Revealed: New Plans for San Francisco's Waterfront

The Port of San Francisco is wrapping up a three-year planning process to chart the ongoing transformation of the city's waterfront.

2 minute read

June 20, 2019, 1:00 PM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Embarcadero

Oscity / Shutterstock

John King shares news of a plan released earlier this month that sets a path for the future of 7.5 miles of waterfront property owned by the port of San Francisco, stretching from Fisherman’s Wharf to Heron’s Head Park in the Bayview. "Along the way are such popular destinations as the Ferry Building and the Giants’ ballpark along the Embarcadero, but also the dormant ship repair dry dock at Pier 70 and a large recycling plant at Pier 96," explains King of the significance of this part of town.

The new plan follows on previous plan, written over two decades ago, that set in motion the revival of large portions of the waterfront. "But stubborn challenges remain," according to King, like a steady stream of development controversies and the need to prepare for sea-level rise. In response to the controversies, the plan sets goals of "Partnering for Success" and involving the community in decisions and whatever new amenities emerge from the plan.

Among the other specific recommendations of the report, citied by King in the article:

  • Converting the paved area behind the Ferry Building into a "true piazza."
  • Offering piers 3-32 to private development.
  • Reopening the ship repair facilities at Pier 70 to attract high-paying jobs to the area.

King, who provides a lot more detail on the new plan in the source article, reported extensively on the outcomes of the previous plan in 2014 when the Port of San Francisco was ramping up to begin the process that produced the new plan.

Wednesday, June 12, 2019 in San Francisco Chronicle

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

Wastewater pouring out from a pipe.

Alabama: Trump Terminates Settlements for Black Communities Harmed By Raw Sewage

Trump deemed the landmark civil rights agreement “illegal DEI and environmental justice policy.”

April 13, 2025 - Inside Climate News

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

April 16, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Black and white photos of camp made up of small 'earthquake shacks' in Dolores Park in 1906 after the San Francisco earthquake.

The 120 Year Old Tiny Home Villages That Sheltered San Francisco’s Earthquake Refugees

More than a century ago, San Francisco mobilized to house thousands of residents displaced by the 1906 earthquake. Could their strategy offer a model for the present?

April 15, 2025 - Charles F. Bloszies

White BART public transit train at Coliseum station in Oakland, California.

NRDC Releases State Transportation Scorecard

The Getting Transportation Right report highlights which states are making the most progress on reducing transportation emissions and improving access to clean transportation options.

28 minutes ago - Natural Resources Defense Council

Canada geese on lawn in city park with high-rise buildings in background in Vancouver, Canada.

Study: How Urban Parks Can Support Biodiversity

Conservation and recreation can go hand in hand in urban green spaces designed to serve both humans and local wildlife.

1 hour ago - Inside Climate News

Rendering of Texas Central high-speed rail train stopped at covered platform in Dallas, Texas

High-Speed Rail Tracker

Smart Cities Dive follows high-speed rail developments around the country

2 hours ago - Smart Cities Dive