The various segments are under the jurisdiction of several different public agencies, and implementation will take significant interagency cooperation. Neighborhood Parks Council is working with the Mayor's Office, Planning Department, Redevelopment Agency, the Port, Association of Bay Area Governments, Bay Conservation and Development Commission (BCDC) and community stakeholders to move the project forward.
Mission Bay
The northern end, between Mission Creek and Mariposa Street, will be developed as the streets and parks in Mission Bay are built, as part of the Mission Bay South Redevelopment Plan.
Top
Seawall Lot 337
There are also Port of San Francisco parcels alongside Mission Bay. Seawall Lot 337 - aka Giants Parking Lot A, between Mission Creek and Mission Rock Street, for example, is the subject of an active planning effort by the Port that will determine where the bike/pedestrian path goes, what a Blue Greenway "gateway" park will look like, and whether water access will be included. The 16-acre site is located immediately south of AT&T Park and is currently used for surface parking.
The Port of San Francisco granted an extension to November 13, 2008 of the deadline for submittal of a joint development proposal by the San Francisco Giants and Kenwood Investments, LLC for Seawall Lot 337 (SWL 337). The Port Commission, while recognizing that additional time is warranted to foster a responsive submittal with the greatest chance of eventual Commission acceptance, also expressed its desire to see a proposal in time to present it publicly before year-end.
The Commission reaffirmed the importance of this project to expand public open space as an integral part of creating a vital, engaging urban waterfront. As set forth in the objectives for the SWL 337 Request for Development Proposals, the Port seeks a proposal of the highest quality worthy of this extraordinary site, to improve the shoreline and create activities for broad public use and enjoyment, as well as significant economic benefits to fund public open space and historic preservation improvements elsewhere along the Port of San Francisco waterfront.
On August 19, 2008, The Cordish Company, which includes the San Francisco Giants and Farallon Capital Management, and Boston Properties, including Wilson Meany Sullivan and Kenwood Investments, jointly informed the Port of their decision to combine forces and work together “to devise the best possible design for the site, and to increase the likelihood that a financially beneficial and viable project can move forward and begin generating revenues for the Port.” Click here to read a recent news article about the merger. For more information about Seawall Lot 337, visit http://www.sfgov.org/site/port_page.asp?id=56101.
Top
Bay Water Trail
The EIR for the Bay Water Trail has just been released. You can download it here: http://www.scc.ca.gov/index.php?p=38&more=1&c=1&tb=1&pb=1 - more38. Several possible sites for non-motorized watercraft access along the Blue Greenway have been identified, but aside from the kayak launch ramp on the north side of Mission Creek (which will open soon), the new Pier 52 public boat launch ramp on Terry Francois Boulevard, and the Islais Landing small boat launch ramp, all are subject to the progress of other development plans.
Top
Bayfront Park
Bayfront Park in Mission Bay also has a Port of San Francisco component - the Port is responsible for improving the shoreline edge, while the Mission Bay South Redevelopment Plan mandates construction of the rest of that park. The Proposition A Clean and Safe Neighborhood Park bond that passed on the February 2008 ballot will give the Port $33.5 million to build its share of the trail and parks (including design elements for the Blue Greenway, shoreside improvements to Bayfront Park, Warm Water Cove Park, Islais Creek, etc.) and the first bond sale will be this fall. Catellus Urban Development is working with Redevelopment on the design of the Mission Bay Parks, and with the Port on Bayfront Park, and the Mission Bay Citizens Advisory Committee will be reviewing the plans, probably at the September 11th CAC meeting. For a map of the Mission Bay land use plan, visit http://sfgov.org/site/sfra_page.asp?id=5597 (click on Land Use Map).
Top
Pier 70
To learn more about Prop D, click here.
Please support this and ask your friends to support it as well.
Between Mariposa Street and Islais Creek, redevelopment of the Port property at Pier 70 will determine the route of the Blue Greenway, how big a park will be included, and whether water access will be feasible. Pier 70 is also subject to an ongoing Port planning effort, which includes environmental remediation, adaptive reuse of the significant historic industrial buildings on the site, and funding for infrastructure and open space improvements. Proposition D on the November ballot is very important to give the Port tools for feasible development of Pier 70. Please support this and ask your friends to support it as well. Find out more about Pier 70 at http://www.sfgov.org/site/port_page.asp?id=34925.
Striping of bicycle lanes on Illinois Street (and everywhere else in San Francisco) is on hold until the Bicycle Plan court injunction is lifted. The Plan is subject to approval of the Court that issued the injunction, and the Court will have to agree to the adequacy of the Bicycle Plan EIR, which is currently being drafted. The Planning Department and Municipal Transportation Agency are estimating that the Draft EIR for the Bicycle Plan will be completed by November 27, 2008.
How close the Blue Greenway path can get to the water's edge will also be influenced by what happens with the Mirant Potrero Power Plant. If and when that plant closes, we may be able to have waterfront public access connecting Pier 70 to Warm Water Cove Park. Environmental remediation of the coal tar sludge underneath the Potrero Power Plant, which cannot begin until the plant closes, will influence development of Pier 70 as well as the Blue Greenway.
How successful bike lanes are along Illinois Street may also be influenced by the need for freight rail access to Port maritime uses north of Islais Creek, and whether the rail lines can be removed from the street north of Pier 80. We don't yet know whether that will be possible. The proposed turnaround for the MUNI T-3rd light rail line on Illinois between 19th & 20th Street may also impact the bike lanes.
Top
Warm Water Cove Park
Warm Water Cove Park, east of Illinois Street at 24th Street, will also be improved, but planning for those improvements is on hold until there's a resolution by the City about whether or not the new "peaker" power plants are located next door, among other factors. Finding stewardship and active uses for that park, which is isolated, will be a key to its success. Click here to read a history of Warm Water Cove.
Top
Islais Creek/Islais Landing
At Islais Creek, there are several planning efforts underway to improve public access around the Creek. Some of the plans involve MUNI and other adjacent property owners. There's nothing definite enough to talk about yet, but SPUR's Piero Patri Foundation Fellowship this year was awarded to a landscape architect who is doing a comprehensive analysis of Islais Creek. The presentation of her findings will be in September (tentatively September 23rd), so check the SPUR website: www.spur.org. Click here for a history of Islais Creek.
Kayaks Unlimited has just been approved as stewards of the Port's Islais Landing park on the southeastern side of the 3rd Street bridge. They'll be moving their kayak operations in there very soon.
Top
Cargo Way
The new Illinois Street Intermodal Bridge over Islais Creek has just opened. It includes dedicated bike lanes, and will connect Illinois Street with Cargo Way. There was a community planning effort sponsored by the Redevelopment Agency, Planning Department and Port to come up with a new Steetscape Plan for Cargo Way. That plan now needs to be funded.
Top
Heron's Head Park
The entrance to Heron's Head Park at the foot of Cargo Way will be one of the Port parks to be improved with Prop A bond funds, but as far as we know, no timetable has been established for the community planning process for these improvements.
Top
India Basin Shoreline Study Area
When you get to Jennings Street and Innes Avenue leading to the Hunters Point
Shipyard, there is a well-attended community planning process under way. The area is known as Area C - India Basin Shoreline Study Area - and there have been three community meetings to discuss what will happen there. Click here for the SF Redevelopment Agency's Area C Study Area plan.
Top
Hunters Point Shipyard
The Hunters Point Shipyard portion of the Blue Greenway will be established as the Shipyard is built out. That is, in itself, a major undertaking. Again, check the Redevelopment Agency's website for information: http://www.sfgov.org/site/sfra_page.asp?id=5588. It will take year to remediate the serious environmental pollution left over from the Navy's dumping (including radioactive waste). Improvements to and connection with Candlestick Point State Park are also tied into proposed plans for the Hunters Point Shipyard, as are improvements to Yosemite Slough.
Top
This page was updated on September 15th, 2008.
|
Neighborhood Parks Council wishes to thank the San Francisco Foundation, the