Historic Pier Opportunities for Partnership
The Port seeks public-oriented concepts for historic facilities on the San Francisco waterfront
The Port seeks partners with ideas and the capability to create inviting, public-serving destinations for waterfront facilities in the Embarcadero Historic District.
When the Embarcadero Freeway came down after the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake, a remarkable urban waterfront renaissance began. Now, over 24 million visitors and locals come to San Francisco’s waterfront each year for employment, entertainment, and relaxation. However, many of the one-of-a-kind facilities in the Embarcadero Historic District remain closed to the public.
From August 1- October 31, 2018, the Port solicited feedback from small businesses and master tenants for new public uses for 13 historic piers and the Agriculture Building that are in need of rehabilitation through a Request for Interest (RFI). The Port of San Francisco requested creative ideas on how these historic piers can be accessible, resilient, and enjoyable.
The Port received 52 diverse responses to the RFI in nine categories of public-oriented uses. The RFI was the first step in developing Requests for Proposals (RFP) to rehabilitate and preserve historic facilities within the Embarcadero Historic District. Port Staff will present an RFP strategy to the Port Commission in February 2019.
Sign-up for the Embarcadero Historic Piers RFI mailing list.
Important Dates & Information
- View the RFI responses
- Upcoming Public Meetings or Presentations
- Port Commission Meeting
- Informational Presentation on RFP Strategy
- Tuesday, February 26, 2019 - 3:15 p.m.
- Port Commission Hearing Room, Ferry Building, Second Floor
- Meeting live stream
- Action Item to Port Commission for Authorization of RFP(s): March/April 2019
- Port Commission Meeting
- Embarcadero Historic District Piers Request for Interest - Responses - Fact Sheet, November 2018
- Related Documents & Information
- Answers to questions received by October 12, 2018
Facilities included in the RFI
The Port is included thirteen pier facilities and the Agriculture Building in the RFI. The facilities are located along the three and a half miles between Pier 45 in Fisherman's Wharf and Pier 48 at China Basin, just beyond AT&T Ballpark. All locations are within 2 blocks of Muni stops and have considerable foot traffic as well as being accessible by bicycle and water taxi. See detailed information on each facility in the RFI.
See a pdf of the map.
Sign-up for the Embarcadero Historic Piers RFI mailing list.
Successfully Rehabilitated Piers & Facilities
The Exploratorium
- Project included historic rehabilitation of Pier 15 bulkhead & shed, new 'Observatory Building' that replaced a non-historic connector building, an open water courtyard, and outdoor exhibit area in a prior parking alley
- Piers 15/17 Historic Rehabilitation Project Fact Sheet
- Completed 2013
- Learn more
Ferry Building
- Project included ground-floor public market hall (approx. 65,000 sq. ft.) with retail, restaurants, transportation, and public spaces, two upper floors (approx. 175,000 sq. ft.) with office uses, the Port Commission Hearing room, recreation of the lost portions of the 600 foot long nave, and restoration of the façades
- Completed 2003
- Learn more
James R. Herman Cruise Terminal
- Project included demolition of Pier 27 shed, partial demolition of the Pier 29 shed, demolition of the Pier 17 Annex office building, relocation of the shoreside power equipment, new cruise terminalconstruction, installation of maritime equipment, and development of 2.5 acre Cruise Terminal Plaza
- Completed 2014
- Learn more
AT&T Park
- Project included construction of a new 42,000 seat ballpark. Home to the San Francisco Giants baseball team and the host to more than 80 baseball games and dozens of other events each year
- Opened in April 2000
- Learn more
Historic Port of San Francisco Piers in the News
- Ideas to redevelop S.F. piers — some grand, others far-fetched — flow in to port - San Francisco Chronicle
- A sample of SF waterfront redevelopment concepts - San Francisco Chronicle
- Port of San Francisco Received over 50 Public-Oriented Concepts in Response to "Request for Interest" for Waterfront Facilities - Press Release, November 16, 2018
- New SF hotels, WeWork-backed waterfront school among ideas for historic piers - San Francisco Chronicle
- Port Executive Director Elaine Forbes' Podcast - @SFPort, Summer 2018
- Port of San Francisco Releases "Request for Interest" Seeking Concepts for Public-Oriented Uses for Waterfront Facilities - Press Release, August 1, 2018
- "We're hoping to get responses from a broader audience than we usually get." - Rebecca Benassini, Port Assistant Deputy Director of Waterfront Development, San Francisco Business Times
- Voters to decide on $425M bond for seawall repairs in November - San Francisco Examiner
- The Solution to Development Delays, Opposition in San Francisco: Better Communication - BisNow
- SF Port wants ideas floated for decaying piers - San Francisco Chronicle
- Embarcadero in SF on list of nation's at-risk treasures - San Francisco Chronicle
- Business Owners
- Entrepreneurs
- Developers
- Not-For-Profits
- Artists
- Educational & Cultural Institutions
- And others with expertise and ideas that invite the public into these facilities
Possible Activities & Experiences for RFI Facilities
- Arts and culture
- Assembly and entertainment
- Food and beverage
- Education
- Maritime (excursion and leisure)
- Maker
- Museum
- Recreation
- Specialty retail
- Other ideas that invite the public into the Port's incredible Embarcadero Historic District facilities
Sign-up for the Embarcadero Historic District Piers RFI mailing list.
- 170,000 sq. ft. of floor area
- Adjacent to San Francisco's top tourist attraction PIER 39
- Open water views to north and east
- Primary pedestrian route to Fisherman's Wharf
- 1-minute walk to E & F-line stop
- Concepts must accomodate use as secondary cruise terminal or have a long-term implementation horizon
Pier 35 structure plans

Pier 33 Bulkhead and Shed
- 96,500 sq. ft. of floor area
- Alcatraz Welcome Center with 1M visitors per year
- $35M private investment committed to Alcatraz embarkation
- Primary pedestrian route to Fisherman's Wharf
- 5-minute walk to E & F-line stop
- Future use may not affect Alcatraz embarkation
Pier 33 structure plans
Pier 31 Bulkhead and Shed
- 89,000 sq. ft. of floor area
- Alcatraz Island Café with 1M visitors per year
- $35M private investment committed to Alcatraz embarkation
- Primary pedestrian route to Fisherman's Wharf
- 5-minute walk to E & F-line stop
- Future use may not affect Alcatraz embarkation
Pier 31 structure plans
Pier 29 and 291/2 Bulkhead, Shed and Open-Air Inner Lot
- 124,000 sq. ft. of floor area
- 22,500 sq. ft. open-air tip
- Ground access along 800-ft. south face
- Recent repairs to façade and utilities
- 300,000+ cruise passengers travel through area yearly
- Heavy foot traffic between Fisherman's Wharf and Ferry Building
- Pier 29 Bulkhead RFP, 2015-2016
Pier 29 and 29.5 structure plans
Piers 19, 191/2, and 23 Two Bulkheads and a Large Shed
- 308,000 sq. ft. of floor area
- Recent upgrades to roof and utilities
- Next door to Exploratorium
- Heavy foot traffic between Fisherman's Wharf and Ferry Building
- 5-minute walk to E and F-line stop
- Largest facility in the RFI
- Piers 19-23, Interior Photos
Pier 19 structure plans
Pier 19.5 structure plans
Pier 23 structure plans
Agriculture Building—101 The Embarcadero
- 33,000 sq. ft. of floor area
- Potential expansion to +55,000 sq. ft. floor area
- Convenient transit access in all directions
- Ferry Building is neighbor to north
- Downtown Ferry Terminal neighbor—expansion, 2019
- Matchless location for many concepts
- Agriculture Building Restoration Feasibility Study, 9/29/07
Agriculture Building structure plans
Pier 26 Embellished Front Structure and Shed
- 152,000 sq. ft. of floor area
- Mission Revival Front
- 5-minute walk to Salesforce Transit Center
- 2-minute walk to KT and N Muni Metro Rail
- 5-minute walk to Rincon Park and Brannan Street Wharf
- Along key pedestrian route to AT&T Ballpark
Pier 26 structure plans
Pier 28 Embellished Front Structure and Shed
- 100,000 sq. ft. of floor area
- Mission Revival Front
- 10-minute walk to Salesforce Transit Center
- 5-minute walk to KT and N Muni Metro Rail
- 5-minute walk to Rincon Park and Brannan Street Wharf
- Along key pedestrian route to AT&T Ballpark
Pier 28 structure plans
Pier 38 Bulkhead and Shed
- 153,000 sq. ft. of floor area
- Potential pairing with Pier 40 response
- Unobstructed views along 880 ft. length to north and 120 ft. east
- 15-minute walk to Salesforce Transit Center and Caltrain Station
- 5-minute walk to KT and N Muni Metro Rail
- 5-minute walk to AT&T Ballpark
- Pier 38 Rehabilitation Project, 2012-2015
Pier 38 structure plans
- 88,000 sq. ft. of floor area
- Potential pairing with Pier 38 response
- Potential pairing with South Beach Marina
- 15-minute walk to Salesforce Transit Center and Caltrain Station
- 3-minute walk to AT&T Ballpark and KT Muni Metro Rail
- Continutation of water recreation space
Pier 40 structure plans
Pier 48 Two Bulkheads and Three Sheds
- 200,000 sq. ft. of floor area
- Unobstructed views of AT&T Ballpark
- $1+ billion to be invested in Mission Rock Project
- New neighborhood in Central Waterfront
- Adjacent to maturing Mission Bay
- Partner with Mission Rock developer Master Tenant
- Giants pick Mission Rock developer
- Mission Rock Special Use District (SUD)
- Pier 48 Structure Plans
Related Documents & Information
- Request for Interest Responses, Information & Feedback Form
- View the RFI Responses
- Embarcadero Historic District Piers Request for Interest - Responses - Fact Sheet, November 2018
- Online feedback - Opened 11/13/18, Closed 1/31/19
- RFI Response Public Meeting - November 27, 2018
- Public Meeting Presentation pdf
- Public Trust Objectives Handout
- Public Meeting Participants: Residents, Respondents
- Request for Interest Document & Information
- Embarcadero Historic District Pier Request for Interest - Released 8/1/18, Closed 10/31/18
- Embarcadero Historic District Piers Request for Interest - Fact Sheet, August 2018
- Questions about the Embarcadero Historic District Piers RFI
- RFI Facilities Open House, Pier 29, Agriculture Building & Pier 38 - October 12, 2018
- On-Site Presentation and Q&A - September 13, 2018
- Online Presentation and Q&A - August 22, 2018
- Presentations to the San Francisco Port Commission
- Watch the December 11, 2018 Presentation to the Port Commission on RFI Responses
- Summary of Responses Received to the Request for Interest for Public Oriented Concepts in the Embarcadero Historic District Facilities - Staff Report, December 11, 2018
- Request for Interest Responses, Executive Director's Report - November 13, 2018
- Embarcadero Historic District Request for Interest, Port Commission Presentation- May 8, 2018
- Request Authorization to Issue a Request for Interest from Prospective Master & Smaller Tenants for Public Oriented Concepts for Historic Pier Facilities in the Embarcadero Historic District- Staff Report, May 8, 2018
- Waterfront Plan Update
- Regulatory Agencies Summary
- Informational Presentation on Waterfront Plan Working Group Land Use Recommendations produced in Part 2 of the Waterfront Plan Update public planning process- Port Commission Staff Report, April 10, 2018
- Links to Land Use Documents and Public Trust Objectives Matrix - Appendix to Port Commission Staff Report, April 10, 2018
- Embarcadero Historic Pier Condition Information - Memo, May 1, 2017
- Port's Historic Resources and Stewardship - April 27, 2016
- Waterfront Land Use Plan, 1997-2014 Review - June 2015
- Seawall Earthquake Safety and Disaster Prevention Program (Seawall Program)
Sign-up for the Embarcadero Historic Piers RFI mailing list.
Do you have questions about the RFI? Find answers here.
Email further inquiries to Rebecca Benassini, Port Assistant Deputy Director Waterfront Development Projects, at historicpiers@sfport.com