The San Francisco Bay is usually an undesirable place to swim, except for a hearty few. A development proposal seeking assistance at the state level would add a pool to the Bay’s waters to make the idea of going for a swim more appealing.
A bill under consideration by the California State Legislature would authorize construction of a heated, Olympic-sized pool in the San Francisco Bay.
In an article for the Mercury News, Marissa Kendall reports that the bill is necessary because the state owns the proposed site of the pool—Piers 30-32.
The project would replace two connected, dilapidated piers currently used as parking. One pier would be rebuilt and converted into 375,000 square feet of offices and 45,000 square feet of retail space. The other would become the pool, which would float on a barge, and would include space for lap swimming, water polo games and lounging in a hot tub. A section of the Bay surrounding the pool would be dedicated to open water swimming, kayaking and paddle boarding.
Trammell Crow Company, the project developer, is also proposing a 725-unit apartment tower across the street.
State Senator Scott Wiener, (D-San Francisco) authored the bill, Senate Bill 273. Sen. Wiener is more familiar to Planetizen readers as one of the primary driving forces of the pro-development political agenda that has gained traction in the state in recent years.
“Past attempts to revitalize the piers have fizzled — including ideas to turn them into an arena for the Golden State Warriors, a George Lucas museum and a cruise terminal,” notes Kendall. Wiener belies the current proposal will succeed because of its intentions to preserve the piers, which previous development proposals did not include.
FULL STORY: Plans to build a massive, floating pool on the San Francisco Bay get legislative boost
Seattle Legalizes Co-Living
A new state law requires all Washington cities to allow co-living facilities in areas zoned for multifamily housing.
NYC Officials Announce Broadway Pedestrianization Project
Two blocks of the marquee street will become mostly car-free public spaces.
The City of Broken Sidewalks
Can Los Angeles fix 4,000 miles of broken sidewalks before the city hosts the 2028 Olympic Games?
Housing as a Climate Resilience Strategy
Ensuring that housing, including in informal settlements, is safe and healthy for its residents is a key tool in the fight to build more sustainable and equitable communities in the face of climate migration.
Southeast LA Road Safety Advocates Call for Improved Infrastructure
Streets in southeastern Los Angeles County have a severe lack of protected bike lanes and traffic safety measures, leading to high numbers of fatalities in a community where many residents depend on walking and biking for daily needs.
USDOT: Low-Income Households Bear Highest Transportation Cost Burden
Transportation costs are the second-highest household expenditure behind housing for all income levels.
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 Prescott
Alamo Area Metropolitan Planning Organization
Village of Glen Ellyn
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research
CORP - COnsulting Research Projects
City of Cambridge, Maryland
Newport County Development Council: Connect Greater Newport
Rockdale County Board of Commissioners