Moscone expansion draws praise from business groups and strong objections from Yerba Buena stakeholders

The commission held an extensive workshop on Feb. 18 to review the proposed Moscone Convention Center expansion and potential impacts on OCII‑owned property in Yerba Buena Gardens. City staff, the mayor’s office and Skidmore, Owings & Merrill outlined a design that would excavate under Howard Street to connect north and south exhibition halls, add about 100,000 square feet of contiguous below‑grade exhibition space and create new above‑grade meeting rooms and lobbies. City officials and business leaders described the project as necessary to retain and attract large conventions and protect the visitor economy; community stakeholders described it as a threat to the Gardens’ public realm and to children’s facilities.

Adam Vandewater of the Office of Economic and Workforce Development said the expansion is driven by the need for contiguous below‑grade exhibition space. He cited studies estimating a potential $2 billion loss in economic…