J.K. Dineen
@jkdineen.bsky.social
San Francisco Chronicle reporter, covering housing, development, land use. Boston-born. S.F. since 2002. J.K. stands for John Kelley. Wrote a book about bars. https://www.heydaybooks.com/catalog/high-spirits-the-legacy-bars-of-san-francisco/
More homes are entering S.F.’s pipeline. Are they getting built?—San Francisco, where rents and home prices have surged back to pre-pandemic levels amid an artificial intelligence boom, completed fewer… www.sfchronicle.com/realestate/a... @jkdineen.bsky.social @sfchronicle.com
More homes are entering S.F.’s pipeline. Are they getting built?
After a three-year drought of applications, San Francisco saw a sudden spike of proposed units, due largely to a few massive projects.
sfchronicle.com
…it’s time to connect the two and is making a rather bold pitch: Move San Francisco’s main criminal justice facility into the neighborhood’s surplus of empty buildings. @jkdineen.bsky.social
He wrote S.F.’s condo sprinkler mandate. Now he’s consulting on how to get exemptions—The idea that the author of the sprinkler ordinance is now offering to help HOAs navigate exemptions was not well received… www.sfchronicle.com/sf/article/h... @jkdineen.bsky.social @sfchronicle.com
He wrote S.F.’s condo sprinkler mandate. Now he’s consulting on how to get exemptions
For a fee, the former San Francisco fire marshal provides a “residential sprinkler evaluation” that includes “exemptions of phased compliance where allowed.”
sfchronicle.com
The Silicon Valley builder behind tech campuses turns to a new mission: Affordable housing—In addition, Sobrato is scooping up “naturally affordable” apartment complexes, fixing them and then imposing deed restrictions… www.sfchronicle.com/realestate/a... @jkdineen.bsky.social @sfchronicle.com
The Silicon Valley builder behind tech campuses turns to a new mission: Affordable housing
For generations this developer has been known for building some of Bay Area’s flashiest corporate campuses. But these days the Silicon Valley heavyweight spends much of its time on affordable...
sfchronicle.com
Exclusive: Trump fires entire San Francisco Presidio Trust board, all Biden appointees—A year after threatening to “dramatically” downsize the operations of San Francisco’s Presidio, President Donald Trump has terminated… www.sfchronicle.com/sf/article/p... @jkdineen.bsky.social @sfchronicle.com
Exclusive: Trump fires entire San Francisco Presidio Trust board, all Biden appointees
The Presidio Trust board oversees San Francisco’s Presidio, a 1,500-acre swath of federal land, designated a national historic landmark in 1962.
sfchronicle.com
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.
sfchronicle.com
#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
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.
sfchronicle.com
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...
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.
sfchronicle.com
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
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.
sfchronicle.com
🎙️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:
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.
buff.ly
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.
sfchronicle.com
“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
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.
sfchronicle.com
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
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.
sfchronicle.com
@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...
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.
sfchronicle.com
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
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...
sfchronicle.com
Scoop! The Eames Institute has bought the Marin Birkenstock campus and has big plans for it. www.sfchronicle.com/realestate/a...
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.
sfchronicle.com
No drinking or late nights: How 20-somethings are changing S.F.’s nightlife scene www.sfchronicle.com/sf/article/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.
sfchronicle.com
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
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...
go.ted.com
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
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.
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 www.sfchronicle.com/sf/article/p...
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.
sfchronicle.com
A great explainer from @jkdineen.bsky.social detailing upcoming changes to Fisherman's Wharf. #GiftLink 🔓 #SanFrancisco 🦀🦀
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.
sfchronicle.com
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...
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.
sfchronicle.com
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
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.
sfchronicle.com
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
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.
sfchronicle.com
Lafayette’s hillside war memorial could be getting some new neighbors. www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/arti...
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?
sfchronicle.com
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
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.
sfchronicle.com
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
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.
sfchronicle.com
