The delay in solidifying the financial terms for the Warriors' proposed $1B waterfront arena project in S.F. is "largely because the team is revamping the design for the site," according to a team source cited by John Cote of the S.F. CHRONICLE. A source said that the primary issue with the site's redesign is "the plan to have a backup cruise ship berth on the eastern side of Piers 30-32, one of the few remaining deep water sites along the city’s waterfront." Another source added that having that as an option is "important not only to maritime unions like the International Longshore and Warehouse Union ... but also to officials on the State Lands Commission, which will look closely at whether the arena project includes a maritime use and is compatible with the public trust doctrine by enhancing public access." Officials from the Warriors and S.F. "had been contemplating for months the option of a backup cruise ship dock for day use." The problem is the initial location of the arena, "basically angled into the southeast corner of the 13-acre pier, with part of the arena jutting out over the eastern edge, doesn’t have enough room to berth a cruise ship there." The design team "is now looking at moving the arena away from the eastern edge of the pier." But to preserve the team’s commitment to having at least 50% of the site as public open space, "that would mean shrinking or reworking something else, like the planned 105,000 square feet of retail space." That "could impact the bottom line" (SFGATE.com, 2/13).
