Green Renovation

San Francisco neighborhood rehab will emphasize sustainability

A $1.2 billion plan to reconstruct a San Francisco residential neighborhood will replace 1,500 rent-controlled townhomes with 7,200 new energy-efficient units over the next 20 to 30 years. The project will transform the 152-acre Parkmerced neighborhood from car-centric to pedestrian-friendly.
June 1, 2011
A $1.2 billion plan to reconstruct a San Francisco residential neighborhood will replace 1,500 rent-controlled townhomes with 7,200 new energy-efficient units over the next 20 to 30 years. The project will transform the 152-acre Parkmerced neighborhood from car-centric to pedestrian-friendly. All existing garden apartments will be demolished, while 11 landmark towers will be rehabbed. When the new Parkmerced, which currently houses about 8,000 residents, is completed in 2040, an additional 14,000 people will be living in the neighborhood that was originally built in the 1940s. The new neighborhood will have a school, easy access to transit, and stores within walking distance of homes, a dramatic change from the expansive lawns and wide streets now found there. (http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/05/24/MN0E1JKF34.DTL)

About the Author

Drew Ballensky

Drew Ballensky is general manager of Duro-Last Roofing, Inc.’s central U.S. facility in Iowa and company spokesman for Duro-Last’s cool roofing, sustainability and architectural education programs. He is past-president of the Chemical Fabrics and Film Association and chairman of CFFA’s Vinyl Roofing Division. Drew earned his bachelor’s degree in industrial technology from the University of Northern Iowa and master’s degree in business administration from Florida State University. Drew has over 29 years experience in business and industry in various engineering and managerial capacities. He has worked in the U.S. and Canadian operations for a major international manufacturer of pre-engineered steel buildings, was a financial analyst with a major athletic apparel manufacturer and was an owner of a general contracting company.
Sign up for Building Design+Construction Newsletters