OCII conditionally approves Hunters Point Shipyard Block 1 schematic design

The Commission on Community Investment and Infrastructure on Jan. 19 conditionally approved schematic design documents for Block 1 of the Hunters Point Shipyard Phase 1 project, a community-builder proposal led by Tabernacle Community Development Corporation. Chair Miguel Bustos said the commission's action recognizes both the long historic work on the site and the need for housing.

The plan calls for 224 residential units, including 24 inclusionary below-market-rate units (80% AMI), about 20,000 square feet of retail and commercial space, and 273 off-street parking spaces. Staff described a 55-foot height limit for the block, a mix of one-, two- and three-bedroom units, and a marketing and occupancy preference program emphasizing certificate-of-preference holders. OCII staff and the developer requested that construction start be updated to February 2022 and completion to February 2024; the commission's approval was conditional on further design refinements and required mock-ups prior to construction.

Kashika McKinney, OCII assistant project manager, told the commission the developer has committed to early outreach and marketing "with an emphasis on the certificate of preference holders." James McCray of the Tabernacle Development Corporation framed the project as a decades-long community effort and thanked local partners for keeping the community-builder model alive.

Public commenters were split. Linda Fadiki Richardson, a longtime Bayview Hunters Point resident, said, "We ask all of you for the support" of the Tabernacle project and lauded the community-builder goals. By contrast, Jason Fried, president of the 451 Donahue Street homeowners association, urged delay and stronger outreach, saying, "there has not been good public outreach by the developer on this project" and that certain presentation images misrepresented views from adjacent buildings. Other neighbors asked for additional design workshops for 451 Donahue residents, stepped building edges to protect private views, and commitments on construction management and truck routing.

In response, developer and OCII representatives said the design complies with the block's design guidelines and that reducing height or substantially redesigning the schematic at this stage would likely delay the project and jeopardize inclusionary unit counts. The developer agreed to provide a single construction contact for neighbors, periodic briefings, and more engagement about tenancy and marketing for retail spaces.

Commissioner Scott supported immediate approval, citing the project's long timeline and the need for housing in the area; Commissioner Brackett sought clarification about how rental units would convert to ownership. Staff said any conversion would require a developer plan approved by OCII and that inclusionary residents would have a first right of refusal and advance notice.

Commissioner Brackett moved to approve the schematic design and Commissioner Scott seconded. The commission adopted the motion on roll call: Brackett — yes; Scott — yes; Vice Chair Rosales — yes; Chair Bustos — yes. The motion carried (4 ayes). The approval is conditional: the developer must return with required refinements, mock-ups of material palettes and design systems, and construction-management details before building permits and construction commence.

Next steps: OCII staff will incorporate the conditions of approval into the project's DDA and construction schedule, and the developer will submit required mock-ups and a construction-management plan prior to construction.