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Port staff and developer outline 27-acre Sewall Lot 337/Pier 48 plan; Anchor Brewing eyed for Pier 48
Summary
Port staff and the Giants’ development team presented a 27-acre mixed-use proposal for Sewall Lot 337 and Pier 48 that would include 3.6 million sq ft of buildings, parks, inclusionary housing, and a rehabilitated Pier 48 anchored by Anchor Brewing; staff published the EIR notice and outlined 2014 entitlement and design steps.
Port staff and the project development team provided an informational update on the Sewall Lot 337 and Pier 48 mixed-use project, describing programmatic goals, environmental review steps, and early activation concepts.
Phil Williamson, port project manager, said the plan covers roughly 27 acres and anticipates approximately 3,600,000 square feet of mixed-use development including commercial office, residential (with on-site inclusionary affordable units), retail and more than eight acres of parks and open space. Williamson said the notice of preparation (NOP) for the environmental impact report was published the previous day and that a public scoping meeting was scheduled for Jan. 13.
Jack Baer, representing the development partner (the Giants), underscored the project’s aim to animate the waterfront day and night and outlined economic metrics: about 2,000 residents on site, roughly 11,000 permanent jobs and 10,000 construction jobs over build-out; project proponents estimated significant long-term revenues for the city and port. Baer also confirmed a first major tenant for Pier 48: Anchor Brewing, which is conducting due diligence with a target to begin construction after entitlements and open in the 2016 timeframe if approvals proceed.
Staff discussed project-wide issues being advanced in 2014: the EIR, development controls and design guidelines, infrastructure strategies (including potential district energy and district cooling), transportation-demand management and local business / local-hire goals. Williamson said early-activation ideas — including pop-up retail and shipping-container vendors — are being explored to demonstrate the site’s potential while entitlement work continues.
Commissioners asked about strategies to support small businesses (sizing retail for local firms, micro-lending and early activation), transit and parking solutions (debundled parking, bike/car share and coordination with SFMTA), and whether some parking could be placed underground to improve streetscape life. Staff and developer representatives said they are coordinating with city agencies and the planning department and will present detailed EIR analyses and design guidelines in 2014.
Members of the public raised design and traffic questions about the proposed alignment of Terry Francois Boulevard and building heights along the waterfront; staff said earlier community-led design decisions shaped the current plan and that the EIR process will analyze traffic and design tradeoffs.
The presentation was informational; no entitlements were approved at this meeting. Staff and the development team will return with EIR materials, draft design controls and transaction documents during 2014.
