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[1:10] In this episode of the Structures podcast, multimedia producer Kevin Truong and real estate reporters Blanca Torres and Roland Li talk about modular construction and its potential impact on the Bay Area housing crisis. [12:15] The podcasting trio also previews the Business Times Coolest Offices in the Bay Area competition which will reveal finalists online on March 5. In the segment the team debate the merits of an open-floor office, what amenities actually improve employee experience and do a thumbs up and thumbs down on in-office bars. [19:55] Lastly, the podcast features an interview with Mike Sroka, the CEO of leading commercial real estate tech company Dealpath. The startup – which is based a stone’s throw away from the Business Times’ newsroom – provides a platform that has allowed real estate investors and developers to evaluate, track and manage over $100 billion in transactions.

A retrospective look at Mayor Ed Lee's legacy by San Francisco Business Times

The subject of how Oakland's real estate market is changing was top of mind for our massive Oakland Structures special issue which delved into the city's commercial, residential and retail market. It's also the subject of this week's Structures podcast where we explore more deeply some of the issues laid out in the special section. [1:00] First up was a discussion on the possible revitalization of West Oakland, the city's perpetual "neighborhood of the future" where we discuss not only the projects and developers looking to transform the area, but also how their current efforts fit into larger historical trends. [8:00] Then the team moves the focus downtown which is seeing both a boom in commercial and residential activity. Some of the questions explored include emerging trends in office leasing and forecasting how some of the high-rise structures rapidly being constructed could effect the city's central core. [19:30] Finally, the podcast team takes a look at how the changes in Oakland's real estate market maps to social trends in the city and the fight to keep Oakland's unique and diverse identity in the face of economic disruption. Links: West Oakland revitalization: https://www.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco/news/2017/11/30/projects-rising-in-west-oakland-structures-2017.html Downtown office market: https://www.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco/news/2017/11/30/oakland-office-market-at-a-crossroads-structures.html Downtown residential market: https://www.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco/news/2017/11/30/oakland-housing-pipeline-apartments-condos.html Oakland's new co-working boom: https://www.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco/news/2017/11/30/oakland-co-working-we-work-port-workspaces.html The fight to keep Oakland's diversity: https://www.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco/news/2017/11/30/oakland-diversity-jobs-employment-demographics.html Oakland Structures event: https://www.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco/event/158832/2017/oakland-structures

Ep 11: On partial stake sales, Salesforce Tower and modular construction On this week's issue of the Structures podcast, multimedia producer Kevin Truong and real estate reporters Blanca Torres and Roland Li dive full on into the policy wonk behind partial stake sales, which allow landlords to skirt transfer and property taxes. [1:22] Then the podcast team takes a look at Salesforce Tower and what the tallest building in San Francisco symbolizes for the city and the emerging Transbay neighborhood. [6:45] Finally, the team checks out an emerging trend in the building industry, modular construction, which consists of pre-assembling sections off-site before final assembly on location. [20:52] Links: Roland's cover story on partial stake sales: https://www.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco/news/2017/10/26/by-feasting-on-s-f-partial-stakes-big-real.html A 360-degree view from the top of Salesforce Tower: https://www.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco/news/2017/11/06/salesforce-crm-tower-sf-top-boston-properties-bxp.html Recent proposed projects in West Oakland using modular construction: https://www.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco/news/2017/11/13/west-oakland-modular-housing-holliday-development.html Architect David Baker on the possibility of modular housing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V9gkYw35Vws

In this episode of the SFBT Structures Podcast multimedia producer Kevin Truong and real estate reporters Blanca Torres and Roland Li break down some of the questions you’ve always been afraid to ask about affordable housing, draw some distinctions with other programs designed to make housing cheaper and outline some of the deeper social issues which underpin the affordable housing debate. In our New Development segment we review some of the big real estate news during our extended break because of our North Bay fire coverage, including San Francisco’s biggest-ever lease, and what it could mean for biotech’s future in Mission Bay. We also detail the Bay Area’s bid for Amazon’s HQ2 megaproject and what the possible pro and cons would be for the e-commerce giant setting up shop in the region. Links: Our North Bay fire coverage: http://bit.ly/2xRiVBV San Francisco's biggest ever lease: http://bit.ly/2g1wI2x Biotech's future in Mission Bay: http://bit.ly/2xmVp09 The Bay Area bid for Amazon's HQ2: http://bit.ly/2yS4oKw ACBJ's Amazon Effect collaboration: http://bit.ly/2zDdFDm Music by: BenSound