The 8 Washington Street Condominium Project does not belong at the proposed site. Listed below are the major reasons.

Please write to the Board of Supervisors and ask them to scrutinize the developer's plans before they vote.

1. Zoning - The 8 Washington project will be 80 feet higher than the old Embarcadero Freeway. The developer seeks the first height increase on the northern waterfront in almost 50 years in order to build condominiums that will cost $2.5 to $7.5 million.

2. Transit First Policy - The proposed project violates San Francisco's Transit First Policy by including a 400 car garage. The area is well served by public transit and existing parking garages. Virtually every garage and parking lot is empty outside of business hours.



3. City Subsidy - The Port proposes transferring $24 million in future city property tax payments from this site to the Port to pay for Port projects and to refund $5 million to the 8 Washington developer. This money could support many of the vital services that the city is reducing. The city will be subsidizing multi-million dollar condominiums at the expense of its middle class citizens.



4. Open Recreational Space - The proposed condominium project will destroy the Golden Gateway Tennis and Swim Club. The club will be replaced by a much smaller club with reduced facilities and, most likely, higher membership fees. The club has served middle-income families, seniors, and renters from across the city for over 40 years. The club is open to all. It is not an invitation only club.

5. Alternative Plan - We support a more comprehensive approach to developing all of the Port's remaining Seawall Lots, including 8 Washington, that would generate more revenue and jobs for the City, preserve the community's active recreation center, and create better connections between the waterfront and downtown neighborhoods such as Chinatown and North Beach.

6. The California Teachers Retirement System has invested $25 million into this project. Why are they not investing in affordable housing for teachers? Most teachers cannot afford to live in San Francisco.