1. Space The rents are actually in many cases less here than in other parts of the valley. (My office is $1 per s.f. per month!) A huge building boom is finishing up in the SOMA area of the City with hundreds (maybe 1000+) new apartments entering the market. This is good news for downward pressure on rental prices.
2. Convenience: Within walking distance of both my office and my apartment are countless restaurants, markets, office supplies, banks, etc etc. You can simply walk to what you need saving so much time over driving around on errands in rush hour traffic in the South Bay. There are countless take-out food restaurants open until late at night to keep you coding with a reasonable diet, with many delivering to your door. (Chinese takeout costs about $7 for a main item - roughly $10 for a meal)
3. Coolness: There are a lot of web companies in the city because it is such a great place to live. Attracting hackers to work for you may be easier here.
Even the Large Corporate Web companies are setting up major operations in the City:
4. Life Style: For those moments when you're not all-nightering on a problem, you have many options here:
a. Sailing in the Bay
b. Biking - across the Golden Gate and you are into nature in no time.
c. Beach - Many beaches in the area
d. Skiing - As close as 2.5 - 3 hours away for some great slopes.
d. Symphony/Opera/Theater/Movies galore, etc etc etc
e. Night Life - Live music, etc etc etc.
f. Wine Country - Only an hour drive to Napa County/Sonoma County - countless vineyards - great wine.
5. Variety: San Francisco has many different neighborhoods that have entirely different cultures. A few blocks in different directions will let you experience the unexpected. (Usually good, ocassionally bad)
6. Ok, you're right, I'm biased. I love living in the City.
7. Downside: The VC's and many angels are in the South Bay, but thats only a 30-40 min. drive away - or Caltrain ride.
1. Space The rents are actually in many cases less here than in other parts of the valley. (My office is $1 per s.f. per month!) A huge building boom is finishing up in the SOMA area of the City with hundreds (maybe 1000+) new apartments entering the market. This is good news for downward pressure on rental prices.
2. Convenience: Within walking distance of both my office and my apartment are countless restaurants, markets, office supplies, banks, etc etc. You can simply walk to what you need saving so much time over driving around on errands in rush hour traffic in the South Bay. There are countless take-out food restaurants open until late at night to keep you coding with a reasonable diet, with many delivering to your door. (Chinese takeout costs about $7 for a main item - roughly $10 for a meal)
3. Coolness: There are a lot of web companies in the city because it is such a great place to live. Attracting hackers to work for you may be easier here. Even the Large Corporate Web companies are setting up major operations in the City:
http://sanfrancisco.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco/stories/2007/01/15/story22.html http://www.niallkennedy.com/blog/archives/2005/08/yahoo_leasing_san_francisco_of.html
4. Life Style: For those moments when you're not all-nightering on a problem, you have many options here: a. Sailing in the Bay b. Biking - across the Golden Gate and you are into nature in no time. c. Beach - Many beaches in the area d. Skiing - As close as 2.5 - 3 hours away for some great slopes. d. Symphony/Opera/Theater/Movies galore, etc etc etc e. Night Life - Live music, etc etc etc. f. Wine Country - Only an hour drive to Napa County/Sonoma County - countless vineyards - great wine.
5. Variety: San Francisco has many different neighborhoods that have entirely different cultures. A few blocks in different directions will let you experience the unexpected. (Usually good, ocassionally bad)
6. Ok, you're right, I'm biased. I love living in the City.
7. Downside: The VC's and many angels are in the South Bay, but thats only a 30-40 min. drive away - or Caltrain ride.