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Commission approves year-round activation and parklet at Sewall Lot 337; port to receive minimum rent and revenue share after breakeven
Summary
The Port Commission approved a temporary special-event activation of Sewall Lot 337 and a parklet license that will convert roughly 3% of the lot into a year-round modular activation with retail, food, restrooms and a beer garden. The port is guaranteed a minimum parameter rent of $77,000 annually and will receive 25% of net revenues after the operator recoups upfront investment; staff estimated an incremental $150,000/year in parking revenue but labeled that figure speculative.
The Port Commission voted to approve a temporary activation of Sewall Lot 337 and an associated parklet on Terry A. Francois Boulevard, a project proposed and to be operated by China Basin Ballpark Company (CBBC) and the San Francisco Giants’ real-estate team.
Staff characterized the proposal as a modular, temporary installation occupying about 18,000 square feet (roughly 3% of Lot A) that would displace approximately 70 parking spaces but provide public amenities: modular retail/food containers, restrooms, bicycle parking, seating and a beer garden. The installation is intended to operate year-round (staff said 7 a.m.–11 p.m. daily under proposed operations) and to host programming and special events to animate the Mission Bay/Central Waterfront area on non-game days.
Under the approved structure, CBBC is to make the upfront investment; the port is guaranteed at least its parameter rent ($77,000 per year) for the affected area. Staff provided a conservative estimate that the activation could generate an additional $150,000 per year in parking revenues, but explicitly labeled that figure speculative. After CBBC recoups its initial investment through on-site revenues, the port would share 25% of net revenues beyond that point; staff projected that could begin in the third year of operations if performance matches assumptions.
Commissioners asked for clarity on investments, timelines and reporting. CBBC representatives said construction would begin in July with an August opening (subject to permits) and that all on-site improvements would be treated as temporary under modular building permits. Staff and CBBC agreed to periodic revenue reporting and a methodology for identifying the point of recoupment so the port can verify when revenue sharing begins.
Commissioners voted to approve the two resolutions tied to the special event and the parklet license; votes carried. Several commissioners and community representatives welcomed the activation as a way to enliven an otherwise underused portion of the waterfront, while noting the need for continued reporting on costs and revenue performance.
