Mayor Newsom Applauds Governor´s Signing of Candlestick Point State Park Funding Bill into Law
California Political Desk
October 15, 2009
San Francisco, California – Mayor Gavin Newsom commended Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger for signing into law a bill that will fund and improve the Candlestick Point State Recreation Area.
"Thanks to the Governor and the important leadership of Senator Mark Leno who sponsored this legislation, we now stand ready to make significant improvements to the first urban state park in California," said Mayor Newsom. "This is a major step forward toward improving the quality of life through better recreation opportunities in southeast San Francisco."
Now pursuant to California law, the park´s boundaries – which include underutilized tracts of land – will be reconfigured in exchange for tens of millions of dollars of improvements and dedicated funding for the future operations and maintenance of the recreation area, which faced closure and a lack of funding in recent years.
The legislation was passed by an overwhelming majority in the Legislature and supported by a broad coalition of community leaders, labor organizations and elected officials. Senator Leno and the City worked with the Sierra Club, Friends of Candlestick Park and ArcEcology to include several amendments that strengthened the park protection measures in the bill. The exchange of park land will lead to improvements at the Candlestick Point State Recreation Area and will allow the City of San Francisco to move forward with a major revitalization project in southeast San Francisco.
"This is a positive milestone on the road to renewing the Bayview Hunters Point waterfront and delivering on the long-delayed promises made to the people living in my district," said District 10 Supervisor Sophie Maxwell.
After more than a decade of planning and voter approval last June, the Hunters Point Shipyard and the adjacent Candlestick Point are slated to be revitalized as a vibrant new development of approximately 10,500 new homes – more than 32% of which will be offered at below market rates. The Alice Griffith public housing site will be rebuilt, over 300 acres of new parks will be created, a major new retail and arts center will be established, and 2.5 million square feet of commercial space is destined to serve as the largest cluster of green technology companies and institutions on the western seaboard.
Mayor Gavin Newsom recently unveiled a proposal to locate a United Nations center focused on global warming and green technology at the former Hunters Point Shipyard. The proposed center would be part of the United Nations "Global Compact" and would be focused on promoting sustainable and clean technologies. A UN Global Compact Center would likely include a clean tech business incubator, offices of the UN Global Compact, and a retreat/conference center to facilitate the exchange of sustainability best practices and other innovations related to combating global warming.
All told, the revitalization of Hunters Point Shipyard and Candlestick Point is expected to generate 30,000 construction jobs and 10,000 permanent new jobs over the next 15 years.
Development of the first phase of residential building at Hunters Point Shipyard is continuing with the installation of foundations and the first framing of residences scheduled to begin in the coming months.
"Thanks to the Governor and the important leadership of Senator Mark Leno who sponsored this legislation, we now stand ready to make significant improvements to the first urban state park in California," said Mayor Newsom. "This is a major step forward toward improving the quality of life through better recreation opportunities in southeast San Francisco."
Now pursuant to California law, the park´s boundaries – which include underutilized tracts of land – will be reconfigured in exchange for tens of millions of dollars of improvements and dedicated funding for the future operations and maintenance of the recreation area, which faced closure and a lack of funding in recent years.
The legislation was passed by an overwhelming majority in the Legislature and supported by a broad coalition of community leaders, labor organizations and elected officials. Senator Leno and the City worked with the Sierra Club, Friends of Candlestick Park and ArcEcology to include several amendments that strengthened the park protection measures in the bill. The exchange of park land will lead to improvements at the Candlestick Point State Recreation Area and will allow the City of San Francisco to move forward with a major revitalization project in southeast San Francisco.
"This is a positive milestone on the road to renewing the Bayview Hunters Point waterfront and delivering on the long-delayed promises made to the people living in my district," said District 10 Supervisor Sophie Maxwell.
After more than a decade of planning and voter approval last June, the Hunters Point Shipyard and the adjacent Candlestick Point are slated to be revitalized as a vibrant new development of approximately 10,500 new homes – more than 32% of which will be offered at below market rates. The Alice Griffith public housing site will be rebuilt, over 300 acres of new parks will be created, a major new retail and arts center will be established, and 2.5 million square feet of commercial space is destined to serve as the largest cluster of green technology companies and institutions on the western seaboard.
Mayor Gavin Newsom recently unveiled a proposal to locate a United Nations center focused on global warming and green technology at the former Hunters Point Shipyard. The proposed center would be part of the United Nations "Global Compact" and would be focused on promoting sustainable and clean technologies. A UN Global Compact Center would likely include a clean tech business incubator, offices of the UN Global Compact, and a retreat/conference center to facilitate the exchange of sustainability best practices and other innovations related to combating global warming.
All told, the revitalization of Hunters Point Shipyard and Candlestick Point is expected to generate 30,000 construction jobs and 10,000 permanent new jobs over the next 15 years.
Development of the first phase of residential building at Hunters Point Shipyard is continuing with the installation of foundations and the first framing of residences scheduled to begin in the coming months.