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Port and developers outline multi-year rehabilitation plan for Pier 70 historic buildings
Summary
Port staff and preservation architects presented a plan to rehabilitate seven Twentieth Street buildings at Pier 70, emphasizing seismic upgrades, life-safety improvements and retention of character-defining elements while introducing limited reversible changes; commissioners asked about tax credits and preservation documentation.
Mark Paez, the port's historic preservation coordinator, told the San Francisco Historic Preservation Commission the Port, development partners and preservation consultants are coordinating a long-term plan to rehabilitate seven primary Twentieth Street buildings at Pier 70 and to nominate the site as a Pier 70 historic district to the National Register of Historic Places.
The presentation by preservation architect Mark Hulbert outlined work on more than 300,000 square feet across buildings identified as 101, 102, 104, 113/114, 115/116 and 14. Hulbert said the project will focus on seismic strengthening, life-safety upgrades, utilities and exterior rehabilitation, with an emphasis on repair and retention rather than substantial alterations. He described proposals including internal seismic bracing, selective roof and window replacement, new but reversible ramps for accessibility and a connector atrium that preserves the openness of the industrial interiors.
Commissioners questioned technical and programmatic aspects: Commissioner Wolfram asked about the status of historic tax credit applications; Hulbert said the team is initiating the federal historic preservation certification process, intends a single National Register application with possible building-level amendments, and plans to pursue tax credits in the coming year. Commissioners also pressed for the structural engineer’s name; Hulbert identified Nabi Youssef and described tenant-driven mechanical strategies for some buildings. On Building 102, Hulbert said four large turbines are present, two of which will be removed to create floor area while two will be retained; removed equipment would be kept on-site for interpretation and the port has prepared Historic American Building Survey documentation for long-term archiving.
Why it matters: the Pier 70 complex contains high-value industrial fabric that commissioners and port staff described as deteriorating and in some places off-limits; commissioners urged prompt progress, more detailed drawings in future submissions and clear documentation for interpretation and tax-credit applications.
The presentation was informational; the commission did not take formal action on Pier 70 at this meeting. Port staff said they will return to the commission at key milestones for feedback.
