potrero view

November 2009

Pier 70 to be Converted into Model of Sustainable Development

By Mike Stillman

Pier 70, a largely vacant and underutilized bay front site, is set to re-emerge as a vibrant part of San Francisco’s cityscape. And this time around, the former industrial area, which was once responsible for introducing a variety of toxins into the bay’s ecosystem, will be rebuilt in accordance with the highest environmental sustainability standards.

The Port of San Francisco owns the 65 acre site, which is located along Illinois Street between Mariposa and 22nd.  As part of emerging redevelopment plans, the port is insisting that developers employ sustainable building methods, set aside open space, and ensure bay access for public use.  In addition, many of the site’s existing historical structures will be reused, reducing the need for raw building materials as well as the amount of debris the project will generate.

The new Pier 70 will be built around an infrastructure that dates back to the 19th century, but will focus on contemporary building practices and uses. The development will feature space for offices, emerging technologies, and other commercial tenants, all housed in energy efficient buildings.

“The port has a pretty good history of integrating sustainable development and encouraging our tenants to look at sustainable practices in their operations,” said David Beaupre, the port’s senior waterfront planner.  Beaupre cited the adaptive reuse of historical structures at Pier 1, solar panels at Pier 76, and eco-friendly storm water management systems at Piers 90-96 as examples of the type of environmental amenities the port plans to create at Pier 70.  “Given the nature of the site, its inherent that these types of strategies will need to be incorporated,” said Beaupre, “The type of developer we want is going to need to be able to be thinking about the climate and the environment.”

The biggest opportunity for creating sustainability at Pier 70 lies in how the site is linked to local transportation infrastructure, said Andy Thornley of the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition.  Thornley pointed out that half of all greenhouse gas emissions produced in the City are transportation-related.  Pier 70’s Preferred Master Plan states that the Port will promote “development that is pedestrian-oriented and fosters use of alternative, sustainable transportation modes and practices.”  However, early plans for the site show room for 2,800 parking spaces. Thornley said that while the Bicycle Coalition is happy with the direction the project is going in, he would like to see less space devoted to parking on the Pier.

According to Thornley Pier 70 is, “very dense, very special, and sited beautifully. It’s on the bay, it’s on a transit corridor, it’s adjacent to neighborhoods that do not have a lot of open space. We have to think about the best way to slice up that resource… it isn’t about, ‘how can we stick it to people who drive?’”  

The site of a major ship building operation during the first half of the 20th century, Pier 70 has been gradually deteriorating since the end of World War II. BAE Systems, a ship repair company, and Autoreturn, the operator of towing and car return services for the City and County of San Francisco, are currently the pier’s two main tenants. After more than 100 years of heavy industrial use, the pier is now classified as a Brownfield site, and could be contaminated with volatile petroleum hydrocarbons, PCBs, asbestos, methane and sulfide gas, and dioxin. The firm Treadwell and Rollo has been hired to conduct an environmental assessment.

Over the years, Pier 70 has generated interest from a variety of entities, including the San Francisco Arts Collation and the Exploratorium.  But the high costs of environmental remediation and historical renovation have kept potential development at bay. The port’s recent success at securing public funds may soon make redevelopment financially feasible. A request for qualifications, the first step in lining up a developer, is planned to be released by the end of the year.

Beaupre said he doesn’t expect the port’s site requirements to deter potential developers.  In fact, many of the project’s green aspects will help attract tenants and increase land values, according to Beaupre.  “What the City is finally realizing is, parks attract people, they’re important for health, important for sanity, important for recreation, you can’t make them an afterthought,” said Corinne Woods of the Neighborhood Parks Council.   

Pier 70 will ultimately include eleven acres of open space along the waterfront, and up to another nine acres throughout the site.   An environmental assessment is underway at the future site of Crane Cove Park, which will be located along Illinois Street on the pier’s northwest corner.  According to Woods, Pier 70 development will, “give us very badly needed open space in the Eastern Neighborhoods. It will bring a whole part of San Francisco back to life that’s just dying over there.”

The Port plans to seek a high level of Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification for the project. The U.S. Green Building Council oversees the LEED rating system, which assesses the environmental impact of buildings. LEED certified office buildings produce a variety of benefits, ranging from increased productivity and fewer sick days among employees to reduced maintenance costs and lower vacancy rates.

 
 

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