Concrete Plant Driven Out of Mission Bay

SAN FRANCISCO-Concrete manufacturer RMC must move out of its Mission Bay location, despite 10 years remaining on its lease and a long history on the site.

RMC has been at its 3rd and Mariposa location for nearly 30 years, but Catellus Development’s plan for Mission Bay’s mini-city design concept doesn’t include heavy industry. It does include 6,000 residential units, five million sf of commercial space and the requisite public facilities, including a new University of California campus and 45 acres of parks.

RMC has been searching for a new space, and has proposed building a new plant at Pier 80. With the location’s water access, the company could easily get the raw material needed for concrete. The site is ideal for the company, as it has rail access and is ready for construction. Additionally, it is close to a lot of construction, which is important for the concrete business, which must move the concrete quickly or it will perish.

However, residents and city officials have rallied against the proposed development, saying that the project doesn’t fit into the neighborhood, and may hinder commercial development. In addition, they feel that there are potential health risks in operating a concrete plant in the area.

The plant has proposed an environmentally friendly building and operating plan, and has offered to build a landscaped building that will fit into the area. Port administrators have not made a decision on the proposal, but have recommended that RMC explore other port areas, such as Port 92 or 94, which are more secluded locations.