my name is chris kelton. my wife and i have lived in south beach until 1989 and until recently had a small business on townsend street for 24-plus years. i came here today to voice support for the giants mission rock project. 20-plus years ago i stood in front of this commission and voiced support for the visions the giants had of building a waterfront ballpark at 3rd and king, which would gri people together from all walks of life, the community, if you will. throughout that, the giants work with everyone to build a mag a magnificent facility that everyone is proud of, and led to a transformation of an area that was until then a depressive urban blight. it became a desirable area to live and work. san francisco is a city known for diverse neighborhoods, each unique and full of life with a real sense of community. people flock to these neighborhoods in search of something novel and different, yet despite all that has developed, nine months out of the year, our area becomes a virtual ghost town. mission bay an

i'm chris kelton, my wife and i have lived in south beach for nearly 30 years and recently closed a business on townsend. we witnessed tremendous change, empty fields, cyclone fencing, condo apartments and mission bay. despite all the development, we are missing the sense of a neighborhood. people drive through on their way to the 280 freeway, the bay bridge or another neighborhood seeking energy and liveliness. i'm a the glass is half full kind of person and believe in a better tomorrow. where you see a 28 acre asphalt parking lot, i see a blank canvas waiting for the broad stroke of the artist's paint brush creating a master piece. you see a wind swept eyesore, i see potential for a better life for all, construction workers building mission rock, shops, restaurants, cafes, the neighbors of mission bay and south beach who will have a place to congregate, make new friends and explore new interests in an inclusive atmosphere and a better life for those living at mission rock. after prop-b passed, i stood in support of the project. i said at the time san francisco had billed itself as a city t

. >> my name is chris kelton, my wife and i have lived in south beach since 1989, and until recently had a small business on townsend street. lived through 20 years of development. when the giants build their baseball palace, it was the key that unlocked the long-awaited and desired mission bay very many. despite all the development there is something missing. specifically, the feeling of community. drawn from the residence of south beach, mission bay and mission rock, a new inclusive, energetic neighborhood will spring forth with a town square feel inviting people to linger and explore. new friendships and relationships will develop. the very backbone of community. we all know about the tangible benefits that evolve because of this project. the 40% affordable housing, eight acres of dedicated open space. but equally important is a nontangible psychic effect that cannot be measured, a sense of pride where we live. finally, it's important to remember all the untold man-hours that have gone into this project for at least the last ten years. through meetings and open dialogue, the giant