residents. it also creates better access to the waterfront from adjacent neighborhoods, builds, adds new retail spacious, and adds additional parking to support the area retail. national studies and shown that one reason that some farmers markets failed is because of the lack of sufficient parking for their customers. admittedly, the short-term loss of parking during construction of this project would be an additional problem. therefore, we do ask the city does the film its parking commitment to the ferry building both right now and during construction, but as long as there is sufficient or alternative parking now and during construction, then the long term additional consolidated parking solutions that this project provides is actually a welcomed addition to solving the means that we all have, so we ask that you do

certified the eir. >> good evening, supervisors. i am the executive director of the san francisco labor council, representing over 100 unions and san francisco and tens of thousands of union members, not just the construction workers and representatives you see behind me but also teachers and firefighters and janitors and maritime trade union workers, among others, every union in san francisco, and we support this project. we did, and the labor council, as you know, rarely ways and on development projects, but we did weigh in on this. there is great interest in this project. we have dedicated several different types of presentations that you have read from the people who are appellants as well as the people from the planning commission and the porch, and there was significant debate, not only at the labor

council of butt out -- but at our executive board, so i want to be on record that we are for this particular project. there was a lot of debate. i will not go into all of the issues, but there are concerns about money going into the general fund and supporting the porch, that there is affordable money's not going in and also that we desperately need jobs in order to stimulate the economy, and i just want to say right now that there are three things on behalf of the entire labor counsel that happens, and one is that you for a firm the certification of the eir to move forward, secondly that you also accept the planning commission plan on the conditional use, and also that there is no continuance that takes place, to move this board, which could further endanger this project. thank you. >> good evening. my name is alan. i am president of the market company. a key part of our process is

doing studies on the real estate market in san francisco, so if we look at what is an availability, this area needs all kinds of housing, whether it is market or affordable. in the fourth quarter of 2007, we had the most market rate units for sale ever in san francisco on the market. it was 3000 in the fourth quarter 2007. four years and one quarter later, that number has dropped by 70%. we have 900 units for sale, market-rate units, in a city of 800,000. by the end of this year, it drops another 10%. by first quarter 2013, it drops an additional 10%, so by first quarter 2013, we will have 300 market rate units for sale, which is one of the smallest numbers since the 1980's. this project before you will not

only bring over 130 market rate units to market with in a couple of years but will also be paying for affordable units, which are also needed. if we really look at the reality of san francisco, over the last year, the typical average condominium was $850,000. this building consists of a one- bedroom, two bedrooms, and three bedrooms. 1 bedrooms in today's market will start in the $700 million range -- $700,000 range. who buys them? all times. older people wanting to live and a flat area and wanting to be able to walk to everything. one-third of all first-time buyers get help from their parents. almost 20% of buyers pay cash. that is the reality of this down. this product is really blurring what san francisco does need. the new club will be a vast improvement of the old club. i was a member of the san

francisco club for 20 years, but i really urge you to approve this. thank you. >> hello, my name is carlos. >> excuse me, sir. can you please speak directly into the microphone? >> there are the procedural points that everyone has been discussing, but my approval or my support is with having this go forward. what speaks to me personally is that i grew up using public pools and public tennis courts. in that sense, interest is as a member of the public. i am not a member of the gateway tennis and swim club, so from my youth to old age, i guess i would appreciate having public space on the embarcadero, and on

this side, i think eventually something will be built. to provide for as much public use as possible, whether it is not going to be tennis courts this round, maybe there will be tennis courts and the future coming here or elsewhere, and maybe the money going into the general fund will support that, but i belong to the embarcadero y.m.c.a.. the tennis club, i do not think i will. i do not see that the gateway tennis and swim club, i guess is what it will become, so i say support this project, with the public amenities you can get. thanks. >> good evening, supervisors. my name is paul, and while i do

not live in the immediate vicinity of eight washington, i am a fourth generation san franciscan, and i will be affected by the decisions you make today. i am very active in my neighborhood and work with underserved populations of seniors and use that have fewer options than they should. what they see every day on their way to and from school are areas where they are not welcome more things they cannot afford. what they do not see our areas of open space and greenery and areas of welcoming pedestrian walkways. when you look at the eight washington site right now, all but a very few see is chain-link fencing keeping people out, a large swath of land that few people have access to. i see an unfinished piece of san francisco, a barrier. what all of us have the chance to save our more connections to the embarcadero, where people walking along the streets do not reach a dead end with a private

club, where open space is set aside for all in san francisco to use, where those going along the embarcadero have a reasonable continuation rather then a fenced off boy. many people have barriers put upon them by language or other issues. they are working to bring three those barriers to become successful and to belong to society as a whole. they and all of us deserve to live in a city where they can walk along the streets without being fenced out, to access to parts and greenspace instead of walking by parking lots, to the streets that are whole and not broken. eight washington brings a lot to this neighborhood and this city. i urge each of used to join the planning commission and certified the eir -- and certify the eir. we will all benefit. president chiu: thank you.

next speaker. >> good evening, supervisors. i am a resident. i spent a lot of time running around the embarcadero and the ferry building during my necessary shopping. the development will bring much- needed additional housing, retail, and open space for all san franciscans and those in our city to enjoy. it should not be quelled by a small number of people who do not want to lose a few private tennis courts or to have to deal with some construction in their neighborhood. san francisco is an amazing city, and like all great cities, it needs to evolve to fit the needs of its citizens and visitors. and quite frankly, we need more housing and shopping and restaurants and more developed open spaces or families to enjoy. the planning commission and approved projects will positively impact not only the embarcadero, all of san francisco for decades to come, and i strongly after to follow suit and move forward.

>> good evening. i am going to read you a letter that was written by susan mccullough, and north beach resident, and she is the president of the north beach neighbors, i believe. excuse me. "i have written to you in the past for my support above the eight washington project. however, i am sending you another letter in case i have to leave the meeting before i have a chance to speak. i am a residence and work and financial district and and the president of north beach neighbors. the north beach neighbors one of directors had presentations from the project sponsor an opposition, and after hearing both sides, we are in favor of the proposed project at the washington. i am writing this letter to urge you to uphold this. the project is gone through

extensive reviews, and the developers have made many revisions to the project to address community concerns. secretary calvillo: excuse me, ma'am. could you lower that microphone? >> additional open space, and cling to the public as well as the commercial space on the ground floor. these elements will add light to the section of the embarcadero and continue the improvements to the waterfront that started with the ferry building. the opponents of the project have tried to mislead people into believing they are losing their athletic club. however, as you are aware, while the new project will not have tennis courts, the club will be greatly improved when it is complete, especially the outdoor aquatics center. the addition of the condominiums on the property will help fund the additional public space, the renovations of the club, additional below-market housing. i believe the project will of a positive impact on the

embarcadero and improve this portion of the waterfront. susan mccolley, north beach residents. thank you. >> mr. president, ladies and gentlemen, supervisors. this is my second chance tonight. [laughter] my name is dick, and i have been working in san francisco since 1965. i have worked on many high- rises, including one embarcadero center. it is still there. it is not going to fault. it has a 10 foot thick concrete pad. we know how to build high rises, and we know how to build the grosz's underground. the groundwater in this town in

many areas is 5 feet below the street level, to dig deeper than 5 feet, you need something to hold it back. i am concerned as a citizen that some construction projects in the development are being taken over by the not in my backyard crowd, and they are delaying many important projects for years and years. this one for six. i have been a citizen of this city for 47 of this year's, 57 years in the construction industry, and i know they have hired the best architects and best engineers, and i know we will have the best project, so please approve the eir. thank you.

>> my name is aaron, and before i proceed, i want to say i was not paid in any way to speak. i am completely voluntary. i move to the city after graduating from indiana university, where i played football, and i now work with a sports group based in seattle, and i am currently here working on my master's at the university of san francisco. i like to encourage your yes' vote for eight washington, because it will of housing, restaurants, parks, and recreation. a washington creates a new aquatics facility things for families and people like me to enjoy. off families. i'm relatively new to the city and miller -- and relatively young to politics, but i can understand why anybody would want to replace an unattractive parking lot and this club would these.

i understand that the club was built 20 years before i was born. they had a private club, and things change, and we should not have to pay to enjoy our waterfront. and the three pieces that i found the most evident out of this whole project is the fact that if this goes through, you are creating jobs, affordable housing, and universal access. it is time for a change on the age washington's side. please vote yes and open the waterfront to everyone. thank you. >> i have lived on telegraph hill since 1969. i was the president of the telegraph hill dwellers for a few terms. i'm currently vice chair of bcdc and vice commission on the mtc. i appreciate you listening to

the fears of those who play tennis. this might change their environment dramatically. i respectfully disagree. over time, they will find that this is a great project. it will bring increased revenue to the city and increased housing funds as well. i would find -- i would point out light -- point out that i support this. i hope we can find more sites for low-income housing in the neighborhood as well as money. san francisco intends to add 27,000 new housing units in this downtown center area between 2010 and 2014. -- and 2040 to accommodate downtown growth. that would be at least 900 units per year. if we cannot agree to add

housing in a location as ideal as this with an excellent developer, excellent architect, we will never meet our potential as a city in this region. i urge you to support this project by denying the appeal for the eir. this project is a totally appropriate development, adjacent to transit, within walking distance, surrounded by parks. truly a perfect place for someone to live. obviously, those who live at the golden gateway love living there and more people should have that opportunity. >> my name is linda. i have lived in san francisco since 1989. for the last 10 years, i have lived on telegraph hill. i support this project and i believe that many of my neighbors support this project. i do not believe that thc fees for the majority of the people

who reside on telegraph hill or in north beach. i think this is an excellent addition to the waterfront of san francisco. it is a beautiful project and it is certainly compatible with the existing neighbors, the existing neighborhood buildings, particularly the golden gate way. it will provide a recreational facility. i do not believe that a small but highly vulnerable group will really seek to present a private club should derail planning in said the system. this project has been approved by the planning commission and by parks and rep. i hope that you will support it. i would add that if we were afraid to approve bold, exciting projects for the city, we can almost guarantee mediocrity.

thank you. >> good evening, supervisors. my name is bob. i am an architect that is practicing. i set up my office in san francisco in 1966. i am a 10-year resident of telegraph hill and i am a strong supporter of the project. i agree with everything my wife has just said. first, i think the architectural excellence of the building design is incomparable. it is the finest example of urban catastrophism that respects the scale and dignity of the buildings across the embarcadero. the heights are for writ and sensitive to the community feedback provided over the years. to address president chiu's

concerns about the height of the building, i believe that the configuration, the 136 feet to 90 to 60 just simply looks better. if you consider the silhouettes of the 230-foot building behind, it is far more eloquent to see this superposition -- superimpostion. my opinion, but i think this was a brilliant stroke of urban design, a partnership between slm and the planning department. please approve it. it is really going to be the right thing for our city. thank you. >> good evening, president chiu and supervisors. i'm here to express my support

for pacific waterfront partner'' proposed project at 8 washington. it is a local business enterprise in north beach and partners with architects as well as a 20-year resident of north beach. i am fully supportive of this proposal. the project's overall design excellence, scale, character, and urban plan are very well considered and would be an important contribution to the san francisco waterfront. we share the galvanizing platform of sustainability and healthy living. 8 washington meets this cultural needs by promoting vital, active, and healthy uses for the waterfront. the project seizes the unique opportunity to reconnect our city back to this waterfront. 8 washington's thoughtfully organized programs and strategy

to include pedestrian-friendly housing, new pedestrian corridors, ground-floor retail, publicly open space, a health center, much needed underground parking, are well-suited and brilliantly planned for the embarcadero. this is an ideal location for housing on a major transit corridor with open access to the waterfront. no development is not better development. it is the responsibility to approve the eir and the conditional use application for 8 washington. they are correct and accurate. to support this project is to look forward, not backward, and preserve the future of san francisco as a vibrant, livable city. thank you very much. >> good evening. my name is vince. i am with the labor

international union local 261. i was preceded by my brothers who were more eloquent about the details of the project. i can tell you that it is difficult for us to get up here because we have a great deal of respect for supervisor chu, the elected official in district 3. we spoke earlier about the park advocates. for those of you who have yet to find your way, i want to talk a little bit about the men and women that we represent, the working poor, the people who live in this city, the people who are from this community and the people who deserve us to represent them at this critical time. we have three or four opportunities every year to come here and create work for those people. $26.89, that is the number we should be talking about. we have heard $470 million, $270 million, we need to talk about the workers, the people who need your help. we need to talk about the

laborers, the carpenters, the engineers. we need to talk about the hotel workers. we are getting killed by these ideological debates. by not moving forward, those of you who have yet to decide, we are pleading with you to move the project forward. put the laborers to work. we are dying on the vine. enough is enough. build it now. thank you. [applause] >> good evening, supervisors. my name is joe. i am a resident of the richmond district with my fiancee. also work close to the 8 washington project in jackson square. in a few short weeks, we will be getting married in san francisco and we are proud to call san francisco home. this is where we are committed and this is where we will raise

our family. i am here to urge your support of 8 washington because it will make our city healthier, greener, and more family- friendly. it will turn what is private, public. today, it is used as a private tennis club and parking lot. this will submit more than half the land for public open space that our family could use. eight washington will also create a public park between broadway and pacific with a water fountain for kids. this is something that our family will use. eight washington will create nearly 30,000 square feet of open space where there is virtually none. it will add vitality and new housing, restaurants along the embarcadero. this project will make our city a better, more beautiful place to live. i urge you to uphold the eir and c.u., which are for an accurate, and move ahead with eight washington.

thank you. >> good evening, president chiu and members of the board, supervisors. my name is john. i have been a resident of san francisco for just about 40 years. i am here tonight to urge you to support 8 washington. i am also here to read to you portions of a letter that susan mccowsky, who is unable to be here this evening, had addressed to the board. i will be very brief. "it is certainly laudable that golden gateway is hosting summer camps for lower income families, although i do wonder where the funding comes from. possibly the affluent families paying $460-$525 for a five-day session. i also find it somewhat ironic

given that when our kids were little, the residents did all they could to limit children's access to the two pools. members are not being truthful when they say that thousands of middle income families use the sports facilities here. none of this addresses the key point. we need awful development to stay vibrant as a city. the project addresses green space needs, lead concerns, housing and retail, and does so in an unusually balanced way. the project has been in the works for seven years and many modifications have been made to it. on behalf of susan and myself, i wish you would please all told the eir and approved the washington project.

thank you very much." >> good evening, supervisors. i am here representing spur. since it is 11:10, i figured we are spending our evening together. i would like to have a real conversation with this board about the people we are actually talking about. the last nine years, i spend my time advocating as it shows co- worker -- as a social worker for the people we are referring to, the lower income residents we are -- of the city who are not living at 8 washington, living in our shelter beds, jail beds, hospitals. the individuals we are talking about in terms of affordable housing delivery in san francisco, they care about that $11 million that week bawk at. that is money that if i am working with a resident of the tenderloin, the bay view, any

resident of this city, i ask them if affordable housing matters, it does. i ask you not to take for granted the affordable housing dollars that the city desperately needs and that those individuals in need and deserve. we need to recognize that this project provides resources and access that is not for people in this room but for people who actually -- that we work for in the city. thank you. >> good evening. my name is earl. i have lived in san francisco for 40 years, since 1972. i maintain my wall offices at 1 maritime plaza. i can see, from my law offices, the tennis court. i have played on the tennis courts dozens of times. what is amazing to me is faults in