by Ken Gimblin

SAN FRANCISCO–Former San Francisco Mayor Art Agnos makes no bones about it that the motivation behind the Golden State Warriors move to piers 30-32 in the City is all about a real estate grab along the Embarcadero. Agnos said this is not about the Warriors or a sports arena but land development meant to be real estate profit.

Agnos who this month campaigned against the 8 Washington a waterfront condo project that would have been set for development near piers 30-32 and what would have led to the arena development. Agnos said that the city voters saw right through the project idea as a real estate grab and environmental groups were on board with Agnos in the defeat of city propositions B and C.

Former San Francisco supervisor Aaron Peskin stated that with the measures going to defeat any future proposal to build at the waterfront for condos or the new arena for that matter would be a uphill battle. City government played a big role behind the propositions on the ballot possible but Peskin said this last election will slow down the Warriors move to the piers quite considerably, “this is not the end and it feels like a movement” said Peskin.

Agnos pointed out that the propositions lost by wide margins for prop B it lost by 25 points and for prop C it lost by 33 points. Former San Francisco City Attorney Louise Renne said the project was irresponsible and Renne spoke to the no on B and C supporters on election night telling them the fight is not over as the Warriors and San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee’s office is gearing up to get the Warriors new arena on the San Francisco ballot calling the San Francisco planning commission who was behind props B and C, “utterly disgraceful” and “get your rest more to come San Francisco, San Francisco this is a victory for you, and to all those developers out there do not mess with our waterfront were not going to stand for it” said Renne.

Warriors Spokeman Nathan Ballard said the height of the new arena was addressed and the arena size adjustments should bring closure to questions with environmentalists and opponents being concerned about any views being blocked, “we’ve slimmed down the arena to make room for enough public open space to fit three Union Squares”. Design 0.3 as the Warriors have named the latest design has slimmed off the sides and the height of the arena.

Critics say despite the third design adjustment by the Warriors the neighborhood and voters won’t support development at the waterfront. Agnos says it’s just a gesture that really has no one fooled and that it still is a real estate grab and that the waterfront and Embarcadero neighborhoods stands together that no one will build and take away the view of the bridge and the bay from the neighborhood, “it sounds like window dressing, the bottom line is this is a mega real estate project.”

Adding to the arena project there is a $1 billion 105 room two hotel building project on the drawing board, a 175 foot condominium tower, 120,000 feet of retail to be built with the new arena at piers 30-32. The site is owned by the city and there is no changes in development other than some trimming of the Warriors new arena in height and circumference. The parking lot is called the Seawall Lot 330 at piers 30-32 nearby Red’s Java House Restaurant.

Ken Gimblin is covering the NBA for Sportstalk Radio