The San Francisco Giants have unveiled new details on the first phase a planned redevelopment project south of McCovey Cove, as construction could begin this offseason.
For years, the Giants have been working to redevelop 28 acres of land across Lefty O’Doul Bridge from Oracle Park as part of the Mission Rock project. Design details released this week showcase some plans for the first phase of development, highlighted by a new five-acre waterfront park that will feature tide pools, landscape hillocks, a kayak ramp, and a large bayside lawn that can accommodate 5,000 people.
The park will be just one part of the first phase of development, with additional design details expected to be released in the coming weeks on four new structures–including office and residential space–that will be built in the first round of construction. In releasing the design plans, project officials noted the importance of the waterfront park, emphasizing its role as an attraction and community amenity. More from the San Francisco Chronicle:
“My philosophical view is that public space has value and needs to be protected. But we also have to understand the need for the creation of spaces that eventually can be absorbed,” said Kate Orff, whose New York firm Scape is the park’s landscape architect.
The new park design offers the first glimpse of the Giants’ long-delayed 28-acre Mission Rock project, which includes the shoreline and Pier 48 as well as the parking lot. That will be followed within weeks by architectural proposals for four buildings — two office structures and two residential towers — that would join the park in Mission Rock’s first phase of 10.5 acres.
By unveiling the public space first, the Giants clearly seek to emphasize what has been a selling point for the huge mixed-use project since the team was awarded the site in 2008.
“We want this to be both a regional attraction and a neighborhood park,” said Jack Bair, the Giants’ executive vice president and leader of the team’s development effort. “Our desire is to make this one of the best urban parks in the United States in terms of size.”
Much of the land that will be redeveloped over the course of the project is currently dedicated to surface parking. Under the current timeline, the Giants and New York-based development firm Tishman Speyer are hoping to begin work on phase one this winter and complete the park and new structures by 2023.
Rendering courtesy Scape.
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