J.K. Dineen

Boston is turning empty office buildings into 1,500 homes. Why can’t San Francisco? Both cities launched programs to convert empty office buildings into homes at about the same time. Three years later Boston’s success is apparent and there are clear reasons why.

Boston is turning empty office buildings into 1,500 homes. Why can’t San Francisco?—beyond the political advantages, Boston has another secret weapon: A senior level manager… www.sfchronicle.com/sf/article/h... @jkdineen.bsky.social @sfchronicle.com

Boston is turning empty office buildings into 1,500 homes. Why can’t San Francisco? Both cities launched programs to convert empty office buildings into homes at about the same time. Three years later Boston’s success is apparent and there are clear reasons why.

#GiftLink 🔓 #SanFrancisco
Another banger from @jkdineen.bsky.social on SF's glacial pace of converting unused office space into desperately needed housing. It's not only the Bay Area's sky-high construction costs and seismic upgrades that are holding SF back. #YIMBY

Why this stairway that would connect S.F. neighborhoods has been unfinished for 10 years Residents blame the developer that promised the stairway that would connect Dogpatch and Potrero Hill neighborhoods. But the developer says the city’s permitting woes are the culprit.

Thank you @jkdineen.bsky.social for shining a light on this Potrero/Dogpatch stairway slog! I lived on the west side of the hill and commuted via the 22nd Street Caltrain station for many years, and this stair would have been very helpful [gift link] www.sfchronicle.com/sf/article/s...

SFJazz founder is building city’s first affordable housing for artists at historic site The 94 homes for artists will be built at the site of San Francisco’s historic McRoskey Mattress building, and will include a black box theater and rehearsal spaces.

Gift Link 🔓:

Great @jkdineen.bsky.social piece detailing #SanFrancisco ’s first ever apartment complex dedicated to low-income artists. No City funds in play, #SFJazz founder Randall Kline's vision instead funded by a $100m donation from an anonymous donor. #JazzSky

What Should Replace San Francisco Centre? | KQED We talk about what could be done with the vacant mall and the challenges facing San Francisco’s once-grand retail hub.

🎙️ON AIR:

We’re talking with Michael Covarrubias, @jkdineen.bsky.social, Laura Crescimano and Lisa Huang about what can be done with the now-vacant San Francisco Centre and the challenges facing SF’s once-grand retail hub.

❓What Qs do you have about the future of the downtown space?

📻 Listen:

Dozens of S.F. tenants stunned by eviction notices despite paying rent San Francisco tenants’ rights advocates said they have “never seen this level of evictions” from a single landlord.

3) An investment group acquired the loan on a building in SF and then changed how tenants were required to pay rent. Now, dozens of these low-income tenants have received eviction notices, despite paying rent on-time. @sfchronicle.com @jkdineen.bsky.social

www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/arti...

Dozens of S.F. tenants stunned by eviction notices despite paying rent San Francisco tenants’ rights advocates said they have “never seen this level of evictions” from a single landlord.

“The wave of evictions shows how tenants are sometimes adversely impacted when big apartment landlords default on loans, thrusting buildings into a period of limbo.”

www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/arti...

By @jkdineen.bsky.social

Wealthy S.F. neighborhood’s 700-unit housing development to break ground after 10 years Ten years after it was first proposed, the largest housing development ever built in this quiet San Francisco neighborhood is expected to break ground this year thanks to city tax incentives.

Upscale S.F. neighborhood’s 700-unit housing development to break ground after 10 years—Developer Prado Group has confirmed that it expects to start construction in late 2026 on the first three buildings… www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/arti... @jkdineen.bsky.social @sfchronicle.com

Former Mayor Ed Lee’s bust to be installed at S.F. City Hall, replacing the visage of a racist The bust of former San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee, who died of a heart attack in 2017, will be unveiled at City Hall on Friday.

@jkdineen.bsky.social goes wonderfully deep into SF City Hall busts on the occasion of a tribute to the somewhat accidental Mayor Ed Lee (RIP) www.sfchronicle.com/sf/article/e...

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

Marin Birkenstock campus to become a museum celebrating these midcentury designers A Bay Area nonprofit dedicated to two legendary designers is buying the former Birkenstock campus in Marin County — and plans to redevelop the property as a global art and design museum.

Scoop! The Eames Institute has bought the Marin Birkenstock campus and has big plans for it.

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

No drinking or late nights: How 20-somethings are changing S.F.’s nightlife scene Parallel threats have sent San Francisco’s nightlife into a tailspin: The city is aging, making its economy increasingly dependent on older people. And 20-somethings aren’t filling the gap.

No drinking or late nights: How 20-somethings are changing S.F.’s nightlife scene

www.sfchronicle.com/sf/article/a...

The problem with food and climate — and how to fix it Global food production — from meat to grains — accounts for a third of all greenhouse gas emissions, says sustainability scientist Jonathan Foley. He presents a portfolio of data-backed solutions to b...

Did you know that our food system — especially through deforestation, methane emissions, and fertilizer — emits 22-34% of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions?

But food only get 3% of climate finance?

To build a sustainable future, we need to fix food.

Here’s how: go.ted.com/jonathanfoley24

This Marin County town is having a ‘freakout’ over a planned downtown apartment complex This battle could be a test case of what happens when a town’s residents rebel against California requirements meant to ease the state’s affordable housing shortage.

This Marin County town is having a ‘freakout’ over a planned downtown apartment complex— the fight could be a test case of what happens when a town’s residents dig in their heels and… @california-hcd.bsky.social www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/arti... @jkdineen.bsky.social @sfchronicle.com

Ross Dress For Less close to opening in the old Saks Off 5th space at 901 Market.

Famous rock ’n’ roll icon in San Francisco is closing for good The decision to close the iconic hotel with ties to rock stars comes nine months after the San Francisco Baking Institute bought the property for $9.1 million.

Famous rock ’n’ roll icon in San Francisco is closing for good

www.sfchronicle.com/sf/article/p...

S.F. landmark will be torn down as part of major Fisherman’s Wharf redesign Knocking down an iconic restaurant and building a plaza are the centerpiece of a $10 million package of improvements for Fisherman’s Wharf that will include the lighting of the lagoon.

A great explainer from @jkdineen.bsky.social detailing upcoming changes to Fisherman's Wharf. #GiftLink 🔓 #SanFrancisco 🦀🦀

Barbara Lee is Oakland’s next mayor.

Giants take 2 of 3 from Yankees as Jung Hoo Lee goes deep twice, drives in 4 The San Francisco Giants won their first series at Yankee Stadium on Sunday as Jung Hoo Lee hit a pair of home runs in a 5-4 victory.

Giants take 2 of 3 from Yankees as the incredibly dynamic Jung Hoo Lee prompts Giants writer @shaynarubin.bsky.social to quote poet John Keats, a rarity in daily baseball writing.

www.sfchronicle.com/sports/giant...

Mayor Lurie’s ‘family zoning’ plan could reshape S.F. neighborhoods, add 36,000 new homes Mayor Lurie’s “family zoning” plan could reshape San Francisco neighborhoods and add 36,000 new homes.

Mayor Lurie’s ‘family zoning’ plan could reshape S.F. neighborhoods, add 36,000 new homes—Lurie told the Chronicle: “We want a city with more families, more workers, more dreamers. We want to build housing… www.sfchronicle.com/sf/article/l... @jkdineen.bsky.social @sfchronicle.com

Real estate empire of developer behind S.F.’s ‘Monster in the Mission’ appears to be unraveling The real estate empire of the developer behind S.F.’s ‘Monster in the Mission’ appears to be unraveling with loan defaults and a lawsuit by a former employee.

Turmoil at Maximus Real Estate? Owner of #SanFrancisco's Parkmerced apartment community is facing pressure from lenders over two Bay Area projects, amid sexual harassment claims from a former employee...

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

This Bay Area city is known for a memorial with thousands of white crosses. Will new housing erase it? This Bay Area city is known for a memorial with thousands of white crosses. Will new housing erase it?

Lafayette’s hillside war memorial could be getting some new neighbors.

www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/arti...

Gonna miss this place

Free rent. A city grant. This celebrity chef’s downtown S.F. cafe still lost $300K Tyler Florence’s cafe in San Francisco's Union Square was supposed to be a success story. It closed despite free rent and a generous grant from the city.

EXCLUSIVE: Star chef Tyler Florence's cafes in #SanFrancisco's iconic Union Square were supposed to be a success story.

They closed despite free rent, a generous city grant & favorable lease. Florence says he lost nearly $300K—what happened?

Reporting w/@elenakadvany.bsky.social @sfchronicle.com

Exclusive: S.F.’s most prominent federal office buildings are on Trump’s shortlist to be sold San Francisco’s most prominent federal office buildings, including the Nancy Pelosi building, are on President Trump’s shortlist to be sold.

Exclusive: Two cornerstone properties in #SanFrancisco could be on the chopping block as part of an effort by newly elected President Donald Trump and his billionaire associate Elon Musk to shrink size of federal government—and its real estate —in the name of efficiency.
@sfchronicle.com

Roll Over Easy Roll Over Easy with The Early Bird & Sequoia on BFF.fm. Listen to show archives, or tune in live Thursday 7:30 – 9:30am. BFF.fm is a San Francisco community radio station supporting emerging and underground artists and bringing Bay Area music to the world.

Headed to Manny’s with @laura-waxmann.bsky.social to hand out with the Early Bird & Sequoia bff.fm/shows/roll-o...

NYC’s sunny & crisp too but way colder than #sanfrancisco. Are we really going to hear from THE @jkdineen.bsky.social & @laura-waxmann.bsky.social ?? B.Hutch’s Off The Shelf seems right for enjoying a cuppa while listening @rollovereasy.bsky.social

Mercy Housing’s 221-unit development at 7th and Brannan is looking ready for occupancy. Santos Prescott and Associates is the project architect @mercyhousing.bsky.social @mattdorsey.bsky.social @sfchronicle.com @scottwiener.bsky.social

Hearst to buy downtown S.F. tower, relocate Chronicle offices amid effort to revive condo project Hearst to buy downtown San Francisco tower, relocate Chronicle offices amid effort to revive condo project

🚨Big news: @sfchronicle.com and @sfgate.com are moving from their iconic Fifth and Mission headquarters while Hearst Corp. revives a major redevelopment plan near the property. #sanfrancisco

S.F. Flower Market has a new home, and it’s the ‘talk of the neighborhood’ Weeks after swapping its home of 58 years for a two-level emporium on Potrero Hill, the San Francisco market has become a local attraction.

S.F. Flower Market, the ‘talk of Potrero Hill! “Gentrified” out of a Central SoMa neighborhood that was slated for big things, but has gone dramatically downhill, only to end up in a much more vibrant and welcoming enclave.

www.sfchronicle.com/sf/article/f...