That much-discussed $1 fare hike at the Golden Gate Bridge went into effect today — and just to rub a little salt in drivers’ wounds, Muni proudly announced that city transit ridership rose 6.5% in the last year. So what are they doing with all those extra fares? Hiring more fare inspectors, natch! Muni more than doubled the number of inspectors riding the rails over the past two years. You’d think with all that bank they could at least keep the finicky change machines in working order… [Bizjournals.com]
“Wow! Live here & experience life!” Judging by the low-res photos of this 1-bedroom unit, that experience will be vaguely luxurious, glassy and possibly carpeted — and it’ll set you back $2565 a month. Luckily this place is also “wired for telecommunications”! Score!
255 King Street [Craigslist]
KID NATION MIGHT BE MORE FUNCTIONAL THAN ADULT ONE? Ten East Bay high school seniors have developed a plan for an area of El Cerrito that left city planners stumped for years. The teens were working on the plan as part of their summer internship with the West Contra Costa Transportation Advisory Committee, who should really come up with a catchier name than all that. It makes you wonder what these kids might’ve come up with for the Valencia Street overhaul. Surely they wouldn’t have been ballsy enough to top $6 million! [Contra Costa Times]
A new “strategic partnership” will buoy Miami-based developer Lennar Corporation’s big, big plans for Bayview, and keep their dream of wooing the 49ers to Candlestick Point alive. (Yeah yeah, affordable housing this and park-space that — we know what the real priority is here.)
After a rocky few months of dismal reports and tanking profits, Irvine-based Scala Real Estate and Perot scion Ross Jr.’s (pictured) Hillwood Development Company are pumping wind beneath Lennar’s wings and hundreds of millions of greenbacks into its sad lil’ bank account to salvage the biggest urban development project in the nation. Perot and Scala will replace Cerberus Capital Management’s 50% stake in Hunter’s Point, plus go halvsies on Candlestick, where Lennar previously held sole ownership.
Is this all that much of a surprise, though? With all that sweet land under their belts and less than three months off their Prop G victory, it’s no wonder that some money-hungry behemoths would try to cash in as Lennar falters.
It’s Happy Hour in Miami right now, and Lennar execs are probably on their fourth mojito of the afternoon.
Lennar Megaproject Surives [WSJ]
Although you wouldn’t guess it from the boxy gray exterior, inside 10 Carnelian Way is a lofty open floor plan complete with custom built-in cabinetry, storage space and sweeping views of downtown from the living room and deck. This 3-bedroom unit has been remodeled to update the kitchen with stainless steel appliances and add some classy finishes throughout, including a jacuzzi tub and mod light fixtures — though judging by the cream carpeting and cheesy art, not all that much has changed since the place was built in 1979.
The 2,124-square-foot townhouse condo located on a “wonderful cul-de-sac” in Diamond Heights is relatively affordable at $1,050,000.
10 Carnelian Way [MLS]
Oh yeah, this is totally 100% worthwhile: the hippies have descended upon the abandoned pastures of Alcatraz in a beautifying effort that might be better focused on a place where people actually, you know, live (cough Tenderloin cough). Maybe they’re bitter about not getting that Global Peace Center? [SF Gate]
SEPTEMBER SALES SLOW? Conventional market wisdom holds that after the last scraps of summer vacations and before the holiday frenzy, September is a big month for home sales. July brought good real estate news less bad news than the first half of the year. But with the country’s continued march toward mass foreclosure, will this autumn really bring its usual bump? Zephyr’s got their fingers crossed, and there’s actually a teeny bit of good news for buyers, too (!!) — the national average for 30-year, fixed-rate mortgages slid 0.07 percent from just last week. It sounds paltry, but any little bit helps, right? [Mercury News]
This Bernal Heights 5-bedroom boasts three baths, brand-new flooring, decent appliances and sweeping hilltop views of the city — “perfect for large family or people who just wants a lot of space for entertaining” [sic]. But at $829,995 for 2,088 square feet of space in a “serene country setting,” it seems a little underpriced. Might all that lovely shade have something to do with it? Should you really need to turn all the lights on in the middle of the afternoon just to take some interior shots? Guess it wouldn’t be much of a problem if all that entertaining were done after hours…
447 Fraconia Street [MLS]
PUBLIC SERVICE REMINDER: YES, RENTER’S INSURANCE IS WORTH IT, YOU CHEAPSKATE. The Associated Press reminds all non-owners to get one of those handy free quotes online. For less than $200 a year, your household belongings (and your vehicle) will be protected against Tenderloin crackhead break-ins and the damage from Mission blazes (but probably no quake coverage for you Marina dwellers). Now if only there were some insurance against your building being foreclosed on…
[“Thriller in Dolores Park” courtesy Curbed SF Flickr photog r.wiesenberger] 