It’s been nearly a decade since the first serious attempt at revitalizing Pier 70, a joint effort between industrial developer AMB and the San Francisco Arts Commission, fell through due to high project costs. Since then, the need for historic renovation, environmental clean-up, and infrastructure improvements has kept developers away from the 65-acre bay front site.  Stretching east of Illinois Street, between 20th and 22nd streets, the pier is mostly vacant, populated by the San Francisco Police Department’s impound lot and a ship repair operation run by BAE Systems.

Representatives from the San Francisco Giants, Wilson Meany Sullivan, and Kenwood Investments convened at the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce last month to outline revisions to their development proposal for Seawall Lot 337 and Pier 48, currently the site of a parking lot just south of AT&T stadium.  The speakers reviewed their plans to construct a mixed-use district that will feature family-friendly open space along the waterfront.  However, due to economic pressures, the team has eliminated the original Performing Arts Pavilion and multi-use arena from the plan, and reduced the amount of retail space in favor of offices.

The Trans Bay Cable (TBC) – a 53-mile transmission line that will connect San Francisco to Pittsburgh – is in its 17th month of construction at the Pittsburgh Converter Substation on the northern fringe of the City of Pittsburgh. It’s expected to plug into a substation at the intersection of Illinois and 23rd streets roughly a year from now.  According to San Francisco Public Utility Commission (SFPUC) officials, the cable will provide a reliable way to transmit clean energy to San Francisco.  The cable is “a giant extension cord,” said Karen Kubick, SFPUC manager of infrastructure development. 

Sporting a Chinese lucky number in its address, 888 7th Street sits across the street from the 280 Freeway, Golden Gate Disposal and Recycling offices, and the Caltrain tracks.  The recently constructed complex is noticeable in the middle of Potrero Hill’s old industrial belt.  Its exterior is clad with futuristic-looking lime green sheets of glass, installed not only for modern appeal but to block the courtyard and the building’s interior spaces from noise and air pollution. Though sleek signs with the developer’s contact information still decorate the building’s sides, all of its units have been sold.