Mayor Edwin M. Lee today issued the following statement regarding the Board of Supervisors unanimous support of the proposed Term Sheet between the San Francisco Port Commission and Forest City California, Inc. to develop the 28-acre site located in the southeast corner of Pier 70, and finding the proposed project to be fiscally feasible:

“Investment in the Central Waterfront continues to be among my highest priorities, and today’s legislation signals another step forward in our City’s coordinated and strategic investment in our world class waterfront. From the Warriors Arena at Piers 30-32 to the Giants’ Mission Rock development to Pier 70, we have an opportunity to transform the waterfront into a vibrant and diverse neighborhood destination while creating a center for local manufacturing.

I am especially proud of our commitment to balance the need for open space, maritime facilities, industrial jobs, historic rehabilitation, new residential and commercial uses, and economic development and job creation. I applaud the Board of Supervisors for moving this project forward.”

Through the Port’s Pier 70 Master Plan and Forest City’s extensive community outreach, the vision for this project is to create a vibrant, new waterfront mixed use neighborhood on the eastern shoreline of Pier 70, including local manufacturing, arts, and retail uses that enliven surrounding neighborhoods. It also includes rehabilitation of existing historic structures, the creation of shoreline open space and a return to the historic level of activity at Pier 70.

Pier 70 also includes the Pier 70 Historic Core, the most intact 19th Century industrial complex west of the Mississippi River. It is a collection of six historic commercial and industrial buildings that line 20th Street near Illinois Street that are eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places. The Port is working with Orton Development, Inc. to rehabilitate these majestic buildings to accommodate a range of new light industrial, commercial office, and studio uses.