Plans for San Francisco's tallest building revamped

The long-dormant proposal for a skyline-busting skyscraper next to the Transbay Terminal has come back to life - without some of the original flourishes but still aiming to be San Francisco's tallest tower.

The glassy white high-rise would be 60 stories and 1,070 feet tall with an entrance at First and Mission streets, according to the new plans submitted to the city. It would contain 1.35 million square feet of office space and be accompanied by a half-acre public plaza.

The proposed height would extend 220 feet beyond the Transamerica Pyramid, which was completed in 1972 and is the city's tallest building.

The filing is another sign that developers are confident in the technology-driven revival of the local economy and that there is a looming need for more commercial and residential space.

It also comes as the Planning Department finishes work on a long-term plan for the area around the former terminal. A vote is expected in May on that plan, which includes the tower's environmental studies.

The plan must be in place before any vote on the tower. If all goes smoothly, developers say the earliest that construction could begin is late next year, with a 2016 opening.

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