping up with political scandals.”</p>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt="San Francisco Battles New Electric Scooter Rentals" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/pB7cj4y3o-E45NNjrDHrUQvRpGU=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/11423875/947732336.jpg.jpg">
<cite>Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images</cite>
</figure>
<h5 id="n2rWpJ">
<a href="https://sfbike.org/about/staff/">Brian Wiedenmeier</a> (executive director, San Francisco Bicycle Coalition): </h5>
<p id="PNYJAW">“Venture capital’s rush to invest in <a href="https://sf.curbed.com/2018/12/13/18139444/new-electric-bikes-ebikes-sf-oakland-bekeley-ford">micro-mobility</a> as a service.”</p>
<h5 id="uDVfT8">
<a href="https://twitter.com/NeverSassyLaura">Laura Foote</a> (executive director, YIMBY Action): </h5>
<p id="hlGEk6">“Minneapolis. Here we are struggling to get <a href="https://la.curbed.com/2018/5/29/17381808/adu-los-angeles-meaning-requirements-california">granny flats built in California</a>, and <a href="https://www.latimes.com/opinion/editorials/la-ed-minneapolis-single-family-zoning-20181219-story.html">Minneapolis passes a massive zoning overhaul plan</a> to have a minimum allowable zoning of 3 units city wide? Also, there has been a distinct shift on how we talk about housing. 2018 was the year that people had to admit this is a <a href="https://sf.curbed.com/2018/5/24/17391616/san-francisco-affordable-housing-report-2016-2017-bay-area">housing shortage</a> and that even San Francisco needs to build more homes.”</p>
<h5 id="1WiT8R">
<a href="https://twitter.com/EskSF">Joe Eskenazi</a> (managing editor and columnist, Mission Local) and <a href="https://twitter.com/jmark345">Julian Mark</a> (reporter, Mission Local): </h5>
<p id="s5K5bf">“Axis Development <a href="https://missionlocal.org/2018/07/axis-developerment-abruptly-abandons-proposed-117-unit-folsom-street-project/">pulling out of 2675 Mission Street</a>.”</p>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/TXIcxNNJHcvLUnJq3rawYXWz9WI=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13109403/EC_Collaboration_PChang_5628.jpg">
<cite>Photo by Patricia Chang</cite>
<figcaption>Mid-Market.</figcaption>
</figure>
<h5 id="T5F6wf">
<a href="https://twitter.com/linecook">Richie Nakano</a> (restaurant consultant): </h5>
<p id="TGw4Fv">“<a href="https://sf.curbed.com/2018/9/19/17861316/midmarket-neighborhood-development-mission">Mid-Market</a> is still a black hole for opening a restaurant. It’s weird that an area thats so busy just cant sustain more than a handful of restaurants and bars.”</p>
<h5 id="UNDMw6">
<a href="https://twitter.com/aarieff">Allison Arieff</a> (columnist, <em>New York Times</em>):</h5>
<p id="tPmQgI">“Frankly nothing surprises me anymore in the era of tech dystopia + Trump. But California did pass a lot of housing bills this year!”</p>
<h5 id="pX8G7e">
<a href="https://vanguardproperties.com/agent-157-Kevin-Ho.php">Kevin K. Ho</a> and <a href="https://vanguardproperties.com/agent-431-Jonathan-McNarry.php">Jonathan B. McNarry</a> (realtors, Vanguard Properties): </h5>
<p id="dJCz4L">“<a href="https://sf.curbed.com/2018/11/9/18079866/fire-smoke-face-mask-find-oakland-san-francisco">N95 face masks</a> were the must-have fall accessory in the Bay Area.”</p>
<h5 id="D5nIWg">
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/mikekchino/">Mike Chino</a> (senior editor, <em>Dwell</em>): </h5>
<p class="c-end-para" id="VT96Xk">“My go-to laundromats keep turning into condos, SoulCycle gyms, and juice bars, so it was surprising to see Laundré pop up on Mission Street. New businesses risk becoming lightning rods for gentrification discourse, but I like that this one focuses on providing a basic neighborhood service instead of a rarified, ultra-specialized product.”</p>
<aside id="dq6sWa"><div data-anthem-component="newsletter" data-anthem-component-data='{"slug":"sf-curbed"}'></div></aside>
https://sf.curbed.com/2018/12/19/18148667/san-francisco-bay-area-biggest-surprises-2018-buildingsBrock Keeling