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BOARD PASSES LANDMARK LEGISLATION APPROVING TREASURE ISLAND PLANS

On May 18, 2010, the Board of Supervisors’ unanimously voted to endorse a package of legislation supporting the redevelopment of former Naval Station Treasure Island. The legislation, containing agreements with the United States Navy for transfer of the property, with the master developer, Treasure Island Community Development (TICD), and the Treasure Island Homeless Development Initiative (TIHDI), together forms the comprehensive vision for the future of the former military base and represents a major milestone in moving the project closer towards implementation. The legislation builds on the momentum from last December when, with support from the San Francisco congressional delegation, the Mayor met with the Secretary of the Navy in Washington D.C. to agree to the terms for the transfer of the property to the City via its Treasure Island Development Authority (TIDA). The endorsement of this legislation represents the culmination of more than 10 years of concentrated effort by the Mayor, TIDA, the Treasure Island/Yerba Buena Island Citizens Advisory Board (CAB), the Land Use and Economic Development Committee of the Board of Supervisors, TICD, TIHDI, OEWD staff and key stakeholders including local, regional and state departments and agencies, local organizations, residents and members of the public.

Plans for the project, which have received overwhelming support, consist of a compact, transit-oriented community centered around a new ferry terminal and town center that activates structures remaining from the island’s first use, the 1939 Golden Gate International Exposition. The island will contain up to 8,000 new residential units, with 30% of all units at affordable levels, including hundreds for formerly homeless through the nationally-recognized Treasure Island Homeless Development Initiative. The City and TICD have put forth a vision of sustainable community development with transportation infrastructure and building systems designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, innovative strategies for creating habitat and protecting natural resources, while promoting economic development, job creation and housing opportunities for all. Specifically, the project aims to become the most sustainable large development project in the United States. Last year, the project was selected by the Clinton Climate Initiative and the US Green Building Council as one of 16 founding partners in the Climate Positive Development Program. The project was also awarded the California Governor’s 2008 Environmental and Economic Leadership Award and the 2009 American Institute of Architects' Honor Award for Regional and Urban Design.

The endorsement of this package of legislation provides the basis for TIDA and TICD to complete all of the steps necessary to begin implementation of the project plans over the next 9 to 12 months, including converting the terms of each of the three agreements into detailed final agreements and plans. The project specific Draft Environmental Impact Report and Draft Redevelopment Plan are both scheduled to be published on July 12, 2010. If the project is approved, construction could begin as early as mid 2011 and would be built out over a 15 to 20 year time period.