We first plugged our readers into the potential for a redeveloped “Pier 70” five years ago, and yesterday the official request for developer solicitations for the 69 acres of land bounded by Mariposa, Illinois, 22nd, and the San Francisco Bay hit the Port’s website.
Previously known as the San Francisco Yard and the Bethlehem Steel Shipyard, Pier 70 is a 19th century ship building and repair facility, an important part of the maritime history of the San Francisco and the Bay Area. It is the most intact historic maritime industrial complex west of the Mississippi River and is significant for its role in the industrialization of the United States.
Ships built at Pier 70 served the United States military from the Spanish American War in the late 1800’s through the two World Wars and into the 1970’s. A portion of the site remains an active ship repair yard, able to repair the largest ships in the industry.
The stated objectives for the redevelopment of Pier 70 include: 1. Continued operation of the ship repair yard on approximately 17 acres; 2. Establishment of a Pier 70 National Register Historic District and the planned rehabilitation of approximately 700,000 square feet of historic buildings; 3. 3,000,000 square feet of new infill development compatible with the historic district predominately for job-creating uses such as office and technology space; 4. 6,000 – 8,000 new jobs in new and rehabilitated buildings; 5. Approximately 11 acres of waterfront open space and 9 acres of upland open space; and 6. Environmental remediation and infrastructure to support the Master Plan’s land uses.
And goals include creating a major new shoreline open space that extends the San Francisco Bay Trail and Blue Greenway to and through Pier 70, promoting development that is pedestrian-oriented and fosters use of alternative, sustainable transportation modes and practices, and extending the city street grid to enhance access and integrate Pier 70 with the Central Waterfront.
Proposals will be judged based on Approach (35 points), Experience (30 points), and financial Capacity (35 points) and are due by 3 p.m. on Thursday, November 18, 2010. Hopefully no developers will get punked Port style this time around.
∙ Pier 70 Rehabilitation [SocketSite]
∙ Pier 70 Area – Waterfront Site Developer RFQ [sfgov.org]
∙ Pier 70 Master Plan Summary [sfgov.org]
∙ JustQuotes: Bad Market, Then Back To Big Projects Like Pier 70 [SocketSite]
∙ Seawall Lot 351: This Time The Port Does The Punking (RFP Wise) [SocketSite]
Oh no, are they going to get rid of The Ramp?
Now here is a location where it really does make sense to preserve historical buildings. I hope the end result comes out like the illustration above : existing buildings rehabilitated and re-purposed. Industrial heritage is important to understand the history of our area though often overlooked. In the last three decades most of the remaining pre-WWII industrial buildings have been razed.
As for the Ramp, I’ve see no great significance in the building though the business itself is great. Where else can you have brunch in the company of Bloody Mary sipping hung over partiers ? The jackhammers in their heads are echoed by the real pounding of steel in the shipyard. So let the developer tear down the Ramp’s building so long as the business can reopen in a similar location which must have a patio.
What does this mean for Central Waterfront property values, if anything?
I’d hate to see The Ramp disappear – it’s been a favorite of mine for years. But then again so was Kelly’s Mission Rock until it was “redeveloped” and turned into the dreck it currently is now.
Gotta agree with Milkshake on the preservation of some of those industrial buildings. So far most of the new construction in and around Mission Bay has been pretty uninspiring.
If they can get enough infill in there, Pier 70 might make a great stop for a water taxi, if it ever becomes reality:
https://socketsite.com/archives/2009/12/the_port_of_san_francisco_to_issue_water_taxi_rfp_early.html
Maybe also build some retail in there that can draw people in. Like Blue Bottle or something (despite Piccino being up the street).
“Maybe also build some retail in there that can draw people in. Like Blue Bottle or something”
Hah — Good one. After this week’s Linden post with 150+ commenters, enjoyed the chuckle.
P16 of the Master Plan shows ferry terminal — we can only hope.
If you live in Redwood Shores or Mtn View – or Alameda — why not?
Any ideas on how long this vision for the central waterfront will take to manifest? Are we talking 5 years? 10? More?
“What does this mean for Central Waterfront property values, if anything?”
Seems like a long term positive effect to me. Currently much of pier 70 is derelict buildings and/or closed off to the public. Replacing this with public accessible active properties will make the area more livable (though perhaps less interesting 🙂 The only downside would be increased traffic.
This project would be a HUGE improvement of the area. Dogpatch dwellers would see a radical change for sure. Build it but don’t forget to put at least 2 coffee shops with southern exposure seating! Essential to sun-starved office drones.
I always liked this area. The old industrial look makes a great backdrop for photography; I guess that will be gone with the redevelopment. Seems that it will make it a nicer place to live.
However, it does seem that this can help the Dogpatch neighborhood. My only question is whether it will cause current industrial users to leave the neighborhood; will it turn into another retail area instead of it’s current mix of industrial and artist? It sounds like the intention is to maintain current use, but I wonder how it will actually work out.
I agree with John. I have taken many photos here (some of which look exceptionally nice when using high contrast 35mm film) and really like the area.
I hope that many of the buildings are repurposed while still preserving the exterior facades. I’m especially fond of the Shipyard Administration Building (the one right on the corner).
Not sure if anyone has driven by it lately, but last week there was a sign on the building stating that a cleanup will take place (removal of hazardous substances within the building).
A couple of years ago they have an intern project to draft a pier 70 master plan. The whole thing seems to be gone. The sponsor company EDAW changed its name. And the old URL seems to be defunct.
The EDAW Internship Process
A few years ago , an exciting project brought a group of talented design and urban planning students in a unique internship program focused on developing a vision for Pier 70’s future. Sponsored by San Francisco-based design and planning firm EDAW, this program did a tremendous amount of work in a short time to analyze the issues affecting Pier 70’s future and to bring the best of modern urban design thinking to bear. The vision they came up with, though not a final master plan, was exciting to most of us who are trying to help preserve and develop Pier 70.
http://pier70sf.org/future/planning.html
By the way the RAMP seems to be just outside of the project boundary.
Yes, this is one example of where re-habbing and saving these brick and steel warehouses make sense. Remember: they are not merely being repurposed for the same function, but rather great new spaces for all kinds of businesses, both hi-tech and other uses.
Unlike the North Beach branch library, that simply does not work anymore as a library for the 21st century and digital age. It should be removed and replaced with a fine, new modern structure that reflects the current library program and patrons.
to echo other people, i can only see this development as a plus for residents in the dogpatch. however, who knows if this will ever be built. there sure seems to be a lot of plans for new development but not a lot of money for it.
So will this land be rezoned under the Eastern Neighborhoods Plan? Currently, it looks like it’s zoned M-2.
I agree with Wai Yip Tung that The Ramp is just a little outside of the Pier 70 area. In fact there is some other “pier” there, I forgot what number – if you walk south past the bar you see it – launching for small boats or something IIRC. Maybe that’s the source of the Ramp name.
As for coffee shops, there’s another one even closer than Piccino – Sundance, at 3rd and 20th.
The ship repair facility has always struck me as amazing given the way real industry has fled SF. These days it even seems fairly busy. I guess the numbers look good on this depreciated asset vs. moving the whole thing to Stockton or Long Beach or whatever.
As for coffee shops, there’s another one even closer than Piccino – Sundance, at 3rd and 20th.
I only mention Piccino because they serve Blue Bottle coffee. And according to a post in that Linden St thread, that architect is tied to both Piccino and Blue Bottle.
Please let this not be another pile of Lennar mediocrity.