The city has a chance to create a great neighborhood on Rincon Hill

The Chron's John King discusses the creation of the Rincon Hill 'neighborhood' in his Urban Design column today.

"The clock tower atop Rincon Hill doesn't tell the time anymore, and by the end of November, there won't be a clock tower at all. A 50-year-old landmark will be taken down, and a pair of towers, 55 and 45 stories, will rise in its place."

"The funny thing is, the neighborhoods that work the best are the ones were got slapped together long ago. Space was at a premium, so houses were jammed close together; cars weren't that common, so commercial districts were pulled in close to transit lines."

"These days, by contrast, development is shaped by process and politics -- with mixed results. Planning too often is nothing more than an attempt to satisfy the demands of every conceivable interest group. For most politicians, meanwhile, the long-term look and feel of San Francisco isn't nearly as important as making your most strident constituents happy."

"It's easy to take down a clock tower; it's tough to create a community. Let's hope San Francisco is up to the task."