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Possibly the largest privately held undeveloped land site fronting the San Francisco Bay, the 15-acre India Basin Shoreline parcel outlined in red above and known as 700 Innes Avenue is slated to hit the courthouse steps in San Francisco tomorrow having failed to sell under the supervision of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court with over $26 million owed.

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Located on the eastern edge of Bayview Hunters Point at the base of Hunters Point Hill, plans to redevelop the India Basin Shoreline have been in the works for well over a decade with a concept plan for the area first published back in 2002:

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While much of the area is currently zoned for industrial uses, Planning’s vision for the area includes mixed-use development along Innes Avenue with half the 700 Innes Avenue parcel at the center of the new neighborhood with recreational uses and residences over retail and the other half of the parcel a mixed-use village with residential, office and retail.

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As currently drafted to be rezoned, up to 800 new homes could be built on the 700 Innes Avenue parcel in addition to retail, office, arts, light industrial and recreation space.

27 thoughts on “15 Acres Of San Francisco Bay Front Property Up For Grabs”
  1. On your way to the courthouse, remember to stop by the site with a geiger counter.

  2. And there it is, my favorite street name in the city : Arelious Walker St.
    Fun fact : There’s a street grid complete with 25×100′ parcels under that shallow water where the radioactive mud that FDotN cautions about lies. I wonder whether any private parties still own (and pay taxes) on those literally underwater properties.
    I had no idea that a single owner controlled this area. Hopefully the bankruptcy will get this derelict property back in action.

  3. The new owners of the lovely, quirky Albion Castle (881 Innes Ave) can now buy their entire line of sight to the Bay.

  4. Unless I’m misinformed the radioactive problem was limited to the Navy Base (specifically parcels toward Yosemite Slough), and those parcels are going to be remediated/capped and never built on.
    This site has always been an odd one…laid out with roads, with the intention of being an industrial park, ages ago. Not sure when, but I first started going down there in the mid 90’s. There has never been any activity beyond some short term storage as far as I know. It’s a very cool site that could really be something. As the Navy Yard finally gets going, and as Hunters View gets redeveloped (part way there already) this property is going to be much more interesting.
    BTW, I know people love to dis Bayview Hunters Point (and for many valid reasons) but if you haven’t been to Herons Head Point park, it’s well worth a visit.

  5. curmudgeon – I saw “danger – radioactivity” signs along a chain link fence on the north side of Donahue street facing India Basin and this parcel a few years ago. The last time I was there (about four months ago) those signs were gone. Hopefully this means that the contamination has been remediated. But it also might simply mean that the signs were removed.

  6. radiation? what about all the naturally occurring asbestos in the exposed bedrock in the area and the above background levels in ambient air?
    +1 for Heron’s Head Park. Great views of the bay from there, but windy.

  7. W H A T E V ‘S W E D O . . . . Let’s make sure to add an overpriced helicopter-gov parking regime to discourage driving. Because for godssake everyone knows India Basin is a cyclists dream destination!

  8. Anon…
    Someone already thought of high rises.
    From 2004 – Construction of a mixed-use project: 1,611 dwelling units; appx. 155,332 gsf retail use; 50,000 gsf office use; 5,000 gsf PDR use; and 2,958 parking spaces. Project would require zoning change and lot split/subdvision.
    This proposal went over like a lead balloon. It got a lot of press at the time, most of it pretty bad. It was certainly too early for the neighborhood. The PG&E power plant was still in operation and Hunters Point Shipyard, well, where was that project ten years ago.
    The area is pretty interesting though. The large industrial park has lots of fill. The area is platted with paper streets. What isn’t so obvious though, is the paper streets extend into the Basin itself, as do many of the lots. The area was originally part of the tidelands survey that dates to 1860 or thereabouts. Portions of the bay were platted, and the individual lots were sold, with the expectation that the submerged land would be filled and the lots would become buildable. Other parts of the city, such as North Beach and Mission Bay, have similar histories, except they actually did get filled in. Most of these submerged lots have been in private ownership since the 1860s. I interviewed a number of the owners beginning in about 1990 and continuing periodically to 3-4 year ago. Taxes have been paid on the lots, which mostly measure 25×100, since they were created. Many owners acquired title by inheritance. And since they keep paying taxes, it seems they perceive some value. In fact, the city began buying up water lots in India Basin in the late-1980s or thereabouts, in order to clear title for the park it was planning at the time.

    1. I just happened to find this thread while doing some research on the India Basin underwater lots. In fact my family owns several of them, under precisely the circumstances described so well by Schaetzer. Trying to figure out what we can possibly do with them now. Hold on another 100 years? Would rather sell them to the city …

  9. I had always believed that parcel was port of SF property or was part of the development area for the Hunters Point Shipyard, but I would hope a transfer of the property and zoning change could mean great things for this parcel to come. My understanding as well was that the radiation was contained to the parcels near Yosemite Slough where the weapons development buildings are. I am not sure high rises would be ideal for this sight if only because i am not sure planning would allow for such tall buildings to impeded to view of future development up on the hill with the phased removal of more of the public housing. However up to 8 stories would still provide amazing views from the San Mateo Bridge across to Downtown on the waterside.

  10. I was just around there last night! Great views from the Russian banya on Innes Ave…which I guess are now subject to whatever the owner of this parcel may plan :-(. I’m not an ecologist but wouldn’t there be a benefit to making PART of this area a wetland/park? A nice, natural waterfront could make adjacent development more appealing.

  11. Jenofla
    Definitely great views from the Banya decks and roof and i think it as a wetlands might be a great addition, but not sure a private owner would do that and since the City is just passing parcels off to developers (Shipyards, Treasure Island). At this point I am guessing this land whoever owns it may spend a few years working up several development plans while wait to see how quickly the HopeSF redevelopment goes as well as to see Lennar’s timeline for beginning to build upon the first parcel.

  12. Postponed to 05/17/2013 @ 02:00 PM per Beneficiary Request
    Estimated Debt: $26,053,793.93
    Property Address: 700 Innes & Finch Street

  13. Status: Postponed to 05/31/2013 @ 02:00 PM per Beneficiary Request
    Estimated Debt: $26,053,793.93

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