The Next Frontier

01 8 MISSION ROCK We are excited about the possibility of transforming acres of grey asphalt and a largely-shuttered pier into one of ’s most dynamic and vibrant public destinations. In the pages that follow, we begin to tell the story of the extraordinary possibility that awaits us. This marks the beginning of our journey; as we work collaboratively with you and the community over the next several months, we hope to build upon the ideas presented in this submittal. We understand and appreciate that our vision for the site will evolve and improve through the public process. Together, we have the opportunity to leave a lasting legacy that will be enjoyed not only by us but by generations of people to come.

Left. A view of the proposed waterfront promenade and Mission Rock Park looking east. The proposed kayak launch is pictured in the foreground.

Right (left). A young enjoys the view of the China Basin Channel from the Portwalk adjacent to AT&T Park. Right (center). Fans pour through the Gate at AT&T Park. Over 25 million people have attended games and other events at the ballpark since its opening in April, 2000. Right (far right). AT&T Park opened on April 11, 2000, and has become a treasured local landmark.

The Next Frontier 9 “A new ballpark. A new Waterfront. Everybody’s favorite city just got even better.” Jeff Phillips, “All-Star San Francisco,” Sunset Magazine, April 2000.

10 MISSION ROCK A HISTORY OF SUCCESS WORKING TOGETHER

Above. A downtown parade celebrates the Above. Giants fans root for a new ballpark to Above. The China Basin Channel, a.k.a. arrival of the Giants in San Francisco in 1958. replace . They are rewarded McCovey Cove, is filled with boaters with the opening of Pacific Bell Park in 2000. participating in the 2007 Home Run Derby, part of the 2007 All-Star Game in San Francisco.

“Let us pause in San Francisco’s bleak spring of discontent to focus on The Giants enthusiastically welcome this opportunity to work again with the one silver lining no cloud can obscure: Pacific Bell Park. Win or lose, Port to create something truly exceptional along our waterfront. We have achieved the opening day buzz tomorrow on King Street will feel great…. Pac Bell great success together in the recent past and look forward to producing another winning project. In March of 1996, the voters of San Francisco overwhelmingly is so intoxicating: It’s more than just a great ballpark. Three years approved the idea of constructing a ballpark at China Basin. The vote, however, old and already beloved, the home of the stands was only the beginning of the journey. Before any construction could begin, the as reassuring proof that cities can still glow. Change isn’t always bad. Giants and the Port had to conduct a comprehensive environmental assessment Downtown can evolve yet remain the center of action, offering a brand of of the project, assemble different parcels of land, negotiate a complicated real excitement that suburbs can’t hope to match. In short, Pac Bell Park is estate transaction, and gain local, regional and state regulatory approvals. a brick-paneled seminar on urbanity. Let us study the lessons taught by Together, the Giants and the Port successfully and efficiently navigated the this one really smart – but so gosh-darn cute! – building.” complicated process required of waterfront development projects.

John King, “Why the Ballpark was a Great Idea, Four Years Later,” As the project approached final approval, proceeded through , April 6, 2003. construction and opened with celebration, it became more and more popular. One of the hallmarks of our success was involving local residents, businesses and stakeholders in the process, giving them a seat at the table and a voice in the development and operation of the ballpark. As a result, once completed, the “It is not like San Francisco to build something spectacular and ballpark became a source of widespread civic pride. Our work together is now a immediately declare it the best in the world, as other cities do. The model of excellence, studied by university students and civic leaders around the San Francisco way is to have the best and to be discriminating enough country and the world. to find a few faults. Against this backdrop, this city’s unrestrained excitement about yesterday’s official opening of Pacific Bell Park is The ballpark opening in 2000 was one of the greatest civic celebrations in recent memory. In the eight years that followed, more than 25,000,000 people nothing less than extraordinary.” have flocked to our little corner of the City, enjoying themselves and sharing Editorial, San Francisco Chronicle, April 12, 2000. special moments together. The ballpark has been on the world stage as host of a and an All-Star Game and has been an enduring source of entertainment and delight for local residents and visitors gathering to take in baseball games, concerts and other special events. People from all corners of the city, state, nation and world are familiar with AT&T Park and its spectacular place on the San Francisco waterfront.

The Next Frontier 11 Below Top. The restoration of the Ferry Building Below. Aerial view of the Ferry Building and and the introduction of the F-Line have been the new Embarcadero roadway, two projects key elements in the rebirth of San Francisco’s instrumental in reconnecting San Francisco to REVITALIZING THE waterfront. Below Center. China Basin Park its waterfront. opened in 2002 and extends the Embarcadero Promenade south to Pier 48. Below Bottom. WATERFRONT Willie Mays Gate at AT&T Park.

In the aftermath of the 1989 Loma Prieta Earthquake, the City was faced with wide-ranging planning decisions. One of the most important was whether to re-build the structurally unsound Embarcadero Freeway. Fortunately, the City and the Port seized the opportunity to reunite large portions of the City with its waterfront. In the years since, the City has successfully built an attractive waterfront boulevard, completed a magnificent refurbishment of the historic Ferry Building and some of its adjacent piers, and built one of the most-celebrated public assembly facilities in the nation, AT&T Park.

Our goal for Seawall Lot 337 & Pier 48 is to extend the City’s revitalization of the waterfront by creating another popular destination, one that is inspiring in character and offers a clear sense of public invitation. We envision this location being a rich part of the local experience, but also an attractive destination within our city for visitors from around the region, state and world.

While the site needs to complement its surrounding neighbors, we believe that it should have a distinct character. In this spirit, we have chosen to refer to Seawall Lot 337 & Pier 48 by a single name, the Mission Rock District. The name represents more than just the street to the south of the site. Mission Rock was a local landmark, an actual rock formation just off-shore along the shipping channel linking the northern and southern San Francisco waterfront. As the shoreline changed and land filled the waters of Mission Bay, Mission Rock eventually became part of the shoreline itself and now only exists beneath Pier 50.

12 MISSION ROCK THE EMERGENCE OF MISSION BAY

The Mission Bay community is now emerging in a place once covered by water and then by rail. Marking the northern edge of our site is an inland waterway known historically as Mission Creek. Mission Creek once brought visitors all the way to Mission Dolores, a thought almost inconceivable today. In response to industrial needs of the time, the waters of Mission Bay and much of Mission Creek were filled in; this became the point for ships from around the world to transfer their cargo directly to railcars for distribution throughout California and the western United States. A “mole,” or promontory of fill and rail piers, extended out from Seawall Lot 337’s northeastern point where the statue of Willie McCovey stands today. Rail spurs extended out over the water along the mole for easy access to ships. Pier 48 and other industrial pier sheds grew along the shoreline to accommodate the commercial activity of the day.

Now, a new form of commerce is taking shape, with a university campus, a hospital, and space for innovative research and development. Thousands of housing units and acres of public parks will balance its commercial uses, creating a strong new community. The Mission Rock District has the potential to be a distinct destination within Mission Bay, a place that complements and adds character to the neighborhood as a whole, making it an even more attractive place to live, work and visit.

The Mission Rock District is strategically positioned between two powerful economic engines, the ballpark and Mission Bay. The Port’s public trust findings for the ballpark predicted that the waterfront properties along the access routes to the ballpark will be stimulated by the peak activity generated by ballpark events. Likewise, the site’s proximity to Mission Bay and the university campus provides an everyday market for the retail, entertainment, office and residential components of the Mission Rock District. The development of Seawall Lot 337 and Pier 48 will capitalize on the economic opportunity created by the ballpark and Mission Bay. 1859 1869 1905 1926

Above. Mission Bay has evolved over the years, starting as a shallow cove and evolving into an industrial district of railheads and maritime commerce, before slowly morphing into the modern, mixed- use neighborhood now emerging.

The Next Frontier 13 Below. San Francisco’s magnificently restored CREATING ANOTHER Ferry Building. WATERFRONT JEWEL

We have attended and actively participated in all of the community meetings and workshops held regarding the possible development of this site and have carefully listened to and absorbed the comments made by Port staff and members of the public. We know that we are at the beginning of this journey. We have been engaged from the outset and will work diligently until we realize our shared goals. We are neighbors and stakeholders; we want this site to be developed thoughtfully and with an insistence on quality and excellence.

We have a long and successful history of working together. We appreciate and embrace the Port’s vision statement and diverse goals for this site. We believe that our plan delivers.

“Create a vibrant and unique mixed-use urban neighborhood focused on a major new public open space at the water’s edge. This new neighborhood should demonstrate the best in sustainable development with a mix of public and economic uses that creates a public destination which enlivens the Central Waterfront, celebrates the San Francisco Bay shoreline, and energizes development at Mission Bay. Consistent with enabling state legislation, the development program for the site should generate significant revenues to fund the Port’s historic preservation and waterfront open space needs.”

We understand the challenges of waterfront development. We recognize the complexities of the regulatory environment. We recognize that construction on this site (as it was with the ballpark, the surface parking lots, Mission Bay, and China Basin Park) will be complicated. As with the ballpark and Mission Bay, Seawall Lot 337 was created by filling marshlands and tidal flats and thus has challenging subsurface conditions. We have assembled a team of consultants and experts who have extensive experience working in the area and with the unique site conditions that typify Seawall Lot 337. We have a long, successful history of working together with the Port, the San Francisco Bay Conservation & Development Commission, and the State Lands Commission. We have a thorough appreciation of the requirements of Senate Bill 815, the Public Trust Doctrine, and the Standards for Historic Rehabilitation of Pier 48. We know that a project of this scope will have difficult moments, but we also know that it is worth the effort. Working together, we can fulfill the incredible promise of this site.

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