Up, up, and away

Big news here at the East Cut: Malcolm Drilling have removed the amazing Liebherr 873 mobile crane which supported their 30-month sub-project of deep-foundation work at the Oceanwide Center.

They took that crane away overnight! Monday at 4:00 PM, it was there. Tuesday at 7:30 AM, it was not. Check the link above for the sketch of what was involved in disassembling and removing it. Boy I wish I had known to be there to watch. Sigh.

Now the project changes from building down, to building up.

Things have been a bit challenging for the Oceanwide Center project. Oceanwide is a Chinese developer, and the trade war and global economic conditions have greatly complicated things. They have halted work on the partially-completed Oceanwide Plaza in Los Angeles, but the San Francisco project is still underway, it seems.

At least, there are still crews on the site in San Francisco, and a new pedestal crane was recently installed, so I think they are still moving forward.

Time will tell, I guess.

I hope that the building gets built, because we are out of room across the street and we need new office space!

Sez the Chron:

The dearth of space and continued demand from the tech industry has led to leases for future buildings that haven’t even been approved by the city, such as Salesforce’s lease at 564 Howard St. and Pinterest’s deal at 88 Bluxome St.

The 564 Howard Street site, if it gets built, will connect directly to the Salesforce Park:

The site known as Transbay Parcel F is a dirt lot. In five years, the site at 564 Howard St. is set to become a soaring 800-foot glass high-rise with space for 1,500 workers, along with 165 condos and 190 hotel rooms.

If it gets built.

I have this feeling that growth is slowing rapidly across the country, and very specifically in the tech industry, as the impending recession begins to be felt everywhere. Tech is still an enormous generator of economic activity, but the global conditions are worsening fast.

So I think all these plans from three years ago are being frantically re-thought.

Meanwhile, since across the street means the Salesforce Tower, the tallest building west of Mississippi (by some measures), you should take some time to look at this gorgeous portfolio of pictures taken by photographer Gary Leonard during the topping out of the Wilshire Grand Hotel 3 years ago.

I found Leonard's photos via this nice short Snopes article that's making the rounds right now.

Onwards and upwards!