The possibility that “Star Wars” creator George Lucas will try to bring his museum of Hollywood memorabilia and illustrative art to Treasure Island highlights what is going to be one of the biggest transformations San Francisco has seen in decades — the building of a high-rise neighborhood right in the middle of the bay.

Under a deal worked out between San Francisco and developers Wilson Meany and the Lennar Corp., some 8,000 housing units, two hotels and 550,000 square feet of commercial space will be going up on the former naval base. There will also be 300 acres of parkland.

One of the hotels, a project that will also include condominiums, could go as high as 45 stories. Many of the housing units and offices will be in a dozen or so buildings that go as high as 35 stories.

“It is absolutely happening,” said Kofi Bonner, regional head of Lennar Corp. “We will be spending about $100 million on it over the next couple of years.”

The first part of the project is already under way on Yerba Buena Island, where prep work has begun to build 250 two- and three-bedroom homes facing San Francisco.

Then, starting in July, the big build on Treasure Island begins. The high-rises will be going up near the Bay Bridge, which is one of the more solid sections of the man-made island. Still, the developers will have to build up the island with tons of dirt.

Eventually, by 2030 or so, 25,000 people could make their home on the island, compared with the 1,800 who live there now in former military housing.

The idea is that a Lucas museum could be a magnet for the area, the way AT&T Park drew businesses and residents to China Basin more than a decade ago. It might also help with traffic, because ferries to the museum could also be used by residents.

A ferry terminal is already planned for the west side of the island, and boats could be docking by 2021.

If Lucas were to open his museum across from the planned ferry terminal within five years, however, service could ramp up much sooner.

Lest you think this is all a “Star Wars”-like fantasy, consider that Supervisor Aaron Peskin — a critic of past Treasure Island development plans — will sit down with Lucas’ team this week to start talks in earnest.

Mayor Ed Lee, needing cover with progressives on any big development deal, is happy to let him take the lead.

Where’s the force? Marc Benioff, the Salesforce boss well known for his philanthropy in the Bay Area, took a swipe at George Lucas the other day — tweeting out “no way” to a Treasure Island museum unless he “does something for SF Schools, Hospitals, & Homeless.”

The tweet got the attention of Lucas and his wife, TV financial analyst Mellody Hobson. She phoned Benioff on Tuesday to discuss his concerns.

“Look, I support the museum,” Benioff told us. “But I just would like to see that if we do deals like the museum, we do deals that support our kids.”

He added, “There is a lot of money flowing through San Francisco today, and it would be nice if we saw a percentage of that go into the safety net.”

Benioff’s stand is interesting, considering he was among a host of heavyweights who signed a letter a couple of years back urging the Presidio Trust to allow Lucas to build his museum near Crissy Field.

And in fact, Lucas has done his own share of charitable giving — most notably, pledging in 2012 to donate to educational charities the majority of the $4 billion he made from selling Lucasfilm.

Also, the $700 million or so that Lucas is committing to his new museum includes a major educational component, teaching kids about digital arts.

As for whether Benioff got any clues from Hobson about how serious Lucas is about abandoning his stalled plan for a museum in Chicago in favor of Treasure Island?

“They want to get their museum built for sure — and I think they are at a point where they will take it wherever they can get it,” Benioff said.

Chiang in: Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom has some competition in the 2018 race for governor. With little fanfare, state Treasurer John Chiang took out papers Monday to begin raising money for the race as well.

The son of immigrants from Taiwan, Chiang is about as opposite in style as you can get from Newsom, with his history of taking showy stands on cutting-edge issues like same-sex marriage and legalized recreational marijuana.

“Gavin is a terrific orator, but I think people want a leader who is going to solve problems,” Chiang said.

And as a tax law specialist who worked as an attorney for then-state Controller Gray Davis and served on the state Board of Equalization before being elected controller himself, Chiang thinks he fits the bill.

On a quick check of issues, Chiang said he supports extending the tax-the-rich part of Proposition 30, backs high-speed rail “if we can find private financing for it,” and wants more information before taking a stand on legalized weed.

Definitely not showy.

San Francisco Chronicle columnists Phillip Matier and Andrew Ross appear Sundays, Mondays and Wednesdays. Matier can be seen on the KPIX TV morning and evening news. He can also be heard on KCBS radio Monday through Friday at 7:50 a.m. and 5:50 p.m. Got a tip? Call (415) 777-8815, or email matierandross@sfchronicle.com. Twitter: matierandross