The Historic U.S. Coast Guard Chimney Rock Boathouse.

Chimney Rock is located at the eastern spur of the Point Reyes Headlands. The Chimney Rock area is a popular destination for visitors wishing to view elephant seals, birds, and wildflowers. The 1.75-mile (2.8-km) round-trip Chimney Rock Trail leads along the ridge crest of a narrow peninsula, offering spectacular views of Drakes Bay and the coastline stretching to the southeast. The historic Chimney Rock Lifeboat Station offers a glimpse into the harrowing jobs of rescuing crew and passengers from ships that ran aground along this rugged coastline.

Come Prepared

• Print out the Chimney Rock Area map. (125 KB PDF)
• Fuel: The closest gas station is 20 miles (32 km) away in Point Reyes Station. Be sure you have sufficient fuel in your vehicle for a minimum 40-mile (64 km) round-trip drive, not including side trips to other points of interest within the National Seashore.
• Weather: Visitors may experience stiff winds, cool temperatures, fog, and/or rain at Chimney Rock; so dress appropriately. Wear layered clothing.
  National Weather Service Forecast for the Chimney Rock area
• Water: Bring a water bottle. There are no potable sources of water at Chimney Rock. The nearest potable source of water is a water bottle filling station/water fountain located near the east end of the green garages that are located approximately 100 yards (100 meters) before one arrives at the Lighthouse Visitor Center or a water fountain located in the courtyard of the Kenneth C. Patrick Visitor Center at Drakes Beach. Bottled water is not sold at Point Reyes National Seashore’s visitor centers or bookstores.
• Food: There are no food services west of Inverness, which is a thirty-five-minute drive from the Chimney Rock parking lot. Bring food from home or purchase food at one of the stores or restaurants in West Marin before heading out to Chimney Rock if it is close to mealtime.
• Restrooms: Restrooms are available at the Chimney Rock parking lot from 6 am to midnight. Be sure to use the restrooms before heading out on area trails.
• Phones: Cell phone reception is very minimal to nonexistent in the Chimney Rock area.

• Drones: Launching, landing, or operating a remotely operated aircraft (aka “remotely piloted aircraft,” “unmanned aircraft,” or “drone”) from or on lands and waters administered by the National Park Service within the boundaries of Point Reyes National Seashore is prohibited.

  If you observe drone use in Point Reyes National Seashore, please call park dispatch at 415-464-5170 or contact staff at the nearest Visitor Center as soon as possible. If you observe drone use in other National Park Service areas or if you find photographs or videos online or elsewhere that were illegally taken within National Park Service areas from drones, you can report the violation to the National Park Service tip line at 888-653-0009 or by email.

• Pets: Dogs may be walked in the parking lot and along Chimney Rock Road west of the parking lot (i.e., back toward Sir Francis Drake Boulevard); otherwise, dogs are prohibited. Please be aware that most visitors to Chimney Rock are away from their vehicle for an hour or longer. Please do not leave your dog unattended in your vehicle; leave your dog at home instead. This prohibition does not apply to working service dogs, which are allowed on trails and in public buildings. If you have a service dog, please inquire at a park visitor center for information before heading out to the Chimney Rock area. Visit our Pets page for more information about visiting Point Reyes National Seashore with your dog.

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Sir Francis Drake Boulevard passes through a number of ranches on its way to Chimney Rock and the Point Reyes Headlands.

The Drive

Chimney Rock is located at the eastern-most end of the Point Reyes Headlands. Drive west ~19 miles (~30 km) on Sir Francis Drake Boulevard. After passing through the “A” Ranch, turn left at the Y signed for Chimney Rock and follow Chimney Rock Road ~0.9 miles (~1.5 km) to the Chimney Rock parking lot. Chimney Rock Road is only about ten feet (3 meters) wide, but serves as a two-way road. Please observe the speed limit and look ahead to keep watch for oncoming traffic. If you do notice a vehicle heading your way, pull into the next turnout until the other vehicle has had a chance to pass.

Sir Francis Drake Boulevard is windy and slow-going, so allow forty-five minutes to drive the ~20 miles (~32 km) from the Bear Valley/Olema/Point Reyes Station area to the Chimney Rock parking lot (one hour and thirty minutes round-trip), not including any time you will spend in the area. Allow one hour and forty-five minutes for the drive (three hours and thirty minutes round-trip) from the Santa Rosa area, northwest San Francisco, or the northern East Bay. Many visitors spend at least an hour or two in the Chimney Rock area.
Directions to Chimney Rock from the Bear Valley Visitor Center.

RVs and Trailers

Recreational vehicles (RVs) and vehicles pulling trailers with a combined length in excess of 24 feet (7.3 meters) are prohibited on Chimney Rock Road. If you are traveling with a trailer or are driving an RV towing a passenger vehicle, consider unhitching at the bus/RV/trailer-only parking lot at Bear Valley and taking only the passenger vehicle for the drive out to the Chimney Rock area. Overnight parking/camping in RVs and trailers is prohibited throughout Point Reyes National Seashore.

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Parking

The parking lot at the Chimney Rock Trailhead can only accommodate twenty vehicles. As a result, parking space availability is very limited, particularly in the afternoon. Please observe all “No Parking” signs. Please refrain from parking along the shoulder of the road or off of the pavement. Doing so kills vegetation and increases erosion.

Parking Lot

Chimney Rock Parking Lot

• 
  
  20 total spaces
  

• 
  0 oversized spaces
  

• 
  37.995124821, -122.979734524
  

A small paved parking lot with space for 20 vehicles. Park here to hike the Chimney Rock Trail, walk to the Elephant Seal Overlook, or visit the Historic Point Reyes Lifeboat Station. A vault toilet is located at the southeast corner of the parking lot. The Chimney Rock Parking Lot is approximately 45 minutes by car from the Bear Valley Visitor Center via Sir Francis Drake Boulevard.

Parking Fee

No parking or entrance fees are charged at Point Reyes National Seashore.

Cost: $0.00

Closures & Seasonal Exceptions

Amenities

Accessible Lot
Yes
Number of ADA-designated spaces
1
Number of ADA van-accessible spaces
1
Number of ADA step-free spaces
0
Total number of spaces
20
Number of oversize vehicle spaces
0

Accessibility

The parking lot at Chimney Rock has one van accessible parking spot and is composed of asphalt. The path to the Elephant Seal Overlook involves a rather short but moderately steep descent along an asphalt driveway (which is degraded in places), and then a flat traverse along a rammed-earth 0.2 mile-long (0.3 kilometer) trail. Individuals in wheelchairs may need assistance with the descent and accent of the driveway.

Individuals with a Disabled Person parking placard or plate may drive their personal vehicle to the Lifeboat Station’s Boathouse parking area. Please drive slowly and carefully since this section of the one-lane access road doubles as the pedestrian path from the main Chimney Rock parking lot to the Boathouse. Volunteers sometimes staff the Boathouse on weekends and holidays from January through March. The Boathouse’s first floor and boat bay are wheelchair accessible. There is also an accessible restroom within the Boathouse. At other times, visitors may explore the Lifeboat Station grounds, where wayside exhibits provide information about the U.S. Lifesaving Service and U.S. Coast Guard history at Point Reyes.

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Stay on designated trails

The only official trails in the Chimney Rock area are shown in the map to the right.

Hiking along the bluff tops can be unsafe and is not recommended. Stay away from cliff edges. Loose soil and/or rock can give way suddenly and you may fall. Do not climb cliffs.

Visitors walking off of official trails and paths trample vegetation, which may lead to the death of the trampled plants. Over time, as more and more visitors use a route, it starts to look more and more like an official trail, and more and more visitors use it, resulting in a feedback loop that makes the “trail” look “official.” However, these “social paths” tend to exacerbate erosion and harm threatened and endangered species. These paths also can lead to locations where visitors may be more at risk to injury, endangering themselves and any potential rescuers.

Do not “hop” the fences to get a “better” photo or for any other reason. Fences and other barriers are there for your safety. The bluffs and cliffs in the Chimney Rock are prone to collapse with little warning. Stay well away from the bluff tops. Individuals who are found on the wrong side of fences will be cited for entering a closed area.

During the winter, hundreds of northern elephants seals can be seen from the Elephant Seal Overlook.

Elephant Seal Overlook

From the Chimney Rock parking lot, walk down the driveway 150 feet (~50 meters), bear left at the Y, and continue along the Fish Docks access road another 260 feet (~80 meters) to the trailhead for the Elephant Seal Overlook Trail. The relatively flat dirt trail leads 850 feet (~260 meters) northwest to the Elephant Seal Overlook. While it may be possible to view northern elephant seals from here on any given day of the year, December through March is the period during which visitors may view several hundred elephant seals hauled out at the southwest end of Drakes Beach as the seals return to give birth and to mate.

Please visit our Viewing Elephant Seals page for more information.

Chimney Rock Trail

This spectacular 1.75-mile (2.8 km) hike offers views of Drakes Bay and the Pacific Ocean and is renowned for great spring wildflowers. Rocky cliffs drop off steeply to the water, so there is no beach access. While it is possible to see a few whales any given day of the year, from March through May, dozens to hundreds of gray whales migrate north past Chimney Rock every day. Fog and wind can make this hike challenging. Start this hike from the southeast corner of the Chimney Rock parking lot.

Photo of a park employee standing over and pointing at a newly developed fissure along the Chimney Rock Trail on December 21, 2015.

Fissures Near the Chimney Rock Trail

Cracks were reported on a portion of the bluff near the Chimney Rock Trail on December 21, 2015. These fissures could indicate the possibility of a weakening cliff face in the area. The land may be unstable and a collapse or erosion could occur. Visitors are reminded to stay on designated trails.

Bluffs along the California coast are inherently unstable. They are prone to crumbling and sliding, especially in wet weather. It is very dangerous to climb or walk along the edge of cliffs. Be aware of falling rocks if walking near the base of a rock face.

View:
Close-up photograph of the fissure. (172 KB jpg)
Photograph of the area with the fissure from the southeast. (117 KB jpg)
Aerial photograph of the location of the fissure marked in yellow. (216 KB jpg)

The Historic U.S. Coast Guard Chimney Rock Boathouse.

Historic Lifeboat Station

Despite the efforts of the men and women who worked at the Point Reyes Lighthouse, which was constructed in 1870, ships continued to wreck on the rocks and beaches along the dangerous Point Reyes peninsula. In 1889, the U.S. Life-Saving Service opened a Life Saving Station on the Point Reyes Beach, the first of two built at Point Reyes. The U.S. Lifesaving Service was combined with the U.S. Revenue Cutter Service to form the U.S. Coast Guard in 1915. In 1927, the Coast Guard moved their operations moved from Point Reyes Beach to the protected waters at the southwest end of Drakes Beach near Chimney Rock. Eventually modern technologies eclipsed the need for the Lifeboat Station at Point Reyes. In 1969,the Point Reyes Lifeboat Station was closed and, shortly thereafter, was transferred to the National Park Service for preservation.
Visit our Lifeboat Station History at Point Reyes page for more information.

The Lifeboat Station buildings are visible from the Chimney Rock Trail and the station’s access road (which is open only to NPS and other authorized vehicles). Visitors may explore the Lifeboat Station grounds, where wayside exhibits provide information about the U.S. Lifesaving Service and U.S. Coast Guard history at Point Reyes.

Today, the Historic Lifeboat Station at Point Reyes National Seashore is primarily used as an educational facility for non-profit groups learning about the resources of the natural and cultural resources of Point Reyes. The Boathouse is sometimes open to the public from 11 am to 4 pm on weekends and federal holidays from January through March, if volunteer staff is available. The Boathouse contains the historic Coast Guard Motorized Lifeboat CG-36542 and has the last intact marine railway on the West Coast. Kids activities, a 10-minute video on elephant seals, and complimentary hot beverages (cocoa, tea, coffee) are available when the Boathouse is open, along with hands-on interactive activities allowing both children and adults to learn about seal and whale adaptations.

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On Tuesday, January 24, 2017, the San Francisco Foundation, in collaboration with the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC), hosted an information session on community benefit opportunities for local and national developers. The SFPUC is about to launch a citywide $8 billion sewer system improvement program (SSIP). The first step toward SSIP is the completion of a $2.9 billion renovation and retrofit of the Southeast Wastewater Treatment Plant in Bayview Hunters Point, a historically neglected San Francisco neighborhood.

Through the SFPUC's Community Benefits Program, all contractors applying for a project must demonstrate their commitment to partnering with the SFPUC and local community-based organizations. The goal is to create a significant, positive community impact in communities and neighborhoods throughout SFPUC's service area. The $2.9 billion renovation of the Southeast Wastewater Treatment Plant will result in approximately $9 million in community benefits over 10 years.

Most contractors submitting bids to the SFPUC for these projects have no local context to neighborhoods like Bayview Hunters Point. The SFPUC and the San Francisco Foundation have partnered to provide contractors with more information and resources to help them develop their strategies for impactful community empowerment opportunities.

During the information session, the San Francisco Foundation presented its regional equity strategy and direction the SFPUC's Community Benefits Program. The San Francisco Foundation led contractors through a brief history of Bayview Hunters Point and presented demographic information to give contractors more context about the affected area and the obstacles residents face. We have outlined our investment strategies in Bayview Hunters Point and provided examples of some of our key community partners in Bayview Hunters Point. We led the contractors through an in-depth discussion of community-based organizations in Bayview Hunters Point to help them shape their investment strategies.

All contractors appreciated the partnership between the SFPUC and the San Francisco Foundation and indicated that they had not seen this type of partnership when working with previous public agencies. Many participants were inspired to develop holistic strategies for their investments and asked to have the San Francisco Foundation as an ongoing resource.

The San Francisco Foundation and SFPUC will continue to work together to expand access to good jobs and career opportunities for San Franciscans in these impacted areas.

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WACO, Texas–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Decisive Point Consulting Group (“DPCG” or the “Company”), a Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business providing Health Information Technology and Patient Safety Technology Integration to the Department of Veteran’s Affairs (VA), today announced the signing of a contract award supporting the San Francisco VA Health Care System (“San Francisco VA”), San Francisco, CA, under its partnership with CareView Communications Inc. Decisive Point Consulting Group and CareView formed a Partnership to contract directly with VA hospitals to use a variety of CareView products to enhance the services being provided to veterans.

The CareView Patient Safety System facilitates continuous remote patient monitoring of any patient that may be at risk of harm due to fall precautions, behavioral issues, suicidal ideation, etc. The solution leverages an in-room wireless mobile cart with camera, display, and audio capabilities utilizing CareView’s patented Virtual Bed Rails® and Virtual Chair Rails® technologies to improve patient safety. The Virtual Bed Rails® use machine learning to identify when the patient’s movement indicates a fall may be imminent, and subsequently alerts the Safety Technician. Pre-recorded messages in patients’ native language or 2-way audio allow for direct communication with the patient. The system can offer a considerable reduction in sitter labor costs and greatly enhance overall patient safety. This solution can conduct telemedicine consultations and integrate industry standard nurse call platforms once available for integration at the San Francisco facility.

CareView’s innovative Patient Safety System is the only virtual sitter solution in the industry with no audible alarms in patient areas, making it the perfect solution for VA Community Living Centers (CLC’s). Additionally, because patient privacy is important, the CareView System features a privacy option mode that can be utilized when needed, ensuring enhanced safety, security, and peace of mind for loved ones.

Daniel Wilcox, DPCG Systems Engineer, stated, “We are pleased to be working with San Francisco VA and know that our solution will address their current and future needs to reduce patient falls while increasing overall patient safety and staff efficacy. We are looking forward to working closely with our VA partners to integrate the enhanced system capabilities inherent to the system in the San Francisco VA once those disparate capabilities are deployed on site.”

To learn more about the DPCG, LLC, visit www.decisivepointconsulting.com

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The first of what will soon be hundreds of places in the Bay Area to provide a guarantee of fresh air on smoky days opened in San Francisco on Tuesday.

The new Clean Air Center, located at the Bayview Linda Brooks-Burton Branch Library in the city’s Bayview-Hunters Point neighborhood, has been outfitted with special filtration equipment and allotted space in a 1,000 square-foot meeting room to accommodate those wanting respite during periods of heavy wildfire smoke.

The facility marks the debut of a network of Clean Air Centers planned across California, and it shows the extent to which the state is going to prepare for increasing wildfires — and climate change.

In recent years, millions of Californians have been exposed to unhealthy levels of smoke as a result of bouts of wildfires that scientists attribute, in part, to drought and rising temperatures.

“Having a place where people can go to breathe clean air is something that is extremely vital and important,” said San Francisco Supervisor Shamann Walton during a kick-off celebration of the new Clean Air Center on Tuesday morning. Walton also sits on the Board of Directors of the Bay Area Air Quality Management District, which is overseeing the rollout of the facilities.

The first center was launched in San Francisco’s southeastern corner to underscore the project’s aim of prioritizing underserved areas, where air pollution is typically greatest and fewer people may have air purifiers in their homes.

Air district officials say that more than 300 facilities will open in the Bay Area in a matter of weeks, including one at a YMCA just a few blocks from the first site. The centers will generally be located in libraries, schools and other community hubs where portable air cleaners will be brought in and HVAC upgrades made.

The sites will be identified with signs sporting the program’s new, blue and orange Clean Air Center logo.

The initiative is the product of Assembly Bill 836, the Wildfire Smoke Clean Air Center Incentive Program for Vulnerable Populations. The legislation, authored by Assembly Member Buffy Wicks, D-Oakland, provided funds for the creation of the network of clean air facilities.

The Bay Area Quality Management District, serving the region’s nine counties, was allocated $3 million to help pilot the program. The California Air Resources Board and the San Francisco Department of Emergency Management helped with Tuesday’s launch.

“We get more calls on this than anything during wildfire season,” said Kristine Roselius, spokeswoman for the air district. “People want to know where they can go to get out of the smoke.”

Kurtis Alexander is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: kalexander@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @kurtisalexander

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The Department of Veterans Affairs is in the process of developing a “One VA” complex in Alameda, California. The 624 acres of property was acquired from the Department of the Navy in 2014 after the closure of Naval Air Station Alameda in 1996.

When completed, it will serve an estimated 270,000 Veterans in the greater San Francisco Bay Area. Facilities on the site will include a 158,000 square foot Community Based Outpatient Clinic, a National Cemetery Columbarium that will have the potential to hold the remains of 300,000 Veterans and spouses, and a Veterans Benefits Service Center to help bring the many VA programs to the many Veterans residing in the area. The project has been authorized by Congress with the US Army Corps of Engineers overseeing construction.

The property boasts a picturesque view of the City of San Francisco skyline and the Bay Bridge connecting Oakland to San Francisco. In acquiring this unique parcel of land, the VA committed to overseeing 512 acres as a conservation management area. In cooperation with the USFWS the conservation management area supports several species of birds to include one of the most important nesting sites for the California Least Tern, an endangered species.

Currently, the site is not open to the public. Once the project is complete, the National Cemetery and the Clinic will have scheduled hours of operation. In cooperation with the City of Alameda and the East Bay Regional Park District, the Bay Trail system is planned to connect to the site and extend around the perimeter of the property.

Additional information on the project is available on the downloadable fact sheets.

News Release: USACE Awards Wetland Mitigation Contract for New Alameda VA Facility

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Overnight temperatures in certain San Francisco neighborhoods could dip to near-freezing temperatures, according to ABC 7 Meteorologist Drew Tuma. As such, San Franciscans will want to take certain precautions with their pets, plants, and property.

“Bring your pets inside,” Tuma said in an interview with The Standard. In the coming days, the city’s official National Weather Service outpost in the Lower Haight might just record a low of 38 or 39 degrees Fahrenheit—which would be the chilliest reading in the past 6 years.

Also, anyone with particularly sensitive plants on the porch, balcony, or window sill should consider bringing those indoors, as well. David Stoner, president of Sloat Garden Center, said he is expecting San Francisco to experience frost over the next night or two. While frost is unlikely to deal a death-blow to established plants, it can damage the folliage.

The best course of action for proactive plant parents, according to Stoner, is to bring your plants inside. You can also move them under an overhang, or cover them with a frost blanket.

Stoner also noted that most plants prefer to be well watered when entering a period of extreme cold. The one exception to that rule: succulents and cacti. These, he said, should be as dry as possible heading into cold weather.

The reason the leaves of your burros tail, candelabra aloe, zebra plant and jade tree are so fleshy is that they are filled with water. And when those leaves approach freezing, the ensuing frost can damage the tender cells of those leaves, leaving the same plant that survived weeks without water in direct sunlight with withered, frost-bitten leaves.

Succulents are hearty, but they can be damaged by frost. | Getty Images

As for concerns about bursting pipes, Tuma said it’s always possible that freezing temperatures approaching could deal a final blow to older plumbing, though this issue is more common with sub-freezing temperatures.

San Francisco hasn’t officially recorded a temperature of 32 degrees Fahrenheit since 1990—even as it’s relatively common for areas directly north, south and east of the city to dip below freezing a few times every winter.

That’s due to something called the “urban heat island” effect, Tuma said. Winter temperatures never get far below freezing anywhere in the Bay Area; as such, the remaining heat that San Francisco’s concrete, asphalt, metal and glass surfaces continue to radiate after sunset helps keep the city warmer than its suburban and rural neighbors.

So see

Tuma had two more notes for locals bracing for the cold snap.

First, the good news: It’s possible that the dip in temperatures could pull some of the pollen out of the air, which might bring relief to allergy sufferers.

Second, he said, don’t be too hard on yourself if you feel cold. The first couple of cold days after a warm spell like we just had can be jarring to the body.

“Wear your gloves, wear your hat,” Tuma said. “I know we get the reputation for being weak, but your body’s not used to it.”

Nick Veronin can be reached at [email protected].

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A city with so many hills struggled with its long-term vision. Every view has the power to narrow or broaden our view of the city. It all depends on your point of view.

If you saw the city behind the windshield of a car in 1948, the vision of the future was a vision of elevated highways and fast arrival. At that time, the aptly named “Comprehensive Trafficways Plan” proposed adding a tangle of freeways to San Francisco. Highways proponents saw the ever-increasing presence of the “cement octopus” as inevitable, a concrete solution that would get motorists to their destination with the ease and immediacy that modern life demands. These enthusiasts believed that their desire to arrive now would benefit the communities below the freeway by diverting traffic (i.e., themselves) away from the surrounding streets.

However, in the 1960s and again in the 1990s, proponents of the “now” stopped. The Gum Tree Girls, whose fight to protect Glen Canyon went so far that they threatened to handcuff their children to the trees that stood in the way of the proposed highway, were some of the first to successfully argue that the future of “Right here” is more important than the urgency of “now”.

Much has been said about the Freeway Revolts, but the line between this series of events, which spanned 50 years from 1948 to 1998, is the struggle of ordinary people against the urgency of the present for the quality of life of the future.

Glen Canyon or the Panhandle, which is criss-crossed by highways, can hardly be imagined as the heirs of the future for which these insurgents fought, but this reality was only averted by a series of wafer-thin 6-5 votes on the board of directors. Modern politics is uniquely prone to the charm of the “present” as power rests on yesterday’s issues and alliances and long-term plans rarely fit into electoral cycles. Still, one can easily wonder how nearly half of the city’s overseers could ever be in favor of replacing the Panhandle with a freeway or rebuilding the Embarcadero Freeway that separated the city from its waterfront. Still, it took a coalition of 77 organizations, 20,000 letters, and numerous editorials to convince our leaders that the San Francisco we are enjoying today was worth saving this beautiful green space at the end of Golden Gate Park.

Now a new attempt is underway to separate the San Franciscans from their parks and the waterfront. The siren chant of “right now” calls upon those looking to take a few minutes off the commute, sincere in their desire to please their loudest voters and the dangers of prioritizing today’s convenience.

But when the perspective of the city is above a stroller, behind a handlebar or at a café table in a former parking space, the vision for the future of the city is already emerging. COVID has resulted in the biggest street changes in San Francisco in decades as slow streets, shared spaces, and new pedestrian promenades along JFK Drive and the Great Highway have all shown what tomorrow’s streets might look like.

These new public spaces have found their own proponents as neighbors – artists, teachers, parents and small business owners – are discovering the many opportunities our streets offer when cars become visitors and people become guests of honor. In the same spirit as the insurgents of our past, San Franciscans are now forming coalitions, creating art, writing songs, signing petitions, holding rallies, and advocating civil disobedience. They have not yet threatened to tie their children to trees, but if our leaders continue to bow to the pressures of the present, there is no doubt they will.

We are no longer threatened by a sky blocked by concrete roads, but by a sky that is increasingly filled with smoke, smog and weather that intensifies with each season. If we want the next generation of San Franciscans to inherit a healthy planet, not to mention the same parks, burritos, and beautiful October days we enjoy, we need to reduce our emissions to zero before today’s babies celebrate their 30th birthday . Given the task at hand, the effort may be negligible within 49 square miles, but those 49 square miles have an oversized impact. If we create a sustainable urban future here, we can change how others see their cities.

The Embarcadero Freeway, February 1959.

Ken McLaughlin / Hearst Bay Area

Despite our commitment to sustainability and our lip service to being a city that comes first, it is clear that the perspectives of our executives are still largely shaped by the rear wheel.

These leaders often speak of the need for compromise, but when it comes to our roads there are no more compromises that will not endanger future generations. Our only way forward is to create a future in which human mobility is put above car mobility – not just for sustainability reasons, but also for our commercial corridors, our children and our social fabric.

The scale of climate change requires a “spaghetti-on-the-wall” approach to finding solutions, and our streets are the best spaghetti bowl we have. Not only is our road network a network that can easily accommodate the multitude of iterative changes required to create a truly liveable city, but the exhausts of cars and trucks are our greatest source of emissions. It’s a truth no politician wants to acknowledge in the face of mounting pain, but the future of San Francisco is one where it will be harder to drive – yet easier, safer, and more enjoyable to do almost everything else.

I became a father during the pandemic, so my perspective has changed too. Suddenly the future is not in the distance, but sleeps in my arms. That transition got me behind the wheel of a car more than ever, which made it clear how exaggerated the recent traffic collapse stories are. My driving experience has been remarkably average, but the city can often feel treacherous behind a stroller.

The Gum Tree Girls fought to save Glen Canyon from this reality. My daughter will inherit what we fight for.

If history is our guide, we shouldn’t turn to politicians to show the way. They’re usually a lagging indicator of a city determined to protect the wonder that is right here from the insatiability of the “now”. However, the revolt against “now” is already underway, and it is evident that every San Franciscan is giving up something of today in order to create a better tomorrow.

The antidote to urgency is to move slowly. Maybe that’s why some of our Slow Streets have an incredible 90% approval rating. That is why the many mantras of Slow are repeated over and over again. Keep it slow. Go slow yo Slow is forever. The urgency of “now” means that taking slow action is an act of resistance.

We can’t all be heroes of this revolt – who has the time? But every little act counts. Filling out the JFK Drive Future Poll for five minutes counts (only one minute if you use this voter guide). Even the 12 seconds it takes to double-click a pre-filled email counts. Because the rulers often only count the insurgents before they decide on which side.

Rest assured, however, our heroes will show up. The revolt against “now” seeks more Scott Newhalls, the editor of the San Francisco Chronicle, who gave the paper a decidedly anti-freeway stance. They will find it, maybe because it’s good for business or simply because they love to cycle the Great Walkway. The revolt is currently looking for more Sue Biermans, the outspoken superior who convinced her colleagues to save the panhandle. It will find them, perhaps as soon as a manager decides to put tomorrow’s quietest voters – their children – over today’s loudest voters.

If you look at the city from a historical perspective, one day you could sit on a bench in Sue Bierman Park and stare at the Ferry Building from what was once a freeway exit. The view makes it easy to see that while the monuments of speed are temporary, the monuments of slowness are forever.

Luke Spray is a Cole Valley resident and co-host of BFF.fms wake-up show Roll Over Easy on Thursday morning.

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Contact point: NCA Pacific District
Phone: 510-637-6270 | E-mail

The VA National Cemetery Administration (NCA) is expanding access to funeral services to serve the San Francisco area by developing the Alameda Point National Cemetery, a columbaria-only cemetery that is part of the planned VA development of the former Alameda Point Naval Air Station will be.

The first phase of Alameda Point National Cemetery opens with 25,000 niches and has a final capacity of approximately 300,000 niches. Construction is expected to start in 2023-2024. Alameda Point National Cemetery is designed to serve veterans and their eligible family members for the next 100 years or more.

NCA Urban Initiative

Alameda Point National Cemetery is part of the NCA’s Urban Initiative, a program to improve access to funeral services in certain densely populated areas to better serve veterans, their spouses, and families. In some of the largest urban areas that VA serves – the San Francisco Bay Area, New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Indianapolis – the nearest national cemeteries are more than 100 km away. The two VA cemeteries in the San Francisco Bay Area, Golden Gate and San Francisco National Cemeteries, are closed to new burials.

Open cemeteries serving the San Francisco Bay Area

Until Alameda Point National Cemetery is open, the two closest open cemeteries in VA are Sacramento Valley National Cemetery and San Joaquin Valley National Cemetery.

Sacramento Valley National Cemetery
5810 Midway Road, Dixon, California 95620
707-693-2460 | website
The cemetery offers the following burial options: coffin, urn (in the ground or columbarium), ossuary and memorial wall.

San Joaquin Valley National Cemetery
32053 West McCabe Rd., Santa Nella, CA 95322
209-854-1040 | website
The cemetery can accommodate coffin and cremated remains (in soil or columbarium).

VA funeral services and memorabilia
VA Funeral Services can help service members, veterans, and their family members plan and pay for a funeral or memorial service at a VA National Cemetery. Family members can also order memorial items to honor a veteran’s service. Find out how to apply for the funeral services you have purchased and how to schedule a funeral in advance or on demand.

important phone number
National Cemetery Planning Office: 800-535-1117
Gravestones and markings: 800-697-6947
Hotline for VA benefits: 800-827-1000

Helpful Links on the Benefits of VA Funerals and Memorials
Funeral and memorial service video in VA
Funeral services
Eligibility to participate
Determination of the burial authorization prior to the burial
Schedule a funeral

frequently asked Questions

Can I reserve a funeral at Alameda Point National Cemetery?
No, the National Cemetery Administration plans services as required. We have a pre-burial eligibility program to help anyone interested in finding out if they are eligible for a VA National Cemetery burial. VA sponsors pre-eligibility determinations to encourage veterans and their eligible family members to plan ahead to take advantage of the VA funeral benefits veterans have earned through their military service. Planning ahead for the death of a veteran or loved one can avoid unnecessary delays and reduce stress for a family during a difficult time. For more information and to apply online, visit the pre-authorization website.

What burial options are available at Alameda Point?
Alameda Point National Cemetery is an above-ground cremation-only facility that will serve veterans and their eligible family members in the San Francisco Bay Area for decades to come. The cemetery can only accept urns.

What is a columbarium?
A columbarium is an above-ground structure intended for the burial of cremated remains in an alcove 10½ “x 15” x 20 “deep measured at the front. The columbarium unit is usually double sided with numbered rows and columns for efficiency that identify each niche.
The columbarium is a prefabricated concrete structure with foundations. The structure is clad with bricks, blocks, stones, granite or prefabricated veneers, which are similar in material to other structures in the cemetery. Niche covers are provided by the National Cemetery Administration, the Memorial Programs Service (MPS).

Can I still be buried in Alameda Point National Cemetery if I do not want to be cremated?
No, Alameda Point is a cremation-only cemetery. There are other burial options at the Sacramento Valley and San Joaquin Valley National Cemeteries for veterans and family members who choose a different burial option.

My loved one is buried in another VA National Cemetery. Can I move them to Alameda Point National Cemetery once the cemetery is open?
We consider all funerals final, however families may go through the move out process at their own expense to relocate their loved ones. Please visit the NCA’s disinterment page for more information.

When will Alameda Point be open for funerals?
We expect the Alameda Point National Cemetery to open in late 2025.

How many niche spaces will Alameda Point National Cemetery have?
Alameda Point will initially open with 25,000 niches and will have an approximate final capacity of 300,000.

Can spouses be buried in a VA National Cemetery?
Yes, a veteran’s spouse, minor children and, under certain conditions, unmarried adult children with disabilities (if diagnosed at the age of 21 or 23 if enrolled in college) may also be buried even if they died before the veteran .

Who is eligible for a funeral at Alameda Point National Cemetery?
Eligibility for the Alameda Point National Cemetery is the same as for any other VA National Cemetery. Burial in a VA National Cemetery is open to all members of the armed forces and veterans who have fulfilled the minimum requirements for active service and have been released under other than dishonorable conditions. Under certain conditions, members of the reserve troops of the Wehrmacht who died in active service or in training service, as well as soldiers and former soldiers who were entitled to their death at the time of the retirement claim, are also entitled to a burial.

A veteran’s spouse, minor children, and, under certain conditions, unmarried adult children with disabilities (if diagnosed at the age of 21 or 23 if enrolled in college) may also be buried even if they died before the veteran.

On the page “Eligibility” you will find information about the eligibility for certain groups and the exclusion criteria.

How do I schedule a service at Alameda Point National Cemetery?
Scheduling is easy. Fax all discharge documents to the National Cemetery Scheduling Office at 866-900-6417, then call 800-535-1117. You can also scan all discharge documents and email them to the NCA scheduling office. Visit the Burials and Memorials page for more information.

Does the VA pay the funeral expenses?
The veteran’s family should arrange for burial or cremation with a funeral home or cremation office. Any item or service obtained from a funeral home or cremation office is the responsibility of the family. The VA offers a reimbursement funeral allowance to cover burial, funeral and transportation costs for veterans who meet certain requirements. For more information and to apply for reimbursement, see the Veteran’s Funeral Allowance page.

The post Alameda Level Nationwide Cemetery | VA San Francisco Well being Care appeared first on Los Gatos News And Events.

Wenn Abigail Munn neuen Bekanntschaften erzählt, dass sie in einem Zirkus auftritt und einen Zirkus leitet, stößt sie normalerweise auf eines von drei Stereotypen: „Die Leute denken, dass Sie Tiere missbrauchen, Sie gehen zu Burning Man oder Sie sind Cirque du Soleil“, sagte sie lachend nach einer kürzlichen Probe zu Circus Bellas „Humorous“.

Aber ihr Unternehmen passt in keine dieser Kategorien. Auch die meisten Zirkusse in der Bay Area tun dies nicht – ein seit langem bestehender Zustand, der jedoch durch die Entwicklung der Zirkusindustrie und der Kunstform noch stärker hervorgetreten ist.

Vor Ort ist eines der sichtbarsten Symbole dieser Entwicklung die Weltpremiere von „Dear San Francisco: A High-Flying Love Story“, die am Mittwoch, den 22. September, in der Vorschau beginnt und am 12. Oktober im Club Fugazi, dem ehemaligen, offiziell eröffnet wird Heimat von „Stranddecke Babylon“. Die Show der Bay Area-Eingeborenen Shana Carroll und Gypsy Snider, Mitbegründer von Montreals The 7 Fingers, vermeidet “ta-da!” razzmatazz für die düstere, kantige Ästhetik des modernen Tanzes oder der Performance-Kunst, aber ohne die echte oder wahrgenommene Hochnäsigkeit und das esoterische Bewegungsvokabular dieser Formen.

Seit der Gründung der 7 Fingers im Jahr 2002, sagte Carroll gegenüber The Chronicle im Mai, versuchten die beiden, die distanzierende Wirkung des Spektakels zu vermeiden. „Unser Ziel, sagten wir immer wieder, war es, es auf einen menschlichen Maßstab zu bringen. Wir hatten das Gefühl, dass die Leute auf der Bühne Menschen waren, mit denen wir verwandt waren, Menschen, die wir kannten.“

Dieselbe Vision treibt „Dear San Francisco“ an.

Im Circus Center probt Jérémi Levesque Reifentauchen in Erwartung der Weltpremiere von „Dear San Francisco“ von Club Fugazi Experiences. Foto: Jon Bauer / Club Fugazi Experiences

Andere Zeichen für den Wandel des Zirkus sind Schließung und Kürzung. Im Jahr 2020 beantragte der kanadische Mischkonzern Cirque du Soleil Insolvenzschutz. Das Unternehmen steht jetzt dank einer Infusion von 375 Millionen US-Dollar von Investoren auf solider finanzieller Basis, sagte CEO Daniel Lamarre gegenüber The Chronicle.

„Gleichzeitig“, sagte er, „werden wir aus dieser Krise lernen und das Unternehmen konservativ führen. Das Unternehmen wird in Bezug auf Personal, Ausgaben und auch die Anzahl neuer Shows schlanker.“

Vor der Pandemie präsentierte Cirque du Soleil 44 Shows auf der ganzen Welt; derzeit laufen nur etwa ein Dutzend oder haben geplante Eröffnungstermine.

Emily Tucker tritt 2016 in Cirque du Soleils „Luzia“ in San Francisco auf. Der Cirque du Soleil erholt sich, nachdem er während der Pandemie Insolvenz angemeldet hatte. Foto: Beck Diefenbach / Special zur Chronik 2016

„EWir waren schon vor der Krise an einem Punkt, an dem wir unser Show-Portfolio wirklich optimieren und in einem anderen Rhythmus produzieren wollten“, fügte Lamarre hinzu. „Im Moment wurden wir von der Krise dazu gedrängt, dies umzusetzen, was bedeutet, dass wir unsere bestehenden Shows wiedereröffnen und neue Shows in einem Tempo produzieren, das es uns ermöglicht, den Inhalt nicht zu beeinträchtigen.“

Lamarre schätzt, dass Cirque du Soleil frühestens 2023 wieder in der Bay Area auftreten wird.

Das fusionierte Unternehmen Ringling Bros. und Barnum & Bailey war vielleicht der amerikanische Zirkus, der am ehesten mit dem Image eines reisenden Zirkuszeltes mit drei Ringen voller exotischer Tiere verbunden war. Im Jahr 2017 schloss das Unternehmen nach einem katastrophalen Versuch mit „Out of This World“, Erzählungen zu integrieren, sowie nach Jahren rückläufiger Besucherzahlen und Protesten von Tierschützern.

„Out of this World“ von Ringling Bros. und Barnum & Bailey Circus in der Oracle Arena in Oakland im Jahr 2016. Das Unternehmen wurde 2017 geschlossen. Foto: Scott Strazzante / Die Chronik 2016

Der amerikanische Zirkus sei einzigartig für seine Wandershows und seinen Ursprung im Spektakel, sagte der Zirkushistoriker Dominique Jando, der im Beirat des Circus Center in San Francisco sitzt und die zirkusgeschichtliche Site Circopedia betreibt. Aber diese ersten amerikanischen Zirkusse waren vom Profit getrieben, nicht von Kunst oder Schönheit, erklärte er.

“Die drei Ringe kamen aus rein wirtschaftlichen Gründen. Um mehr Leute in das Zelt zu stopfen, musste man nur das Zelt vergrößern“, sagte Jando und bemerkte, dass der „Ring“ selbst weiter zurückreicht, auf die Ursprünge des Zirkus in Reitshows; der Ring war für Pferde, um darin herumzulaufen. „Damit jeder etwas sehen kann, haben sich PT Barnum und WC Coup dazu entschieden, die Ringe zu vervielfachen, sodass man überall im Zelt etwas zu sehen hatte.“

Aber all dieses Getümmel hätte es dem Publikum möglicherweise unmöglich gemacht, Zirkus als nuancierte bildende Kunst zu schätzen. In Europa unterstützen einzelne Städte das ganze Jahr über einen oder mehrere Zirkusse, wobei das Programm jeden Monat wechselt. Zirkusartisten gelten dort nicht als Spinner, sondern als angesehene Künstler.

In den USA, stellt Munn reumütig fest, gibt es nicht einmal eine „Zirkus“-Box, um die Anträge auf Stipendien der National Endowment for the Arts zu überprüfen.

Wade Burck und weiße Tiger mit den Ringling Bros. Barnum und Bailey Circus im Oakland Coliseum am 23. August 1984. Foto: Michael Maloney / Die Chronik 1984

Jetzt jedoch, mit so vielen Veränderungen in der Branche, hatte der Zirkus die Chance, sich neu zu definieren und zu erheben, Zirkus-Stereotypen zu verbannen, indem er das tat, was er schon immer getan hat. Und oft haben kleinere Zirkusse wie der von Munn die Nase vorn.

Es gibt den Flynn Creek Circus an der Küste von Mendocino, der mit einem Zelt in ländliche Gebiete reist, das die gesamte Firma vor jedem Auftritt aufstellt. „Fairy Tale“, dessen letzte Aufführung vom 30. September bis 3. Oktober in Boonville stattfindet, richtet sich an Erwachsene, ist aber nicht unbedingt für Kinder ungeeignet.

„Wir haben die Seltsamkeit und Nostalgie eines Zirkus der alten Welt, aber das Material ist sehr neu“, sagte der künstlerische Leiter Blaze Birge.

Vivianne Keene (links) und Eka Malbeouf in Flynn Creek Circus „Märchen“. Foto: Leori Gill / Flynn Creek Circus

„Märchen“ handelt von einem Weber, der ein Märchenland baut, aber ein Loch darin hinterlässt, durch das ein Jüngling fällt. Ein Einhorn, gewebt mit dem letzten Faden des Webers, muss den Tag retten – aber nur mit seinem hinteren Ende. (Es wird von zwei Darstellern gespielt.) Unter der Komödie befindet sich jedoch eine Erkundung des Verlusts der Unschuld.

Auch die geplante Winterproduktion im Circus Center nutze das Märchenformat, um eine erwachsene Geschichte zu erzählen, sagte Felicity Hesed, die neue künstlerische Leiterin des Centers.

“Es wird ‘Alice in Winterland’ sein”, sagte sie. „Alice ist jetzt eine erwachsene Frau mit Kindern und sie fällt zurück ins Wunderland“, wo die anderen beliebten Charaktere der Geschichte ebenfalls ein mittleres Alter erreicht haben.

Im Circus Center proben die Darsteller Isabella Diaz (seitlich an der Stange), Jérémi Levesque (hält Isabellas unteren Fuß) und Kalani June (hält Isabellas oberen Fuß) chinesische Stangen in Erwartung der Weltpremiere von Club Fugazi Experiences’ „Dear San Francisco .“ Foto: Jon Bauer / Club Fugazi Experiences

Als Zeichen dafür, wie eng der Bay Area Circus vernetzt ist, schreiben Carroll und Snider dem Circus Center und seinem emeritierten künstlerischen Leiter, Meistertrainer Lu Yi, der die chinesische Akrobatik in den Vereinigten Staaten eingeführt hat, die Beeinflussung der 7 Finger zu. Der Pickle Family Circus wiederum trug wesentlich dazu bei, Lu Yi in die Staaten zu bringen. Währenddessen debütierten sowohl Carroll als auch Snider als Performer bei den Pickles, und die beiden leiteten die Proben für „Dear San Francisco“ im Circus Center.

Dann gibt es die Vau de Vire Society, die Zirkus, Tanz, Kabarett und Nightlife-Party in Events wie dem begehbaren Edwardian Ball in San Francisco oder der Dinnershow „The Soiled Dove“ in Oakland vereint.

Rebecca Feller (links), Sandia DeLavibora, Stephanie Bailey in „The Soiled Dove“ der Vau de Vire Society. Foto: Daisy Rose Coby / Memento Moda 2018

„Wir machen keine Sit-Down-and-Watch-Shows“, sagte Mike Gaines, Produzent der Vau de Vire Society. “Es ist kein ruhiges, gefangenes Publikum.”

Einige seiner Darsteller könnten einen immersiven Kampf zwischen den Tischen der Gäste inszenieren, zum Beispiel zwischen traditionelleren Luftakten.

Dann gibt es Circus Bella, der dem Zirkus der kollektiven Vorstellungskraft am ehesten ähnelt. In „Humorous“ tragen Clowns übergroße Schuhe. Rutschenpfeifen und Geräuschmacher unter den Instrumenten einer sechsköpfigen Live-Band akzentuieren Stunts. Ein Darsteller, Toni Cannon, wird sogar als „starker Mann“ bezeichnet.

Toni Cannon hebt Calvin Kai Ku während Circus Bellas „Humorous“ im DeFremery Park in Oakland hoch. Foto: Santiago Mejia / Die Chronik

Doch selbst inmitten all dieser erkennbaren Signifikanten hat Circus Bellas neueste kostenlose, kinderfreundliche Outdoor-Show ihre eigenen künstlerischen Akzente, die in den Zirkussen vor einem Jahrhundert unbekannt waren. Musik, komponiert von Rob Reich für die Circus Bella All-Star Band, wird oft jazzig und stimmungsvoll. „Humorous“ enthält auch eine Lesung eines Gedichts des Circus Bella Poet Laureate Elliot Simon.

“Zirkus hat etwas so Unprätentiöses, leicht zugängliches”, sagte Munn und merkte an, dass es keine gemeinsame Sprache oder gemeinsame Kultur erfordert. „Ich liebe verrückte Kostüme und die Magie. Für mich ist das ein Teil dessen, worum es im Zirkus geht – Eskapismus und die Vorstellung, jemand anderes zu sein.“

Sie weist darauf hin, dass bei der „Humorous“-Probe, als der Performer Garrett Allen ein paar Stühle in einen prekären Turm stapelte und auf die Spitze kletterte, „wir alle mit ihm da oben waren“.

Garret Allen stapelt Stühle und klettert auf sie während Circus Bellas „Humorous“. Foto: Santiago Mejia / Die Chronik

Dennoch hat der traditionelle Zirkus eine dunkle Seite – die Ausbeutung von Tieren, die Exotisierung sogenannter Freaks. Bill Irwin, ein gefeierter Performer im Pickle Family Circus in San Francisco, erinnert sich daran, wie die Veteranen der Branche ihre Kunstform beschrieben haben, als er in den 1970er Jahren das Ringling Bros. und das Barnum & Bailey Clown College besuchte. „Zirkus ist zweierlei: Es sind Tiere für die Kinder und eine sexy Show für die Erwachsenen.“

Katherine Hutchinson, der neue künstlerische Leiter des Kinetic Arts Center in Oakland, beschreibt die historisch begrenzten Ansichten der Zirkusproduzenten darüber, was ihre Shows sein müssen: „Das Publikum will hübsche, dünne, weiße Damen sehen, die Spagat in der Luft machen.“

Katherine Hutchinson in „Corps de Ballet“. Foto: Leah Marie / Elle Aime Photography

Im Kinetic Arts Center, das in erster Linie eine Schule ist, aber auch Künstlerresidenz-Shows präsentiert, hofft Hutchinson, einen Zirkus zu schaffen, bei dem es nicht darum geht, Fremdheit oder Schönheit zu objektivieren.

„Seltsamkeit um der Fremdheit willen ist etwas anderes, als menschliche Eigenschaften zu betrachten und sich von dem inspirieren zu lassen, was ein Mensch tun kann“, sagte sie.

Sie ist besonders daran interessiert, Zirkus zu nutzen, um Charakter, Emotionen und Geschichten zu entwickeln. In einem ihrer eigenen Stücke, „Corps de Ballet“, ging es um „Wie Ballett mein Körperbild beeinflusst hat und Zirkus mir geholfen hat, mich zu erholen.“

Ein weiteres verräterisches Zeichen für den Wandel der Zirkusbranche war die Gründung der American Circus Alliance im März 2020. Mitbegründer Serenity Smith Forchion aus Vermont glaubt, dass diese neue Gruppe der erste landesweite Zirkusverband ist (obwohl es frühere Versuche gegeben hat). Zu seinen Prioritäten zählen Munns und Hutchinsons Knackpunkte, wie das Befürworten des Zirkus als Kunstform und die Einführung von Diversität, Gerechtigkeit und Inklusion.

„Die Leute schreiben auch heute noch Sinfonien. Die Leute schreiben auch heute noch Opern“, bemerkte Munn. „Wir stehen immer noch in dieser Zirkustradition. Können wir diese Nostalgie für die Vergangenheit einbringen und sie heute relevant machen? Können wir die Essenz und die guten Teile nehmen?“

Abigail Munn moderiert Circus Bellas „Humorous“ im DeFremery Park. Foto: Santiago Mejia / Die Chronik

„Liebes San Francisco: Eine hochfliegende Liebesgeschichte“: Erstellt von Shana Carroll und Gypsy Snider. Vorschauen bis 10. Oktober. $25-$39; $35-$89 ab 13. Oktober. Club Fugazi, 678 Green St., SF 415-273-0600. www.clubfugazisf.com

“Märchen”: Erstellt und inszeniert von Blaze Birge. Donnerstag-Sonntag, 30. September-Okt. 3. Pakete beginnen bei $76 für zwei Personen. Anderson Valley Brewing Company, 17700 Boonville Road, Boonville. 707-684-9389. www.flynncreekcircus.com

“Humorvoll”: Regie: Abigail Munn. 14.00 Uhr Sonntag, 3. Okt. Kostenlos. Heron’s Head Park, Jennings Street am Cargo Way, SF 415-480-4239. www.circusbella.org

• Lily Janiak
  Lily Janiak ist die Theaterkritikerin des San Francisco Chronicle. E-Mail: ljaniak@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @LilyJaniak

The post New present ‘Expensive San Francisco’ opens at a turning level for circus as artwork kind appeared first on Los Gatos News And Events.

A new hotel is arriving at Oyster Point in South San Francisco, with the city agreeing last week to sell 4.7 acres of land on the Bayfront to a developer for the project.

Ensemble Investments LLC will raise $ 1 million for its own property at 367 Marina Blvd. pay, with plans to build a 12-story hotel with 350 rooms. The project is now beginning the entitlement process, which will see concrete plans for the hotel approved, and construction is expected to begin in 2024 and be completed in 2027.

“The community benefits that come into our city, the tax dollars that flow into our school district, are beneficial and transforming us in South San Francisco,” said Vice Mayor Mark Nagales. “I’m looking forward to the day when we can cut the ribbon.”

The hotel is expected to bring $ 194.1 million in taxes and fees to the city budget, $ 27.6 million to the city’s school district, and $ 12.5 million to the county over the first 25 years. The income is largely due to the city’s temporary occupancy, which takes 14% of the rent for space.

The site planned for the hotel is a topped landfill that was closed in the 1970s and approved for development in 2011 as part of a comprehensive plan for the area to be spread across 10 buildings.

“It was a dirty landfill and we are currently looking into a planned project to significantly transform this site,” said Ernesto Lucero, the city’s economic development coordinator.

Given the “existence and production of methane, other landfill gases and other volatile organic compounds,” as described in the purchase agreement, the land was valued by the city at -33 million US dollars. In return, the city commits to a 50% discount on the TOT for the first 15 years, effectively reducing the hotel’s taxes by $ 44.5 million for that period.

The project has been in progress since at least 2018, when the city agreed to work exclusively with the developer. Several delays, attributable to the site’s environmental challenges, have pushed the project well beyond the original estimates of a groundbreaking ceremony in 2019.

“We are at the right time and this is indeed the right place,” said Councilor Eddie Flores. “This is indeed an important project for South San Francisco and an important opportunity for our region as well.”

Councilor James Coleman agreed, pointing out the benefits the hotel will bring to the area, including a lobby, grand ballroom, conference room, restaurant and rooftop lounge that will be open to the public.

“I’m excited to see that there will be amenities that will benefit the public and, for many of the people who enjoy the Bay Trail, maybe a destination to stop at during their walk,” said Coleman.

The works also include improvements to part of the Bay Trail, and the hotel grounds could eventually be connected to the adjacent ferry terminal as part of a future Oyster Point transit hub.

“We are very pleased that you have accepted us,” says Michael Moskowitz, Managing Director of Ensemble Investments. “More importantly, we are committed to delivering something great to the city.”

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