For the city of San Francisco, Treasure Island is a cautionary tale. It asks the question: Just because we can build something, should we?
The only treasure left on this island is the lesson it teaches us about hubris, climate reality, and the high cost of building paradise on borrowed land. Are you planning to move to Treasure Island, or are you a former resident with a story to share? Contact our editorial team at [email protected].
The current $5 billion redevelopment plan calls for raising the entire island by 3 to 7 feet using compacted fill. Critics have slammed the plan as a "leaky band-aid." Sea-level rise experts argue that by the time the last condo is sold in 2035, the data will already be outdated. slammed treasure island
One thing is certain. As the bay waters climb and the next earthquake rumbles beneath the Pacific Plate, the world will be watching. Whether it sinks or swims, —by the tide, by the earth, and by the court of public opinion.
That military legacy left a curse. When the Navy departed in the 1990s, they left behind a Superfund site: radiological contamination, lead paint, asbestos, and barrels of unknown chemicals buried in the sandy soil. For decades, the island sat in limbo—affordable housing for the working class, but a poisoned chalice for developers. For the city of San Francisco, Treasure Island
"You are erasing a community and replacing it with a playground for the rich," activist Maria Santos shouted at a 2023 planning commission meeting. "Don't try to pretend this is public good." In the face of being slammed, the development team (led by One Treasure Island, a partnership of Stockbridge and Wilson Meany) fights back. They argue that Treasure Island will be the "greenest neighborhood in the world."
For potential buyers, the gamble is immense. Will this be a brilliant investment in a rising waterfront, or a financial tomb when the sea rises? Are you planning to move to Treasure Island,
By J. Parker, Senior Environmental Correspondent
Your guide to everything NauticStar – all in one place.
We use cookies and similar technologies to recognize your repeat visits and preferences as well as to measure the effectiveness of campaigns and analyze traffic. To learn more about cookies, you can view our privacy policy. By clicking Accept or X on this banner, or using our site, you consent to the use of cookies unless you have disabled them.
