Port of San Francisco Received over 50 Public-Oriented Concepts in Response to “Request for Interest” for Waterfront Facilities
Diverse reuse ideas submitted for 14 historic waterfront facilities in need of rehabilitation
San Francisco, CA - Friday, November 16, 2018 – The San Francisco Port Commission and the Port of San Francisco (the Port) have received more than 50 responses to their three-month long “Request for Interest” (RFI) process seeking public-oriented concepts for 13 historic finger piers and the Agriculture Building in the Embarcadero Historic District. The responses come from a variety of entities ranging from prospective master tenants to small businesses to nonprofit organizations to design firms.
The diverse reuse ideas fall within nine categories of public-oriented use: (1) active recreation; (2) art, makers, and associated retail; (3) education, training, incubator, innovation hub; (4) food and beverage; (5) live performance, entertainment, attractions; (6) maritime excursion, charter, and transportation; (7) mixed use with hotel concept (Note: hotels are currently prohibited in piers); (8) museum and cultural exhibition; and (9) waterfront-wide concept and interest in partnerships.
“All responses include an explanation as to how their concept ensures that these one-of-a-kind historic resources are accessible to the public,” said Port of San Francisco Executive Director Elaine Forbes. “Increasing public access to the waterfront and the piers in the Embarcadero Historic District is absolutely a priority for the Port, since this was a key recommendation from the Waterfront Land Use Plan Update process. We are pleased with the robust response to the RFI and we look forward to hearing feedback from the public.”
The RFI solicited responses from small businesses and master tenants for 14 historic facilities located between Pier 35 and Pier 48 along The Embarcadero. In hopes of creating a “laboratory of ideas,” the Port used a combination of online and in-person presentations, open houses, an extensive website, emails, telephone calls, and social media to reach a broad range of respondents.
Before delving deeply into whether or how the concepts may be physically or financially feasible or how they may be permitted, the Port requests public feedback. The responses are publicly available online. In addition to receiving public feedback through an online form, the Port will have several in person opportunities for the public to engage with the RFI concepts, including an open house on November 27, 2018, an informational presentation to the Port Commission on December 11, 2018, and other meetings to be scheduled early next year. The public can view the RFI responses and give their feedback here: https://sfport.com/embarcadero-historic-district-facilities-request-int….
The RFI is the first step in the rehabilitation and preservation process for these historic waterfront facilities. The public feedback gained online and through in person meetings will be essential to a Port staff analysis conducted during the first few months of 2019. This analysis will include evaluating the potential issuance of one or more Requests for Proposals (RFPs). Port staff anticipates completing this initial analysis in February 2019.
The Port’s Embarcadero Seawall Program is underway to rebuild over three miles of waterfront to prepare for seismic activity and predicted sea level rise. The Seawall Program includes the $425 million General Obligation bond approved by San Francisco voters. Any subsequent RFPs will be in coordination with the Embarcadero Seawall Program and other Port projects.
Port facilities included in the RFI: Pier 35; Pier 33 shed; Pier 31 shed; Pier 29½; Pier 29; Pier 23; Pier 19½; Pier 19; Agriculture Building; Pier 26; Pier 28; Pier 38; Pier 40; and Pier 48. View a map of the facility locations.
About the Port of San Francisco The Port of San Francisco manages the waterfront as the gateway to a world-class city, and advances environmentally and financially sustainable maritime, recreational and economic opportunities to serve the City, Bay Area, and California.
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