Restoring and redeveloping aging piers in San Francisco is helping to create a vibrant pedestrian promenade. But some feel the costs and developmental restrictions associated with the renovations are hindering the full potential of the area.
"Piers 1 1/2, 3, and 5 have been restored as a $54 million private development that includes transformation of the alleyway into part of a public promenade along the bay. The result shows how much San Francisco's Embarcadero has changed in the past century -- and the difficulty that lies ahead if it is to change even more."
"As piers are brought back to life, the Embarcadero can become a place where -- depending on your mood -- you can be part of the urban action or a lone soul contemplating the bay. But the costs of transforming the forlorn patches that remain can be as daunting as the development restrictions that have been imposed over the years."
"There aren't many options when it comes to what can be done with bayside land. Residential use is banned by the California State Lands Commission, even though housing is allowed on piers in such cities as Boston and New York. Hotels were banned in 1989 by San Francisco voters who feared a Honolulu-like wall."
FULL STORY: Restored piers pay tribute to past
Alabama: Trump Terminates Settlements for Black Communities Harmed By Raw Sewage
Trump deemed the landmark civil rights agreement “illegal DEI and environmental justice policy.”
Study: Maui’s Plan to Convert Vacation Rentals to Long-Term Housing Could Cause Nearly $1 Billion Economic Loss
The plan would reduce visitor accommodation by 25% resulting in 1,900 jobs lost.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
Waymo Gets Permission to Map SF’s Market Street
If allowed to operate on the traffic-restricted street, Waymo’s autonomous taxis would have a leg up over ride-hailing competitors — and counter the city’s efforts to grow bike and pedestrian on the thoroughfare.
Parklet Symposium Highlights the Success of Shared Spaces
Parklets got a boost during the Covid-19 pandemic, when the concept was translated to outdoor dining programs that offered restaurants a lifeline during the shutdown.
Federal Homelessness Agency Places Entire Staff on Leave
The U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness is the only federal agency dedicated to preventing and ending homelessness.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
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Smith Gee Studio
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
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Harvard GSD Executive Education
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NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service