Commission approves license and partial fee waiver for Pier 24 Annex to host Pilara Family Foundation exhibit

Leasing staff asked the Port Commission to approve a license and partial fee waiver that will allow the Pilara Family Foundation to open a photography collection and public viewing gallery at Pier 24 Annex.

Jeffrey Bauer, the port’s leasing manager, described the tenant improvements to Pier 24 Annex and said the improvements meet the Secretary of the Interior’s standards for historic rehabilitation. Bauer said tenant improvements exceeded $12,000,000 and that the public-access portion of the project includes about $750,000 of improvements, including an ADA-compliant ramp and a waterfront history wall.

"Staff recommends the Port Commission adopt the attached resolution approving the license to use property between the Port Commission and the Pilara Family Foundation with a partial fee waiver and security deposit waiver," Bauer said. Simon Snellgrove, the development manager for City Waterfront Partners, presented photos of before-and-after retrofit work and described the project as the largest photographic collection facility in the United States under a 10-year lease.

After questions and brief comments, a motion to approve the license carried by voice vote. Staff later noted and corrected a typographical error in the resolution's whereas clause referencing the charter section; the commission recalled the vote, re-introduced the motion with the corrected language and approved resolution "09-67" by voice vote.

Port staff characterized the license as providing public access space that will enliven the waterfront and agreed to the partial rent and security-waiver criteria because no other uses would be displaced and there would be a net benefit in public access.