popos

popos.architecturesf.com

Hidden on top of buildings and next to lobbies are 28 of the best resting spots in San Francisco.  They are known as popos or privately owned public open spaces.  If you can find these little gems, they are open Monday through Friday from 9:00 until 5:00.  The popos that I visited were accessed from the Galleria Park Hotel's fourth floor and from an unmarked door  at the back of the open air food court next door.  A second popo was accessed by going into the Wells Fargo building and taking the elevator from the lobby.  Each popo has a security guard and is maintained by the corporation that was required to build it.  In San Francisco, there are strict limit on building height.  EXCEPT when you purchase the air space of the adjacent building.  Then, you can add that height to your building but you must compensate the public with a public open space.  However, the corporation does not have to have signage indicating that a space is available until 2013 when the rules change.  So, look at the website above and mark your favorite spaces and visit San Francisco.