SAN FRANCISCO-The Port of San Francisco has chosen the Forest City California Development subsidiary of Cleveland-based Forest City Enterprises as developer of the 25-acre Pier 70 waterfront site. Pier 70 is a 69-acre historic marine industrial area on San Francisco's Central Waterfront, immediately south of Mission Bay. Plans call for the site to be redeveloped over a multiyear period to meet the Port's master plan goals for new development, historic preservation, and the creation of waterfront open space.

Forest City's consultants for the project include AECOM, Architectural Resources Group, Sheppard Mullin and Holland & Knight, among others. The development of Pier 70 will be structured under a master development agreement and long-term lease.

In spring 2010, the port published its Preferred Master Plan for Pier 70 after extensive study and community planning. Forest City will work with the Port to accomplish the goals for the site, which include a total new development capacity of 2.5 million square feet with more than 250,000 square feet in additional rehabilitation of historic structures. Forest City's plan “will focus on incorporating uses that advance the Bay Area's creative economy together with a mix of high-quality office facilities, open space, and inspiring public amenities and activities,” the Cleveland-based company said in a prepared statement.

Kevin Ratner, president of Forest City Development California, said in that statement: "We believe this project will bring together the past, present and future to create an economic driver for the city and the Bay Area.” Added Kimberly Brandon, president of the San Francisco Port Commission, "This milestone represents a tremendous step forward for the Port by moving us closer to transforming the Pier 70 area into new public uses while preserving its rich maritime history."