Podcast appearances and mentions of roland li

Downtown San Francisco suffered another major blow this week when Westfield, the owner of the San Francisco Centre Mall, announced it would be returning the massive property to its lender. While the mall won't close immediately, it's a sign of serious trouble in the city's commercial core, where the owner of two major hotels also recently decided to surrender them. Host Cecilia Lei talks with reporters Roland Li and Carolyn Said to learn what might have prompted these owners to walk away and how the moves might open the door to new opportunities down the line.| Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod Got a tip, comment, question? Email us: fifth@sfchronicle.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Just like San Francisco, the East Bay city is facing budget shortfalls and a vacancy crisis caused by the shift to remote work. But as reporters Sarah Ravani and Roland Li tell host Demian Bulwa, Oakland has some advantages over its bigger neighbor — but also its own unique challenges. | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod Got a tip, comment, question? Email us: fifth@sfchronicle.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The school board recall spotlighted how Asian Americans are flexing their political muscle, especially Chinese voters. Chronicle reporter Roland Li joins host Cecilia Lei to explain why. Later, activist Gaynorann Siataga shares how Pacific Islanders are often rendered invisible in discussions about the AAPI vote. She talks about the impact of the recall of Faauuga Moliga, the first Pacific Islander to serve in elected office in San Francisco. | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Chronicle reporter Roland Li traveled to Austin, Texas, to take a closer look at why many Californians are moving to the fast-growing tech hub. As he tells host Demian Bulwa, he found people looking for a lower cost of living and less traffic and headaches, in a place with abundant jobs and vibrant nightlife. But he also found that Austin is starting to confront California-like problems, including housing bidding wars, gentrification and displacement. As Austin booms, does it threaten California's future? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There's enough office space for lease in the city to fill 11 Salesforce Towers. Can it be turned into housing? Chronicle reporter Roland Li explains why that's a lot harder than it sounds -- and also gives some alarming statistics on plunging San Francisco tourism dollars. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In many ways, things are as bad as they've been since the Great Depression. City leaders charged with fixing them have some creative ideas, ranging from universal basic income for artists to making outdoor dining permanent. Business reporter Roland Li has details. | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Business reporter Roland Li talks about the Chronicle's new tool, a constantly updated tally of Bay Area workers who've lost their jobs as the coronavirus crisis has hammered the economy. | Get unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Flying cameras are swarming San Francisco's landmark bridge, and officials say photos are being taken illegally. Business reporter Roland Li talks to Audrey Cooper about the rise – and crashes – of local drones. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

San Francisco has the highest construction costs in the world. Metro editor Demian Bulwa and reporter Roland Li break down the factors making new housing close to impossible. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We're sharing this episode of the Chronicle's flagship Fifth & Mission podcast about the expiring “Twitter tax break,” created by San Francisco in 2011 to draw companies to the downtrodden Mid-Market neighborhood. Reporters Trisha Thadani, J.K. Dineen and Roland Li discuss its impact and effects, both good and bad. Subscribe to Fifth & Mission wherever you get San Francisco City Insider.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The “Twitter tax break” San Francisco created in 2011 to draw companies to the downtrodden Mid-Market neighborhood is expiring. Chronicle reporters Trisha Thadani, J.K. Dineen and Roland Li discuss its impact and effects, both good and bad. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

[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.

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