11 p.m. Update: The San Francisco Board of Supervisors gave approval to go ahead with plans to redevelop Treasure Island.
The developers conceive an island in the bay which they see as an urban village, homes, high rises, and businesses. Proponents say it is just what is needed. Those opposed to the plan say it's too congested, too expensive and means a lot more cars.
What they are offering are 8,000 residential units including affordable housing, 140,000 square feet of retail, a 500-room hotel with 300 acres of park and open space. Not everyone likes it. The Sierra Club says 11,000 cars will bring air pollution. Former San Francisco Supervisor Tony Hall, who is running for mayor, was administrator of T.I. six years ago. He thinks the project will never get off the ground.
"Hell, that's putting people's lives in danger out there. They can't even get on and off the island, there's no medical facilities, there's not hospital, emergency facilities like what we had out there five years ago. And they're talking about shuttles and the bridge is full, you know that. I mean, enough is enough. Stop it," said Hall.
This project is massive will cost around $1.5 billion. One supervisor says that translates into jobs.
"That's about tens of thousands of jobs that would be created, the billions of dollars of investment in the city. You hear on Capitol Hill, 'what's your jobs program?' Everybody is pointing back and forth. This is it. This is the jobs program," said Supervisor Sean Elsbernd.
The Board of Supervisors hearing will start at 5 p.m. and is expected to go very late into the evening. The issues are about environmental impact, affordable housing and jobs to be considered. And even if it is approved, there is the potential of a lawsuit.
