is because when we created the embarcadero as a part, and begged them to put sodium lights on the embarcadero and light it up so that it would be bright and inviting. they did not do it. that is the reason people do not want to walk there. we need that lighting. the character of the buildings it looks like mission bay. it is a disaster. we do not need this on the corner. where is the traffic study? you have gridlock now. you have exploratorium coming down the pike. that will bring more traffic. we cannot develop every inch of the city. it is not sustainable. thank you. >> next. >> good afternoon, commissioners. it pains me as a longtime resident since 1964 to see the commission being asked to approve a project which is the first step in building the northeast waterfront like it is south of market. i agree with many of the things they are saying about what they would do to make that portion of the embarcadero more friendly. but to add a building which violates everything that was in the northwest region northeast waterfront plan -- northeast waterfront plan, to say you are just adding one buil

residential building along the embarcadero. almost the entire frontage of the ground floor is given to retail spaces, some of which will be restaurants and other food and beverage uses. stepping to the north further, the space between the residence of project to the south and the recreation club is the jackson commons, which is any connection. through the site, the connection with is currently lost. that connection is animated by the retail to the south and also by a club cafe at the corner of the club, which we see is a very open, classy, indoor/outdoor space. it would not only be for club members. it would be for the public to use, to bring as much life to the street as we can. and to some extent, at ferocity to the use of the health club, which is in some ways a private club. you can see here the living rooms on top of the club. this is something that we're very excited about. the club is basically a one- story building, which is set within public open space on both sides. -- on all sides. the roof of the club is almost like

you can see the tables and chairs on the embarcadero. the massing of the product rises from four stories and steps up to five and then six along the embarcadero. on the drum street side, is steps up from 8 to 11. finally, to 12. we feel that the amassing of the project is an appropriate response to the general condition of the city skyline, which steps down from the financial district to the residential neighborhood that this product is a part of, and then further down to telegraph hill to the north. one of the things that we're very interested in, as well, is finding ways of the residential use can actually enliven and enrich the cities get around it. this is a view of the washington street sidewalk, the south side of the sidewalk. the sidewalk is being greatly widened through reconfiguration of the median and traffic lanes. there is a zone on the left for landscape. a continuous strand in need the trees. pedestrian zone on the right. the bronze and glass can that be there is actually the entrance to the residential project, and there i

it used to be on the embarcadero freeway. the swim club, which i believe has now been renamed a resort, they used to nestle right near the embarcadero freeway. this area has changed since the things were put in place. right now, the port has gone through a lengthy process after the freeway went down from 1992 to 1997 to put together the white waterfront land use planning. there is the ferry building, and they renovated several piers, and this is a different area than when there was the loma prieta. something that was not a permanent condition. it's sort of became subject of what should happen next. this is specifically contemplates that these two sides should be planned in a joint manner, and we took that to heart. we issued an rfp that asked about developing the seawall or combining the two properties, and this developer answered this and was deemed to be a responsive, qualified developer, and we have been planning with him ever since. the embarcadero steady became part of this. i originally, the developer planned on this. p

there is plenty of parking under the embarcadero center. there is a big parking garage under the maritime center. i believe that the owners of those parking areas will tell you that because of the lack of adequate cities signage, those garages are on those lots, so the argument that we need more parking space i believe is a spurious one. thank you. >> members of the committee, my name is charles. i am only here to say one thing. this is not a private club. i read in the newspaper about a private club being on that side. i have heard it here. members of the private club, they sit on the board of directors, and they occupy officers positions in the organization. this is a business. this is not a private club. if i had a business, if it had the word club in the title, it would not be a private club. just because this business offers tennis and swimming does not make it a private club. it is not a private club. it is like the hair club for men or any of these clubs that you can join. this is what it is. it is just a simple business, and the ser

i have gone up and down the embarcadero and measured the buildings. they are claiming to widen at the embarcadero to 15 feet in their proposal. it turns out that that is actually 16 feet, said they are widening it. that is a good step. there is one building. here is an image of it. this will not be activated. they are shoehorn in this building into the sides, and this is not what they were promising. they are taking 5 feet of this fence on the right and moving back. the image shows this. access to a pool without a fence? who has ever built a pool without a fence? it is very strong there. let's take a look at this. look at what they are offering. half of a tennis court. this already exists, but they are claiming to add all of this, but they are adding half of a tennis court. that is it. all of their imagery is just wonderful, but they do not have control over any of this, and this open space that exists. this chart alone needs a thorough examination. i do not have time. we can go around the site and do all of this. they even have their own. one with si

one other is the embarcadero, sometimes known as the embikeadero. we are exciting -- excited about opening up the bank, making sure that the walkway is dedicated, said, uncomfortable for those walking. we see an opportunity with the america's cup coming up, trying to find opportunities to open up the waterfront more positively. this is the goal we are really working for with the city, to make sure that we do have a city that is healthy, sustainable, thriving economically, and we really are making sure that the sentence and skins of today and tomorrow of grade, healthy -- the san franciscans of today and tomorrow have great, help the options. >> i have a comment. it seems like we all, motorists, as well as pedestrians end markers -- bikers, are wondering if you can use more psa's. i often see bikers the not observe all the traffic rules. i think that is the biggest safety issue for everybody. obviously, motorists have to also respect that. if you could use more radio, tv psa's. to get the message out. >> we are very good at reaching bicyclist. we are

the four-story building along the embarcadero is hardly a high-rise. the recreation club is not going away. it is being rebuilt. the city desperately needs housing at all price points. the plans are in full compliance with the public adopted plans for the area. i can only conclude that some people have decided that they will not like any plan. i urge the port commission to move this project forward at the earliest possible time. thank you. >> are there any other speakers on this item? >> the west side of the embarcadero from washington street to where it ends is under the management of golden gateway and support. that is it. -- and the port. that is it. you are the people being trashed because of the quality of your spaces. the other owner of this blight which has also been trashed is golden gateway. that is part of the project. people that are trashing the city are using it as the rationale for developing a massive project on schedule with the rest of the city. as was said earlier tonight, when golden gateway was developed, the company came in danglin

the height at the embarcadero was lower than 84 feet, and the high rises were taller. this step approach actually lowered the height of the overall site. the average before was 84 feet. now, not. they are cleaning spot zoning is taking place. this is really distorting the picture. after a long and collaborative planning process that i took part in, the recommendation is to actually lower the heights in some areas and raise them in others. that is exactly what 8 washington does. private tennis courts and parking, compared to the many public benefits that would be paid by the developer and future home owners, it is clear that this is an incredible deal for the port, the city, and the residents, especially the 99% like myself. i urge you to support this when it comes before you. justin amano. >> good afternoon, supervisors. my name is jennifer warburg. i am here representing a group which supports the seawall project. we believe that the proposed development is a significant improvement on the northern waterfront. 8 washington presents a unique opportunity to replace thes

. >> reporter: major event happening here at justin herman plaza and the embarcadero. chief suhr held a conference. chief, good morning. thank you for joining us this morning. it started after 1:00. how did it go? >> it went very well. we worked in concert with the department of public works as you can see behind us here they are cleaning it up. some demonstrators have left came back and have been on market street so we are going to have some more arrests. >> reporter: why today? >> as sure it's not been lost on everyone, we have been negotiating and the mayor has been incredibly patient in trying to figure out the situation and thought we get them over to mission. then yesterday e-mails weren't returned even though department heads went over and tried to finalize the site. we weren't getting any further negotiations. they had broken off and after last thursday's attacks on the officers, the situation had to happen so tonight was the night. >> reporter: i see that full force with the police department as well as sheriff's department. over 50 arrests this morning. do yo

the embarcadero will also be a no parking zone.y're warning people not to drive in the arctic have flashing signs of warning of traffic. >>reporter: continuing our coverage continues the celebrations around the bay area, bars, restaurants, and hotels here in downtown san jose are expecting a lively crowd on a new year's eve. police say there will be about a dozen extra officers on patrol in the entertainment district around 3:00 a.m. new year's day and there will be watching for drunk drivers. >>jacqueline: weather looks like it will cooperate for new year's eve. we had a system out there that pushed through and we will see clear conditions in the wake of the storm and we will see clear fog. will have localize fall overnight. that will start to clear up as the sun comes out tomorrow. we have high kites--high clouds for tomorrow afternoon mainly in the low 60s. it will get more dry out there tomorrow night and that will help the fog to form a little bit later. you can certainly see the fireworks will for that show. and first our aft

kinked hobson is live at the embarcadero.>gabe: the city is getting ready for the celebrations and crowds. this year, the crowds could be bigger than ever because new year's eve falls on a saturday night. a lot of people are off and want to have a good time. this is how people are getting ready. the fencing is already up and down the embarcadero, the entire length of the waterfront as they get ready for people to flood a downtown waterfront area. here is video from last year of the crowds are arriving, everyone having a bad time and waiting for the fireworks. there is a lot to know when you are coming to the embarcadero with all of these people. there will be nowhere to park down here. they already have signs of alerting people that they cannot park here after 4:00 p.m. where your vehicle will be towed. plan ahead if you are driving. they are urging people to take public transportation. they also have electronic signs telling people about delays that should be expected from about 11:00 p.m.-1:00 a.m.. they are expecting traff

the washington project would still only be a small fraction of the height of the embarcadero building, and one of the striking ironies about this controversy, it would be only one half the height of the closest residential building, the 40-year-old golden gate bridge apartment, where many of the opponents live. in the context of this area, the proposed building heights are modest compared to its much taller neighbors. the opponents of this project will never accept any revision that allows the conversion of seawall lot 351 from a parking lot to any other use. we have yet to hear the project upon its mckay's for how keeping a parking lot on this public land is a better outcome for our city than this proposal. thank you. -- we have yet to hear the project opponents say how keeping a parking lot is better. >> good afternoon, supervisors. my name is paul. i am one of those who is concerned about a policy that seems to be sneaking into san francisco, which is one establishes an area plan, one sets up a program that says that area plan needs to be reviewed to see if it remains consistent, b

it shows the view from the embarcadero and not from the park. there is a big misunderstanding there. the irony is that the neighbors are going to be major beneficiaries of the project. this will be a significant environmental benefits to everyone. it is a small project. 12 stories is not a high-rise building up against a building that is much higher. please vote to initiate the general plan amendment with all deliberate speed. thank you. >> any additional public comment? >> good morning. my name is pete jones. i am one of the founders of western athletic clubs and currently the senior vice president of development. i am here as an interested party. for the last 20 years, we have been the operators of the golden gate swimming and tennis club. we are not sponsors of this amendment. we have been invited by the developer to express our opinion as to what would be the best use of the square footage that was available to us as expressed in the development. unfortunately, in our opinion, it did require the total elimination of the tennis courts. i do n

the embarcadero has been reduced down to one lane. >>mark: a cannon ball damage a home in the minivan after a myth busters stunt films-- missed its target. a cannonball build about two years ago was misfired and ended up flying completely passed their range, bouncing off gulf a hill. it made whole and in nearby house before landing inside of a parked minivan. >> they had safety measures in place, there were some barrels of water that the cannon was supposed to pass through, the can and failed to hit that mark, they had a misfire. after that, it careened off of the hillside, the bomb went skyward and landed in this neighborhood. >>mark: incredibly, no one was injured. a producer did meet with the homeowners and their insurance carriers. the crew is insured for these types of incidents. >> a date that will live in infamy. >> those words spoken 70 years ago by franklin roosevelt after the attack on pearl harbor brought america into world war two. hundreds of japanese warplanes swooped down to attack most of the west pacific fleet. nearly

the developer for this project has done a tremendous job on the east side of the embarcadero. they did a project that no one could have believed came out as good as it did. i do not think there is anyone in the city to has applauded their work -- who has applauded their work. providing retail that activated the waterfront. they had the primary financial backing from the california state teachers' pension group, and clearly, the teachers are not part of the 1% that people are concerned about, reaping some of the financial benefits. i am a planner. i think from an urban design point of view, a transition from the golden gate towers towards the waterfront, these projects would provide, would be a very desirable thing. the urban design plan never contemplated the removal of the freeway. my first day at the planning department, coming to the planning commission meeting, we are going to be doing something historic today. the planning commission adopted a plan that day, in the planning department has carried it forward with the northeast embarcaderos study -- embarcadero study, so fo