The Port of San Francisco has reached another milestone in its continuing efforts to restore the historic piers along the San Francisco waterfront.

On Friday, April 2, 2004, the Port closed escrow with San Francisco Waterfront Partners, LLC, the private developer of the Piers 1½-3-5 Historic Rehabilitation Project, located on The Embarcadero between Washington Street and Broadway. Construction will commence next week and is expected to last for approximately twenty-two months. The contractor is S.J. Amoroso Construction Company, Inc. and the architects for the project are Hannum Associates and Tom Eliot Fisch.

The $46 million project will include new restaurants, office space, public access, boat docks, and a water taxi landing. The three pier bulkheads, which are listed on the National Register of Historic Places, will be rehabilitated according to standards established by the Secretary of the Interior for the rehabilitation of historic buildings. Financing is being provided by the California State Teachers’ Retirement System.

After a complete repair and seismic upgrade of the substructure, San Francisco Waterfront Partners, LLC, under the direction of Simon Snellgrove, will build out Class A office space, three cafes/restaurants, and a walkway around the waterside perimeter of the buildings, from Pier 1 to Pier 7, for the public to enjoy the spectacular Bay views. An outdoor dining deck at the seafood restaurant will overlook a public boat dock at Pier 1½ where boaters can sail in and stay for short visits. The project will also include a ticket office fronting on Herb Caen Way for Hornblower Cruises and Events, which operates dining excursions on the Bay from Pier 3.

“This important historic rehabilitation project continues the beautification and character of the Ferry Building Waterfront area. It will bring new commercial and maritime activity to this area, and maximize public access for the enjoyment of residents and visitors to San Francisco’s waterfront,” said Byron Rhett, Director of Planning and Development for the Port.

In the 1930s, Pier 1½ was home to the famous Delta King and Delta Queen steam wheel paddle boats, which provided overnight connections between San Francisco and Sacramento. Pier 1½ was an important gateway for public travel to the interior of the state. Pier 3 and Pier 5 were used primarily for freight shipping and had a colorful variety of companies sharing the bulkhead office and warehouse spaces.

In the 1970s, the piers fell into disuse and disrepair and were eventually converted into offices. The former Passenger Waiting Room of Pier 1½ was converted into an architect’s office, and the bulkheads of Piers 1½ and 5 were used as offices for firms in the fields of law, financial services, and design. While many of San Francisco’s piers have been demolished over the years, Piers 1½, 3 and 5 remain intact as a beautiful example of Beaux Arts architecture.

“We are delighted that “The Piers” will be joining Pier 1 and the Ferry Building as the third main element of the redevelopment of the Ferry Building Waterfront Area. AMB Property, the Port, and Wilson-Meany, the developers of our neighboring projects, have set a high standard and we are most grateful to them for their contribution to the area, for the assistance they have given us, and for the burgeoning excitement that they have brought to the City’s financial district,” said Simon Snellgrove, president of San Francisco Waterfront Partners, LLC.

“Our project has been over four years in planning and we have had terrific assistance from numerous members of public agencies. We are particularly grateful to the Port staff, members of the Waterfront Design Advisory Committee (WDAC), and the staff of the Bay Conservation and Development Commission (BCDC) for their valuable contributions,” Snellgroved added.

For more information about the Piers 1½- 3-5 Historic Rehabilitation Project, visit the web site at www.thepierssf.com.