San Francisco Giants Unveil Mission Rock Ballot Initiative

The San Francisco Giants today took the first step toward placing a ballot measure before voters this November that would transform a 28-acre industrial site, currently used as a surface parking lot for Giants games, into a mixed-use neighborhood featuring waterfront parks, affordable housing, new jobs, convenient transit and parking and the restoration of historic Pier 48.

"The Mission Rock Initiative is the culmination of eight years of extensive neighborhood outreach and community planning to transform this surface parking lot into an asset for the community," said Giants President and CEO Larry Baer. "We are eager to engage with San Francisco voters to share our community's vision of open access along the waterfront, new jobs, neighborhood serving retail, new parks and an unprecedented level of affordable housing."

The 28-acre project, located across McCovey Cove from AT&T Park on what is now Giants Parking Lot A, will feature:

33% Affordable Housing: Central to the Mission Rock project is the plan to build approximately 1,500 new rental apartments - 33% of which will be dedicated to affordable for low and middle income individuals and families, the most ever for a private project in San Francisco.

8 Acres of Parks & Open Space: The project will dedicate eight acres to open space and parks, including a major waterfront park featuring family recreational opportunities, a waterfront promenade and a dramatic green space large enough to host significant festivals and public events. The project also establishes a green town square in the middle of the site. Similar to Washington Square Park in North Beach, Mission Rock Square will become a community gathering spot surrounded by housing, shops and cafes. 

Historic Anchor Brewing Facility at Pier 48:  Pier 48 will be renovated to become the expanded home for Anchor Brewing, San Francisco's oldest and largest manufacturing business, saving and creating blue-collar jobs. It will also open a public boardwalk with dramatic water and bridge views around the historic pier.

Convenient Parking & Transit:  The project will locate new housing by existing public transit, including the expanded light rail connection to downtown now under construction. Surface parking spaces will be relocated into a new, efficient garage ensuring sufficient parking resources are available to serve AT&T Park and the community. 

Diverse Job Opportunities: The project will create 13,500 new construction jobs, many of which will be made available to San Francisco residents. Additionally, Mission Rock will support 11,000 permanent jobs, with office space to further grow economic opportunities in San Francisco. This includes below-market rents for nonprofit and arts organizations and dedicated space for small local manufacturing businesses along a waterfront "Maker's Row."

Environmentally Sustainable Design: The project protects the area against sea level rise and includes a strong commitment to sustainable design and building practice combined with a transit-first emphasis on pedestrians, bicycles and public transit.

"The Giants have been working collaboratively with its neighbors for many years to arrive at the proposal unveiled today," said California State Senator Mark Leno. "Uncommonly, 33% of the housing developed will be below market rate with significant waterfront access and open space. The historic brewery, jobs and neighborhood-serving shops and cafes will greatly enhance this new neighborhood. It will be exciting to see this great vision come to life."

"The Mission Rock plan will set a new standard for affordable housing in San Francisco and will provide support to those in our community who are most in need," said Delancey Street Foundation President Mimi Silbert. "Delancey Street was one of the first developments in this neighborhood and the Giants have worked closely with us and the entire neighborhood on plans for Mission Rock so that it will become one of the most exciting and vibrant places in all of San Francisco."

The Mission Rock plan was developed over the last eight years through an extensive community planning process. The project carefully balances parks and public amenities with economic uses that address important city priorities. New buildings are proposed on only 10 acres of the 28-acre site, with height limits ranging from 90 to 190 feet for office and retail uses and 120 to 240 feet for rental housing, with a minimum of 33% of the units dedicated as affordable housing. No buildings will be built within 100 feet of the Bay and building heights will step down as they get closer to the water.

The project is expected to generate more than $1 billion in much-needed revenue for the City and County of San Francisco to fund parks and essential city services such as schools, police, health care and transit. The project provides more than $100 million in up-front development fees to the City and more than $25 million each year in taxes. 

"The Giants have continuously reached out to our neighborhood association over the years. They have worked closely with us over the last eight years to create a Mission Rock plan that reflects the shared values of our neighborhood and will realize our dreams of transforming an asphalt surface parking lot into an asset that will benefit the whole community," said Katy Liddell, President of the South Beach, Rincon Hill, Mission Bay Neighborhood Association.            

In addition to Leno, Silbert and Liddell, the Mission Rock plan has received early support from a number of neighborhood and community leaders, including Former State Senator John Burton, SF Made President Kate Sofis, Corinne Woods, chair of the Mission Bay Citizens Advisory Committee and Sunny Schwartz, Mission Bay neighbor and criminal justice reform advocate.

The Giants submitted the Mission Rock measure to the City Attorney's Office today and will soon begin a signature drive. The measure needs 9,702 signatures of San Francisco voters before July 6, 2015 to qualify for the November ballot. The Mission Rock initiative puts the project in compliance with the Proposition B measure that was approved by voters in 2014.