Today's election marks a very important day in the future of eastern San Francisco's waterfront. As a result of last year's passage of Proposition B—which automatically sends any waterfront project on port land that exceeds current height limits to the ballot box—San Francisco voters will now get to decide whether or not to allow heights at Forest City's planned Pier 70 development to increase from 40 feet to 90 feet on some portions of the site. The increase, proposed in Proposition F, will pave the way for the creation of up to 2,000 residential units, nine acres of parks, and retail space, as well as space for artists. The measure already has support from a host of neighborhood groups, high-level politicians, and even former mayor Art Agnos, who was instrumental in the demise of 8 Washington and the subsequent passage of Prop B.
If the measure passes, the developers at Forest City promise, the benefits will be wide reaching. 30 percent of the housing units will be affordable, which in real terms means the creation of up to 600 homes for low- and middle-income individuals. That quantity is triple the amount required by city law. The project is also designed to create up to 10,000 permanent jobs, funnel more than $20 million toward transit improvements serving the neighborhood, and invest $200 million to protect the site from sea-level rise. Forest City's project is the second piece of Pier 70's development puzzle. The first is Orton Development's $100 million rehabilitation of six historic industrial buildings along 20th Street, which should be finished by 2016. If voters give the Forest City project the green light, construction could begin within two years.
· Pier 70 [Official Site]
· Pier 70 Endorsements [Pier 70]
· Waterfront Watch: Pier 70 Gears Up for Construction and a Vote [Curbed SF]
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