Waxxy

Domo Sushi, lauded chef’s Hayes Valley standby, appears to prepare for closure A battle with a social media influencer was the downfall of San Francisco’s Kis Cafe. Now, the subsequent media backlash may have spelled the doom of another restaurant affiliated with chef Luke...

A battle with a social media influencer was the downfall of #SanFrancisco's Kis Cafe. Could the subsequent media backlash have spelled the doom of another restaurant affiliated with chef Luke Sung?
@sfchronicle.com

S.F.’s fight over the ‘Monster in the Mission’ property is back, thanks to a legal loophole A San Francisco developer was certain he’d be building on the site of the old “Monster in the Mission” project by December. An appeal filed by community members could stall that plan.

S.F.’s fight over the ‘Monster in the Mission’ property is back, thanks to a legal loophole—The appeal surprised even seasoned state legislators who have been working to clear the path for housing projects… www.sfchronicle.com/realestate/a... @laura-waxmann.bsky.social @sfchronicle.com

S.F. has been waiting 2 years for this beloved restaurant to reopen. What happened? A Mexican restaurant popular with San Francisco’s city leaders closed in 2023, promising a return later that year. The dream isn’t dead, but its future remains murky.

NEW: For more than 2 years, signage in the papered windows of a beloved #SanFrancisco restaurant's new downtown location has read "coming soon." But its doors remain shut.

What happened to Don Ramon's? We have answers.
@sfchronicle.com

Another growing AI startup makes a big move in downtown S.F. After a tough pandemic recovery, San Francisco’s office market is now showing signs of a very slow recovery period — largely thanks to demand for new offices from AI startups.

Yesterday's scoop: Commercial landlord Kilroy Realty Corp. is on the verge of what appears to be its largest lease deal in #SanFrancisco since 2019 — and, surprise! It's with an artificial intelligence startup.

@sfchronicle.com

S.F. tenants caught in legal limbo as their building falls into disrepair: ‘We are stuck’ The building’s tenants say they have been stuck inside the downtown property without a functioning elevator and without maintenance support.

As a wave of distressed debt swept over #SanFrancisco scores of landlords fought to hang on to their real estate. For many, the fight continues.

Tenants living in buildings seized by lenders are often fighting as well—for essential repairs.
@sfchronicle.com

California finally passed CEQA reform. Will it stop housing roadblocks? As California’s pro-housing advocates celebrated the victory and environmentalists decried the potential damage from the new laws, one question went largely unasked: Will they work?

Gov. Gavin Newsom and housing advocates have long blamed #CEQA for #California's inability to keep up with housing demand.

But with legislation passed Monday severely curtailing the environmental review process, the question becomes: Will the reform work? @sfchronicle.com

Exclusive: Dianne Feinstein’s lavish S.F. mansion has sold. Here is what we know The three-story, 1917 Italianate mansion at 2460 Lyon St. sits on San Francisco’s famed Lyon Street steps, at the foot of Vallejo street.

Exclusive: Late Sen. Dianne Feinstein’s lavish mansion in a stretch of #SanFrancisco’s Pacific Heights neighborhood known as “Billionaire’s Row," has a new owner.

Here are the details👇
@sfchronicle.com #realestate #housing

More S.F. office space is being leased than let go, but vacancy remains high. Here’s what it means “This is the best quarter we’ve seen, because we finally saw availability tick down for the first time in five years,” a San Francisco market analyst said about the city’s long-suffering...

More S.F. office space is being leased than let go, but vacancy remains high. Here’s what it means—Colin Yasukochi, executive director of CBRE’s Tech Insights Center, credits artificial intelligence companies: They… www.sfchronicle.com/realestate/a... @laura-waxmann.bsky.social @sfchronicle.com

Downtown S.F. museum in trouble after missing key fundraising deadline The future of San Francisco’s Mexican Museum is in jeopardy after the beleaguered organization missed a key fundraising deadline for the construction of its long-gestating downtown location.

EXCLUSIVE: The future of #SanFrancisco's Mexican Museum is murky after it missed key deadline for its long-gestating downtown home.

It's the latest turn for an institution with surprising political influence in the city, despite existing only on paper for years.
@sfchronicle.com

Long-vacant Clay Theater in S.F.’s Pacific Heights to finally undergo renovation The historic Clay Theater, which has sat vacant for five years, will undergo a renovation starting later this year, good news for San Francisco’s Upper Fillmore retail corridor.

It's been roughly a year since #SanFrancisco VC Neil Mehta bought a list of Upper Fillmore buildings with plans to revitalize them, causing community tensions.

Their storefronts remain empty—but that may soon change for Mehta's most prominent property. @sfchronicle.com

Nvidia hunting for S.F. office space, after CEO says the city is ‘thriving’ Nvidia reportedly hunting for S.F. office space, after CEO Jensen Huang says the city is ‘thriving’

Nvidia reportedly hunting for S.F. office space, after CEO Jensen Huang says the city is ‘thriving’

Nvidia hunting for S.F. office space, after CEO says the city is ‘thriving’ Nvidia reportedly hunting for S.F. office space, after CEO Jensen Huang says the city is ‘thriving’

Scoop: NVIDIA is hunting for #SanFrancisco office space, after CEO says the city is "thriving."

@sfchronicle.com

S.F.’s massive Power Station development pivots from hotel to waterfront park San Francisco's massive Power Station development in the Dogpatch pivots from hotel to waterfront park

Scoop: The developer of #SanFrancisco's Power Station will file application today to incorporate historic relics of the retired power plant into a waterfront park.

The area is approved for a hotel, but its construction could be a decade away. @sfchronicle.com

OpenAI to buy iPhone designer Jony Ive’s startup for $6.5 billion. Here’s what it means for S.F. OpenAI to buy iPhone designer Jony Ive’s startup for $6.5 billion. Here's what the deal means for San Francisco

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman & famed Apple designer Jony Ive have joined forces to build “iPhone of AI,” with OpenAI agreeing to buy Ive’s new startup.

While OpenAI has offices in #SanFrancisco's Mission Bay, Ive's startup is Jackson Square & will remain there, the Chronicle has learned.
@sfchronicle.com

Castro Theatre’s renovation could revive the iconic S.F. neighborhood. But a new backlash is building Castro Theatre's renovation could revive the iconic S.F. neighborhood. But the backlash is building

NEW: Another Planet Entertainment has a chance to be a hero to #SanFrancisco's Castro, a global symbol of queer pride now beset with vacancies.

But controversy is brewing around its bid to renovate a beloved theater—which is pushing out 2 small business owners. @sfchronicle.com

After shift to remote work, crypto company nears deal for new HQ in S.F.'s Mission Rock Coinbase, the cryptocurrency exchange, appears close to a deal for a Mission Rock building that would become the company's San Francisco headquarters.

Scoop: Four years ago, #Coinbase gave up its downtown #SanFrancisco headquarters in favor of remote work. Forgoing a formal HQ was more in line with the spirit of crypto, the company said.

Well, a lot has changed since then—including Coinbase's real estate needs. @sfchronicle.com

Another S.F. Starbucks, this one with a great view, is closing Another S.F. Starbucks, this one with a great view, is closing as the company shuffles its store portfolio.

Lil' scoop: Another #SanFrancisco #Starbucks, this one with a great view, is closing.

@sfchronicle.com

S.F.’s next big housing development could rise in this unexpected neighborhood San Francisco’s next big housing development could rise in a city neighborhood that's long contested the addition of dense housing.

NEW: In light of major rezoning plan that's targeted #SanFrancisco's west side, 300 Lake's sale will test the city’s priorities—and its residents’ appetite for more density in areas like Inner Richmond, where the former nursing home is located. @sfchronicle.com

Historic Tenderloin halfway house is the focus of San Francisco’s latest zoning battle A historic Tenderloin halfway house is the focus of San Francisco's latest zoning battle, with one group wanting it to be a forever home for transgender people

NEW: With contracts for a controversial halfway house in #SanFrancisco's Tenderloin due to expire, advocates are raising $$ to claim the historic building.

And, they're betting on a land use dispute to boot its private prison operator from the neighborhood.
@sfchronicle.com

Exclusive: New grocer makes bid to move into the vacated Safeway in S.F.’s Fillmore District Smart and Final makes a bid to move into the building that was vacated by Safeway in San Francisco’s Fillmore District.

Exclusive: New grocer makes bid to move into the vacated Safeway in #SanFrancisco's Fillmore District.

@sfchronicle.com

OpenAI’s Sam Altman bringing his latest technology to a Union Square storefront OpenAI’s Sam Altman bringing his latest technology, the crypto project World Network, to a Union Square storefront.

NEW: The Sam Altman-backed cryptocurrency project World Network will debut across the country Thursday— its rollout involves six retail locations in major cities, including a #SanFrancisco flagship store in Union Square.
@sfchronicle.com

S.F. is planning to buy a building to consolidate its workforce, but will the city have the funds? San Francisco is planning to buy a building to consolidate its workforce, taking advantage of declining downtown real estate prices

Scoop: The city of #SanFrancisco is on verge of leasing a massive swath of office space in a tower once home to
Uber in city's abandoned tech hub.

The space grab unlocks an option for city to buy the building—but will it have the money? @sfchronicle.com

Downtown bar owners will breathe new life into 100-year-old S.F. building The SF restaurant space at 20 Cosmo Place, previously Le Colonial and Trader Vic's, has been sold to new owners behind Persona bar.

Scoop: A century-old #SanFrancisco building two blocks from Union Square that last housed controversial French-Vietnamese restaurant Le Colonial has been sold to a pair of local bar operators.

Reporting with @elenakadvany.bsky.social for @sfchronicle.com

Wharton School of Business considering a relocation of its S.F. campus Wharton School of Business is said to be considering relocating its San Francisco campus, moving into the city's Financial District

Scoop: The Wharton School of Business is contemplating trading in its #SanFrancisco waterfront views for a potentially standalone campus in city’s Financial District.

Could Google's recent growth in Wharton's current building be a contributing factor for the move? @sfchronicle.com

Special thanks to @laura-waxmann.bsky.social for highlighting our newest project at Pier 29 in the @sfchronicle.com! Click the 🔗 below to read more ⬇️

Massive art and culture hub coming to S.F. pier that’s been empty for more than a decade A massive art and culture hub is coming to San Francisco's Pier 29, which has been empty for more than a decade

NEW: On a mission to claim some of downtown #SanFrancisco’s languishing commercial buildings as affordable spaces for artists and culture groups, a community-centered real estate organization has set its sights on a long vacant pier. @sfchronicle.com

www.sfchronicle.com/realestate/a...

One S.F. office building sells to tech firm with another downtown tower due to hit market As one downtown San Francisco tower sold to a local company Thursday, another skyscraper was being prepped for a sale.

Opportunistic buyers are pouncing & desperate owners are selling office properties in #SanFrancisco amid the continuing market downturn.

As one downtown tower sold to a local company Thursday, another skyscraper was being prepped for a sale. @sfchronicle.com

Stalled S.F. housing project receives grant to jump-start $2.3 billion plan Remake of city’s largest and oldest housing co-operative into a mixed-income community could feature affordable housing along thousands of market-rate homes.

Stalled S.F. housing project receives grant to jump-start $2.3 billion plan—It proposes razing and rebuilding the existing, 382-unit Freedom West co-op at 820 McAllister St. and… www.sfchronicle.com/realestate/a... @laura-waxmann.bsky.social @sfchronicle.com

This luxury vacation homes startup is gaining popularity. Some California cities call it a nightmare The luxury vacation homes startup Pacaso is gaining popularity. Some California cities call it a nightmare

On a mission to solve an "empty second homes problem" through co-ownership, Pacaso is reporting growth.

But making amends in #California communities that have felt threatened by the startup could prove to become its largest hurdle yet. @sfchronicle.com

Opinion | Is San Francisco Finally Coming Back? A new sign of commercial life appears downtown.

Thank you for the shoutout @wsj.com!

#SanFrancisco has been through a few brutal years, exposing longstanding vulnerabilities and inequities—sometimes things have to fall apart to come back better. There are plenty of people here who believe in this iconic city.