Two large residential projects slated for Showplace Square

From today's San Francisco Business Times, "The chairman of Bay West Group, Bill Poland, which owns the San Francisco Design Center, is selling a stake in the development to finance his dream to build 775 apartments and condos in the Showplace Square neighborhood."

"The first is a 72,000-square-foot site bounded by Rhode Island Street, Alameda Street, Division Street and Henry Adams Street. Poland intends to build 215 condos, showroom space and parking."

"The second development would replace the Concourse Exhibition Center on Brannan Street between Seventh and Eighth streets, now used as an exhibition hall. Plans call for tearing down the building and erecting 560 units in its place -- most likely a combination of apartments and condos. The five-acre development could also include an extended-stay hotel."

"The properties are zoned light-use industrial -- a designation Poland has been working to change for nearly seven years."

"The publication of the draft environmental impact report -- the first major milestone in attempting to get a property re-zoned -- is slated for early February."