In what is surely a victory for opponents of waterfront development along the Embarcadero corridor in San Francisco, the Golden State Warriors have purchased a new site farther south, near AT&T Park and the UCSF Mission Bay campus, for a new arena.
“The Golden State Warriors have abandoned their plan to build an arena on Piers 30-32 just south of the Bay Bridge and instead have purchased a site in San Francisco's burgeoning Mission Bay to hold a new 18,000-seat venue,” reports John Coté. Salesforce.com owned the site previously.
Joe Eskenazi originally broke the story, also providing coverage of the implications on the move to Salesforce.com’s recent moves in the real estate market.
The new plan will eliminate the need for voter approval, which may have become necessary for the Pier 30-32 venue, which was a rallying point for opposition.
The new site has a number of benefits, including not requiring public funding, according to Coté's report. “The Warriors will own the site outright, rather than leasing it from the Port of San Francisco, and say the arena will be entirely privately financed - a rare instance of a modern sports venue that would use no taxpayer funds or public land.”
Coté also reports that new site also has multiple transportation options including “a Muni T-Third stop right in front of it and has two adjacent parking garages that can hold a combined 2,130 cars. A new off-ramp from I-280 will drop cars about two blocks away.” And “[the] site has street access on four sides, rather than only one side at Piers 30-32, easing pinch points.” Finally, “[when] the Central Subway opens - projected for 2019, the year after the Warriors plan to open the arena - the line will provide essentially a straight shot to the Powell Street Muni/BART Station downtown.”
What the site does now, however, are iconic view of the Bay Bridge, which will be preserved for opponents of the previously proposed plan instead of the team.
FULL STORY: Warriors to Buy Salesforce Site and Abandon Waterfront Stadium Plans, Sources Say
Trial Over San Francisco Waterfront Development Height Limits Begins
The State Lands Commission filed suit shortly after San Francisco voters approved Prop. B in June 2014, requiring waterfront developments exceeding height limits to obtain voter approval rather than go through the Planning Commission process.
Dirty Politics in San Francisco’s Height Restrictions Initiative
The city of San Francisco will vote on Prop. B, an ordinance that would limit the height of developments along the waterfront, in June. The ballot will list the campaign manager for the Yes on B campaign as the official opponent of the measure.
San Francisco Approves Prop B Height Restrictions
The eventuality predicted since San Francisco's Prop. B qualified for the ballot has come to pass, with more than 59 percent of San Francisco voters approving the ordinance that will require votes on developments exceeding existing height limits.
What ‘The Brutalist’ Teaches Us About Modern Cities
How architecture and urban landscapes reflect the trauma and dysfunction of the post-war experience.
‘Complete Streets’ Webpage Deleted in Federal Purge
Basic resources and information on building bike lanes and sidewalks, formerly housed on the government’s Complete Streets website, are now gone.
The VW Bus is Back — Now as an Electric Minivan
Volkswagen’s ID. Buzz reimagines its iconic Bus as a fully electric minivan, blending retro design with modern technology, a 231-mile range, and practical versatility to offer a stylish yet functional EV for the future.
Healing Through Parks: Altadena’s Path to Recovery After the Eaton Fire
In the wake of the Eaton Fire, Altadena is uniting to restore Loma Alta Park, creating a renewed space for recreation, community gathering, and resilience.
San Diego to Rescind Multi-Unit ADU Rule
The city wants to close a loophole that allowed developers to build apartment buildings on single-family lots as ADUs.
Electric Vehicles for All? Study Finds Disparities in Access and Incentives
A new UCLA study finds that while California has made progress in electric vehicle adoption, disadvantaged communities remain underserved in EV incentives, ownership, and charging access, requiring targeted policy changes to advance equity.
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.
City of Albany
UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
City of Piedmont, CA
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research