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Developers outline Pier 70 mixed‑use plan with parks, historic rehab and 30% affordable housing
Summary
Forest City and Port of San Francisco presented an informational overview of the Pier 70 Mixed‑Use Project, a proposed multi‑phased development on about 28 acres that would rehabilitate historic buildings, add nine acres of parks, and include a mix of market-rate and affordable housing alongside commercial uses. The draft EIR is expected before Christmas.
Forest City and Port of San Francisco representatives gave the Planning Commission an informational briefing on the Pier 70 Mixed‑Use Project, a public‑private redevelopment of roughly 28 acres of waterfront property that the Port owns.
Jack Sylvan of Forest City said the project follows a decade‑long process and a 2014 ballot measure (Prop F) that allowed heights up to 90 feet when paired with public benefits. "The draft EIR will be released, we believe right before Christmas," Sylvan said, setting an expected near‑term timeline.
The team described a plan to rehabilitate three historic buildings, build roughly nine acres of shoreline and interior parks, extend the Bay Trail, and create a "creative core" of ground‑floor PDR (production, distribution, repair), arts space and local retail. Kelly Pretzer walked the commission through the site plan, noting preserved structures such as Building 12 and a generous waterfront park along about 1,300 linear feet of shoreline.
Forest City presented two program scenarios under EIR analysis: a maximum‑residential option (approximately 1,100 residential units on the 28‑acre site) and a maximum‑commercial alternative (about 1.1 million square feet of office), plus a hybrid mix. The team said 30 percent of the residential units would be below‑market‑rate and that the project would provide roughly $75 million for historic rehabilitation and $190–$200 million for new infrastructure and adaptive sea‑level‑rise measures. "In short, the project will mitigate its own impacts," the presenters said.
Commissioners focused on transportation and regional coordination: several asked for a clearer map of how Pier 70 fits with adjacent projects in Central SoMa and Mission Rock, plus mitigation for transit access and the proposed Bus Rapid Transit connections. Staff said the draft EIR will include transportation analyses and that the Planning Department will bring back details on projects and programmed transit improvements. On resiliency, Forest City said much of the site would be elevated 4–8 feet and that the design is being informed by state sea‑level‑rise guidance.
Why it matters: Pier 70 sits at the edge of the city’s eastern neighborhoods and could deliver housing, parks and infrastructure while raising questions about neighborhood impacts, transportation capacity and waterfront resiliency. The commission will review the draft EIR, general plan amendments and design guidelines when they return in the certification phase.
Next steps: Staff and the project team said the draft EIR and design documents will come back to the commission in the coming months for formal review and public comment.
