@vladsf.bsky.social
Architecture wanderings, transit & planning, San Francisco and beyond. The joy that can be found in the everyday.
Judah at La Playa - 1980
@sfmta.bsky.social
@sfmta.bsky.social
September 23, 2025 at 4:12 AM
Judah at La Playa - 1980
@sfmta.bsky.social
@sfmta.bsky.social
Downtown San Francisco has come a long ways.
Even our city wasn't immune to freeways and parking lots on prime real estate which beset many US cities in the '70s.
Look at the old Transbay Terminal and the Embarcadero Freeway. Yerba Buena / Moscone Center being built in the back.
Even our city wasn't immune to freeways and parking lots on prime real estate which beset many US cities in the '70s.
Look at the old Transbay Terminal and the Embarcadero Freeway. Yerba Buena / Moscone Center being built in the back.
July 3, 2025 at 7:24 PM
Downtown San Francisco has come a long ways.
Even our city wasn't immune to freeways and parking lots on prime real estate which beset many US cities in the '70s.
Look at the old Transbay Terminal and the Embarcadero Freeway. Yerba Buena / Moscone Center being built in the back.
Even our city wasn't immune to freeways and parking lots on prime real estate which beset many US cities in the '70s.
Look at the old Transbay Terminal and the Embarcadero Freeway. Yerba Buena / Moscone Center being built in the back.
The railyards site is a no brainer to build up into a transit & housing hub. There is @caltrain.com service, countless @sfmta.com lines, and the planned $8.25 billion rail extension that will link directly to the Transbay Terminal (and eventually beyond) to East Bay & Sac.
June 18, 2025 at 12:30 AM
The railyards site is a no brainer to build up into a transit & housing hub. There is @caltrain.com service, countless @sfmta.com lines, and the planned $8.25 billion rail extension that will link directly to the Transbay Terminal (and eventually beyond) to East Bay & Sac.
These cute banana slugs err trams from Woltersdorf (near Berlin) would be perfect for Santa Cruz - connecting the campus with downtown and the Boardwalk.
June 3, 2025 at 2:56 AM
These cute banana slugs err trams from Woltersdorf (near Berlin) would be perfect for Santa Cruz - connecting the campus with downtown and the Boardwalk.
Knights Templar Decorations at the intersection of Market, Kearny, Geary, and Third Streets.
I wonder if they needed to secure permits for the installation or if it was just approved over a handshake.
(September, 1904)
I wonder if they needed to secure permits for the installation or if it was just approved over a handshake.
(September, 1904)
May 15, 2025 at 5:57 AM
Knights Templar Decorations at the intersection of Market, Kearny, Geary, and Third Streets.
I wonder if they needed to secure permits for the installation or if it was just approved over a handshake.
(September, 1904)
I wonder if they needed to secure permits for the installation or if it was just approved over a handshake.
(September, 1904)
In an alternate timeline @goldengate.org has a lower deck dedicated to @bart.gov.
May 8, 2025 at 3:01 AM
In an alternate timeline @goldengate.org has a lower deck dedicated to @bart.gov.
Love this shot of a PCC car pulling into Forest Hill Station. Noticing the low platforms and steps!
Circa late '60s.
@sfmta.bsky.social.
Circa late '60s.
@sfmta.bsky.social.
April 25, 2025 at 10:47 PM
Love this shot of a PCC car pulling into Forest Hill Station. Noticing the low platforms and steps!
Circa late '60s.
@sfmta.bsky.social.
Circa late '60s.
@sfmta.bsky.social.
Very pleased to see these blocks in Fisherman's Wharf being eyed for a 65' and 85' upzoning.
There should be workforce housing at the terminus of the F-Line and that part of the city deserves to transform into an actual neighborhood where people live and work.
@dannysauter.bsky.social
There should be workforce housing at the terminus of the F-Line and that part of the city deserves to transform into an actual neighborhood where people live and work.
@dannysauter.bsky.social
April 7, 2025 at 6:37 AM
Very pleased to see these blocks in Fisherman's Wharf being eyed for a 65' and 85' upzoning.
There should be workforce housing at the terminus of the F-Line and that part of the city deserves to transform into an actual neighborhood where people live and work.
@dannysauter.bsky.social
There should be workforce housing at the terminus of the F-Line and that part of the city deserves to transform into an actual neighborhood where people live and work.
@dannysauter.bsky.social
Grand Avenue (Bunker Hill, LA) – 1979 – Barton Myers, Pelli, Gehry
March 29, 2025 at 4:59 AM
Grand Avenue (Bunker Hill, LA) – 1979 – Barton Myers, Pelli, Gehry
Hallidie Plaza in the 1970s, the entrance to Powell Station and gateway into downtown for many travelers.
Unfortunately the benches have been yanked out for quite some time now and the upper row of trees in the back have been cut down.
What will the future hold for the plaza?
Unfortunately the benches have been yanked out for quite some time now and the upper row of trees in the back have been cut down.
What will the future hold for the plaza?
March 27, 2025 at 7:20 PM
Hallidie Plaza in the 1970s, the entrance to Powell Station and gateway into downtown for many travelers.
Unfortunately the benches have been yanked out for quite some time now and the upper row of trees in the back have been cut down.
What will the future hold for the plaza?
Unfortunately the benches have been yanked out for quite some time now and the upper row of trees in the back have been cut down.
What will the future hold for the plaza?
A series of collages I made for @bart.gov that highlight the transit system's role in connecting riders with the Bay Area's rich local history, unique geography and nature that can be found within steps from its stations.
March 25, 2025 at 12:10 AM
A series of collages I made for @bart.gov that highlight the transit system's role in connecting riders with the Bay Area's rich local history, unique geography and nature that can be found within steps from its stations.
The fictional skyline of San Francisco in the 1974 movie "The Towering Inferno." The two tall buildings in the center are "The Peerless" and "The Glass Tower."
The Glass Tower is supposed to be 1668 ft.
The Salesforce Tower we got in our timeline is 1070 ft.
The Glass Tower is supposed to be 1668 ft.
The Salesforce Tower we got in our timeline is 1070 ft.
March 23, 2025 at 10:42 PM
The fictional skyline of San Francisco in the 1974 movie "The Towering Inferno." The two tall buildings in the center are "The Peerless" and "The Glass Tower."
The Glass Tower is supposed to be 1668 ft.
The Salesforce Tower we got in our timeline is 1070 ft.
The Glass Tower is supposed to be 1668 ft.
The Salesforce Tower we got in our timeline is 1070 ft.
Central Freeway under construction at Market and Octavia, San Francisco (1958)
March 20, 2025 at 6:57 AM
Central Freeway under construction at Market and Octavia, San Francisco (1958)
B-Geary taking a rest at the end of the line at Playland Loop. (1956)
Two things San Francisco lost. A streetcar line running through the Richmond and a beach boardwalk.
Two things San Francisco lost. A streetcar line running through the Richmond and a beach boardwalk.
March 19, 2025 at 7:53 PM
B-Geary taking a rest at the end of the line at Playland Loop. (1956)
Two things San Francisco lost. A streetcar line running through the Richmond and a beach boardwalk.
Two things San Francisco lost. A streetcar line running through the Richmond and a beach boardwalk.
March 5, 2025 at 11:37 PM
If the Trump admin is serious about offloading 50 UN Plaza & the Nancy Pelosi Fed Bldg. then the city should look into acquiring those bldgs for city services.
A new Tenderloin Station for SFPD, sober living facilities, housing, everything should be on the table.
A new Tenderloin Station for SFPD, sober living facilities, housing, everything should be on the table.
March 4, 2025 at 10:23 PM
If the Trump admin is serious about offloading 50 UN Plaza & the Nancy Pelosi Fed Bldg. then the city should look into acquiring those bldgs for city services.
A new Tenderloin Station for SFPD, sober living facilities, housing, everything should be on the table.
A new Tenderloin Station for SFPD, sober living facilities, housing, everything should be on the table.
Yep - would've been even pointier! Also notice the extra elevator shafts on one facade in this design.
History repeated itself with Salesforce Tower, original design was 1,200 ft and brought down to 1,070 because of shadow concerns on a park in Chinatown...
History repeated itself with Salesforce Tower, original design was 1,200 ft and brought down to 1,070 because of shadow concerns on a park in Chinatown...
March 3, 2025 at 11:27 PM
Yep - would've been even pointier! Also notice the extra elevator shafts on one facade in this design.
History repeated itself with Salesforce Tower, original design was 1,200 ft and brought down to 1,070 because of shadow concerns on a park in Chinatown...
History repeated itself with Salesforce Tower, original design was 1,200 ft and brought down to 1,070 because of shadow concerns on a park in Chinatown...
The original design was 1,000 feet tall -- the 853-foot tower that we eventually got was a compromise to the anti-Manhattanization folks.
March 3, 2025 at 5:19 AM
The original design was 1,000 feet tall -- the 853-foot tower that we eventually got was a compromise to the anti-Manhattanization folks.
Construction progress of the Transamerica Pyramid, Embarcadero Center and the Grand Hyatt in 1972.
March 3, 2025 at 2:00 AM
Construction progress of the Transamerica Pyramid, Embarcadero Center and the Grand Hyatt in 1972.
An "artist's conception" of a proposed domed stadium at China Basin. Dec. 20, 1982. I'm guessing it would've been shared by the Giants and Niners.
Glad this one didn't get built...
From @sfchronicle.com archives.
Glad this one didn't get built...
From @sfchronicle.com archives.
January 30, 2025 at 7:25 PM
An "artist's conception" of a proposed domed stadium at China Basin. Dec. 20, 1982. I'm guessing it would've been shared by the Giants and Niners.
Glad this one didn't get built...
From @sfchronicle.com archives.
Glad this one didn't get built...
From @sfchronicle.com archives.
Continuing my explorations of what a pedestrianized Lombard St. could look like.
The original image I altered is from the '70s. Not much has changed since then except the number of cars idling & queuing.
The alternative could be a real boon for residents and tourists...
The original image I altered is from the '70s. Not much has changed since then except the number of cars idling & queuing.
The alternative could be a real boon for residents and tourists...
January 29, 2025 at 10:01 PM
Continuing my explorations of what a pedestrianized Lombard St. could look like.
The original image I altered is from the '70s. Not much has changed since then except the number of cars idling & queuing.
The alternative could be a real boon for residents and tourists...
The original image I altered is from the '70s. Not much has changed since then except the number of cars idling & queuing.
The alternative could be a real boon for residents and tourists...
Their heads would explode at the name of the business now.
January 29, 2025 at 7:34 AM
Their heads would explode at the name of the business now.
You can fit a whole town along the waterfront where Golden Gate Fields used to be.
January 27, 2025 at 11:41 PM
You can fit a whole town along the waterfront where Golden Gate Fields used to be.
When people tell you there is no more space to build new housing - here is Paris overlaid on San Francisco.
SF is slightly larger, despite having 808,000 people compared to 2.3m in Paris.
SF is slightly larger, despite having 808,000 people compared to 2.3m in Paris.
January 16, 2025 at 3:16 AM
When people tell you there is no more space to build new housing - here is Paris overlaid on San Francisco.
SF is slightly larger, despite having 808,000 people compared to 2.3m in Paris.
SF is slightly larger, despite having 808,000 people compared to 2.3m in Paris.
Imagine ever thinking building this was a good idea.
Construction photo of the Embarcadero Freeway taken in January 1958 - San Francisco Chronicle.
Construction photo of the Embarcadero Freeway taken in January 1958 - San Francisco Chronicle.
December 12, 2024 at 7:19 AM
Imagine ever thinking building this was a good idea.
Construction photo of the Embarcadero Freeway taken in January 1958 - San Francisco Chronicle.
Construction photo of the Embarcadero Freeway taken in January 1958 - San Francisco Chronicle.