CLEVELAND and SAN FRANCISCO, May 10,
2018 /PRNewswire/ -- For decades, most of San Francisco's historic Pier 70 has sat idle
and inaccessible to the public, a mix of vacant land, deteriorating
buildings, storage and staging areas. Now, there is new life for
Pier 70. At a groundbreaking ceremony today, Mayor Mark Farrell, Supervisor Malia Cohen and members of the Port of
San Francisco, developer Forest
City Realty Trust (NYSE: FCEA) and the Dogpatch community
celebrated the start of construction on an expansive 28-acre
waterfront neighborhood with new housing, waterfront parks, space
for artists and local manufacturing, and rehabilitated historic
buildings.
Speaking in front of historic Building 12, a vast steel, glass
and timber structure where WWII ship hulls were fabricated,
officials applauded the years of collaboration with the community
to create a project that has unprecedented support.
"This is an inspiring location reflective of San Francisco's history of ingenuity that will
once again be a major source of economic, civic and cultural value
to the City," said Mayor Farrell. "The Pier 70 project provides
meaningful solutions to City priorities by building significant
affordable housing, creating signature spaces to support the arts,
and providing revenue generating local manufacturing and commercial
uses. Congratulations to all who have dedicated themselves to
achieving today's milestone."
Pier 70's 28-Acre Site is a public-private partnership project
between the Port of San Francisco
and Forest City, and one of several sub-divisions the Port is
managing or is developing at Pier 70 along San Francisco's Central Waterfront adjacent to
the Dogpatch neighborhood. The City unanimously approved the
project last November after ten years of planning. Pier 70 was the
first waterfront project requiring a citywide vote under Prop. B
with 73 percent voting in favor.
"I am so happy that after decades of work people who live just
blocks from the Bay will now have access to the breathtaking
waterfront. The revitalization of Pier 70 is so valuable because it
builds new connections in this neighborhood and delivers over
$750 million dollars in public
benefits to the greater San
Francisco community," said Supervisor Cohen. The supervisor
highlighted several project benefits, including how transportation
funding generated by the project will be used for transit
improvements that serve the neighborhood. She also applauded the
unprecedented commitment by a private developer to achieve 30
percent local hire to address job needs and a housing program that
benefits residents in District 10 by giving them preferred status
for affordable housing built at the site.
"This project is a testament to commitment, creativity and
partnership that will result in
the revitalization of this exciting part
of the waterfront, connecting Dogpatch residents and the larger
community to the San Francisco Bay," said Port of San
Francisco Executive Director Elaine
Forbes. "From its start, this project has had
remarkable public support because of the exceptional
collaborative process and hard work of all involved.
This project will provide long-term value for the City
and its residents."
Pier 70 Historic District
"We're building an entirely new mixed-use district that
acknowledges the location's industrial history, the diverse
character of the Dogpatch neighborhood, and an expansive waterfront
location," said Forest City Chief Development Officer Ronald A. Ratner. "The new Pier 70 will reflect
the best of San Francisco with
what will be premiere new waterfront parks, local establishments,
restaurants, arts uses, and event spaces. We're really proud
of this project, created in partnership with the City, Port and
community, and thrilled to see it come to life."
The project includes 1,100-2,150 residential units, including 30
percent on-site affordable of which about 65 percent will be rental
units. There will be seven acres of new parks and open space;
900,000-1.75 million sq. ft. commercial space, with up to 360,000
sq. ft. of local retail and services, arts and light industrial
space, including a new waterfront arts facility. Three historic
structures will be rehabilitated, including Building 12, which will
return as a modern hub of light industry and craftsmanship where
products are made and sold. A permanently affordable
state-of-the-art waterfront arts facility of up to 90,000 square
feet will include new artist studio space for the Noonan Building
creative community currently onsite. Approved plans also call for
an extensive transportation management program. The project is
expected to generate more than 10,000 construction jobs, built in
partnership with the Building and Construction Trades Council, and
12,000 full-time jobs. The project will be built in three phases
over 15 to 20 years.
Designs for New Parks Unveiled
Forest City also unveiled designs for Pier 70's new waterfront
parks, which echo the site's maritime history, the neighborhood's
creative character and emerging San
Francisco. The designs show a network of open spaces from
the center of the project to the waterfront that feature public
art, such as large steel frames that define bay views, and terraced
lawns, promenades that jut into the water, meadow plantings and
tree lined areas, timber furnishings where people can gather and
lounge, and more. The designs were created in partnership with
James Corner Field Operations, renowned for their work on
New York City's High Line.
"Along the waterfront, imagine people dining at restaurants and
bars, and a cultural arts building that opens up onto to an
expansive lawn where residents are enjoying a concert. Meanwhile,
people lounge on oversized porch swings taking in views of the Bay
Bridge and downtown San
Francisco," said Forest City Sr. Vice President Jack Sylvan. "This is an inspired location where
people will want to be."
First Phase of Construction Focuses on Housing
and Parks
Pier 70 is the fastest master planning project in City history
to go from project approvals to start of construction — in just six
months. The initial phase of work involves building an entirely new
infrastructure, then rehabilitating historic buildings, creating
parks and open spaces to reopen public access to the waterfront,
building significant affordable housing, and creating space for
artists, local manufacturing and commercial uses. Construction of
the first new buildings is anticipated in late 2019. Both the parks
and initial buildings in Phase 1 are anticipated to be completed in
2021-2022.
Unique construction features in Phase 1 include creating
protections against sea level rise at the high-end of projected
2100 sea-level-rise estimates established by the State. The grade
of the entire 28-acre site will be raised. As part of that the
sea-level rise plan, Forest City will be elevating the 120,000
square foot historic Building 12 nearly nine feet. A unique
project-based funding mechanism will pay for future sea-level rise
infrastructure needs on surrounding Port property.
Pier 70's Compelling History
Most of Pier 70 is listed on the National Register as the Union
Iron Works Historic District and is considered one of the most
intact industrial complexes west of the Mississippi. As
headquarters for both Union Iron Works and Bethlehem Steel, Pier 70
was home to ship repair operations from the time of the Spanish
American War in 1898 through today. Pier 70 is notable for its role
in the nation's maritime history, supporting multiple war efforts,
as well as in the evolution of industrial architecture in
San Francisco. The Pier 70 area
encompasses 69 acres of historic shipyard property. The project
areas include: the 28-Acre Site—the Forest City project; 7-acre
Illinois Parcels—a Port project; Crane Cove Park—a Port project,
20th Street Historic Core—by the Port and Orton
Development; and, an existing ship repair facility.
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SOURCE Forest City Realty Trust, Inc.
