Proposal for large floating pool gets political boost
Legislation would authorize it, but more steps needed
The Bay Area is one step closer to getting its first public floating pool, though challenges remain for the waterfront development just south of the Bay Bridge.
Sen. Scott Wiener, a Democrat from San Francisco, proposed legislation Wednesday authorizing construction of a heated, Olympic-sized pool that would float on the San Francisco Bay, surrounded by retail space, offices and housing.
Because the site of the proposed project — Piers 30-32 — is owned by the state, a developer can't build there without special legislative approval. But even if Wiener's Senate Bill 273 bill passes, the project still must get a green light from the city, the state and several other agencies.
Wiener described the proposed project as a “powerful vision for the waterfront.”
“I'm proud to introduce this new legislation and partner with the Port of San Francisco to make our waterfront stronger, safer, more sustainable, and more vibrant,” he said in a news release.
The project would replace two connected, dilapidated piers currently used as parking. One pier would be rebuilt and converted into 375,000 square feet of offices and 45,000 square feet of retail space. The other would become the pool, which would float
on a barge, and would include space for lap swimming, water polo games and lounging in a hot tub. A section of the Bay surrounding the pool would be dedicated
to open water swimming, kayaking and paddle boarding.
An apartment tower with 725 units, a quarter of which would be affordable, would
go up across the street.
“San Francisco's iconic waterfront draws visitors from all over the world and it is central to our city's recovery and future,” San
Francisco Mayor London Breed said in the news release. “Senator Wiener's legislation will help us to invest in the critical infrastructure that will protect it from climate change and sea level rise while also creating the opportunity for hundreds of new homes, including affordable housing, and new spaces for the public to enjoy along our gorgeous waterfront.”
The project won't be without challenges. Past attempts to revitalize the piers have fizzled — including ideas to turn them into an arena for the Golden State Warriors, a George Lucas museum and a cruise terminal. But Wiener blames the failure of past projects at least partly on their attempts to rehabilitate the piers. Instead, his bill would authorize completely rebuilding them.