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.
Read the full story: Plans to build a massive, floating pool on the San Francisco Bay get legislative boost
S.F. Plan Amendment to Allow Bay Filling
A revision to the region’s plan for the bay will allow areas to be filled in to create habitats that mitigate the effects of climate change.
As the Waters Rise Toward San Francisco International Airport, So Do the Costs of Staying Dry
San Francisco International Airport lies on 5,171-acres of land on eight miles of shoreline along the west side of the San Francisco Bay. Protecting the property from sea-level rise is becoming a more challenging, and expensive, task.
A New Plan for Sea Level Rise in the San Francisco Bay Area
The San Francisco Bay has 400 miles of shoreline, and a dire need for a new approach to dealing with the effects of rising water levels. An estimated $100 billion in potential property damage is at risk.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
California plans to bury El Niño’s downpour
If the state plays its cards right, it may be able to store a billion acre-feet of El Niño’s water in aquifers.
Desperate measures: Advocates weigh draining Lake Powell to fill Colorado River
Draining the reservoir could reduce evaporation losses by a couple hundred thousand acre-feet.
Mamdani’s pied-à-terre tax survives legal challenge
A panel of judges found that the plaintiffs failed to demonstrate injury as a result of New York City's implementation of the tax.
Eastern Nebraska is running out of electricity
Data centers and electrification are straining eastern Nebraska’s grid, throttling economic development.
Seattle passes record-breaking transit services expansion
Proposition 1 will double the city’s transit tax to add 95,000 more bus trips and preserve 180,000 bus trips annually.
FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?
After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.
Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold
The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.
City of Rosemead
Rutgers University, Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy
One Hundred Miles
University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability (SEAS)
Hunter College, City University of New York (CUNY)
The Architects Foundation
City of Cambridge
Montrose County
The Pocatello Development Authority