big box goes vertical

the folks on skyscraper page are abuzz over the metro center project from architects studio one eleven. on the latter site, select "urban retail" to access renderings for the project. it's big box retail coming to downtown (bounded by Commercial, National, 16th & Newton), and they're going to build vertically to fit the project into a moderate-sized location. according to one of the forumers, ccdc says it will be a 450,000 sq. ft. project with two large tenants. studio one eleven's website talks up the walkability of the area, but it will be interesting to see how they tuck the parking inside the facility - i don't see any big parking garages in the renderings, and apparently the high water table prohibits much underground parking. there will be restaurants in the project too, which will give the nearby guild some company.

gateway apartments, new low-income units that are part of the barrio logan redevelopment project, are finishing up construction around the corner at 16th and logan:



you can't accuse either of these projects of looking boring. regardless, some big changes are coming to this neglected part of downtown, an area that sits right near the imperial trolley station - what better place for more density?