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 activity if capacity constraints force conventions to go elsewhere, and said the project could recover roughly $734 million of that at completion. Architects from Skidmore, Owings & Merrill described a two‑part intervention: excavation under Howard to unify exhibition halls and a modest above‑grade addition that replaces about 36,000 square feet of meeting rooms displaced by the excavation with new above‑grade meeting and ballroom space. The design team emphasized improvements to the public realm, wider sidewalk treatments and plazas, new terraces, a proposed widened pedestrian bridge to connect gardens, and sustainability targets including LEED Platinum and stormwater capture measures.

Community groups and nearby cultural institutions raised multiple concerns during a long public comment period. Todco and the Yerba Buena Consortium presented calculations claiming a net loss of usable children’s garden open space (figures cited in testimony ranged from about 4,500 to 6,000 square feet). John Erbling of Todco said the loss was “unacceptable” and asked the commission to insist on no net loss of usable open space. Speakers also criticized the addition of the second story of meeting rooms introduced into the proposal in late 2013, saying the higher massing would increase shadows over playgrounds and reduce the Gardens’ qualities.

Supporters included business and labor groups. Jim Lazar of the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce and representatives of trade unions including Theatrical Stage Employees Local 16 and Local 510 spoke in favor, citing jobs, training opportunities and the risk of losing high‑profile conventions if San Francisco lacks modern contiguous exhibition capacity.

Designers and city staff said they are working with stakeholders to mitigate impacts. Proposals discussed on the record include locating some program on alternate sites (for example, parking garage or other city parcels), internalizing loading/egress where possible, refining bridge alignment and developing an improved children’s garden program that could relocate or expand learning and tot areas. Staff noted the environmental review schedule is underway: the notice of preparation for the EIR has been issued, staff anticipated publishing the draft EIR in spring 2014 with certification targeted in July 2014, and proposed construction to begin after permitting with an estimated completion in summer 2018. Commissioners asked for more formal, consistent participation from relevant city departments in design and EIR discussions and directed staff to ensure a clear mitigation strategy for the Gardens and nearby cultural users.

The item was a workshop; no action was taken. Staff promised to continue community outreach, provide corrected materials where needed and return with further documentation and environmental review materials for commission consideration.