Home > News > Pelosi, Newsom and Navy Complete First Major Transfer of Hunters Point Shipyard to San Francisco
Pelosi, Newsom and Navy Complete First Major Transfer of Hunters Point Shipyard to San Francisco
San Francisco -- At an event at Hunters Point Naval Shipyard Wednesday morning, House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi, Mayor Gavin Newsom, Supervisor Sophie Maxwell, and Navy Assistant Secretary Wayne Arny completed the title transfer to the first 75-acres of the Navy Shipyard to San Francisco.
House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi joins Supervisor Sophie Maxwell and other San Francisco community leaders to celebrate the transfer of Parcel A of the Hunters Point Shipyard to San Francisco. Sign up for email updates to learn more about Rep. Pelosi's work in Congress.
"The transfer of this land brings us closer to realizing long-held dreams for the Bayview Hunters Point Community – dreams of jobs and economic development; a safe, healthy environment with recreation areas for children; and affordable housing and a renewed sense of community," Pelosi said. "I thank Mayor Newsom for picking up where his predecessors left off and making the transfer a priority of his Administration, Senators Feinstein and Boxer for their years of work on the transfer, and my friend and colleague Congressman Murtha for helping us finalize the details of the transfer with the Navy."
In 1989, Pelosi won congressional approval for the Navy to "develop a master plan for future use" of the Shipyard. Then in 1990, Congress passed the "Pelosi Amendment" which authorized the transfer of the Shipyard to the city. Over the years Pelosi has secured more than $260 million in federal funding for environmental cleanup and infrastructure improvements for Hunters Point. The transfer was made possible by the Conveyance Agreement Pelosi helped negotiate and that the Navy entered into in March 2004 and was approved by the San Francisco Redevelopment Agency in April.
"The people of Bayview Hunters Point know better than anyone the potential of this land, and their contributions will help ensure a brighter future for the Shipyard today and for future generations," Pelosi said. "I would like to commend the Mayor's Citizens Advisory Committee members who have volunteered so many hours to ensure the people of the Hunters Point Community are represented in the process."
Pelosi has worked to minimize disruption to Shipyard tenants, particularly artists; to include a local hiring preference to provide opportunities for environmental restoration and construction contracts for residents of the Bayview Hunters Point community; and to establish continuing responsibility for environmental remediation with the Department of Defense.
"The Hunters Point community and the Shipyard arts community are very much aware and appreciative of Congresswoman Pelosi's efforts over these many years," Scott Madison, Chair of the Mayor's Hunters Point Shipyard Citizens Advisory Committee, said. "This agreement would not have happened were it not for Congresswoman Pelosi’s tenacity and hard work."
"For more than 15 years, we worked to transfer a safe and clean parcel of land to the community," Pelosi said. "As we continue to work to make the shipyard a place of promise, my top priority will remain ensuring the protection of the health and environment of the Bayview Hunters Point community."
Hunters Point Naval Shipyard Conversion Timeline
1974: Navy orders closure of Shipyard operations at Hunters Point. Approximately 3,000 workers are laid-off.
1989: Pelosi secures report language in the 1990 Defense Authorization Act urging the Navy to "develop a master plan for future use" of the Shipyard and present a management plan by March 1990.
1990: Hunters Point Shipyard is selected for transfer in the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Act of 1990.
1990: Pelosi adds amendment to the Defense Authorization Act instructing the Navy to enter into a lease for Hunters Point Shipyard to the City of San Francisco. The Navy is instructed to minimize disruption and displacement of tenants, particularly the artists’ community.
1991: Base Closure and Realignment Commission recommends closure of Hunters Point and instructs Navy to dispose of entire property to the City, pursuant to the Pelosi Amendment.
1992: Pelosi succeeds in including "petroleum products" in liability protection under Superfund for local entities inheriting contaminated base closure sites and in establishing continuing responsibility for clean up with the Department of Defense.
1993: Pelosi leads the negotiations on "new principles" for the agreement calling for City ownership of clean Shipyard property.
1994: Memorandum of Understanding is signed by the Navy and the City governing the terms of the transfer of the Shipyard to the City. Under the MOU, the City was granted title, for $1.00, to 50 acres of clean property in the first transfer to be conducted. Pelosi includes a provision on local hiring preference at base closures to provide opportunities for environmental restoration and construction contracts.
1995: The Navy, in agreement with the City, begins drafting a Master Lease with option to purchase for the remainder of the property.
1996: Pelosi requests information from the Department of the Navy on the status and costs for clean up of the Shipyard.
1999: Pelosi includes report language in Military Construction Appropriations requiring a report from the Navy concerning the status of the environmental clean-up effort.
1999: Pelosi sends a letter to the Office of Management and Budget supporting Mayor Willie Brown’s request for $250 million for clean up and list of questions for Navy to consider in their report to the Committee.
2000: Pelosi requests meeting with Navy to discuss issues related to funding, timing and standards for environmental clean up.
2000: Memorandum of Agreement is signed by the City and the Navy that calls for the cleanup of the 520-acre Hunters Point Naval Shipyard at levels that will allow the full implementation of the community’s reuse plan.
2000: The House Appropriations Committee, acting on the request of Pelosi, directed the Navy to "take all necessary steps" – including funding – to clean up the Shipyard site. Saying it was "seriously concerned" over the lack of progress, the Committee voted to direct the Navy to "ensure the timely remediation of hazardous materials on these parcels to a level that permits the full range of uses designated in the City’s adopted redevelopment plan."
2001: Pelosi, Senators Boxer and Feinstein write to the Secretary of the Navy expressing concern about historical documents regarding past radiological research activities at the base, and to urging a thorough and immediate review of all such documents.
2001: Pelosi, Boxer, Feinstein call on the Navy to clean up the Shipyard, and raise questions about the adequacy of the Navy and the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) environmental assessment.
2002: Pelosi, Boxer, Feinstein hosts ceremony to sign an agreement between the City of San Francisco and the Navy on the cleanup and conveyance of Hunters Point Shipyard in San Francisco. The agreement was signed by Mayor Willie L. Brown and Navy Secretary Gordon England.
Nov 2002: Navy Assistant Secretary HT Johnson sends letter to Mayor Brown, stating that "Navy and City staff have reached final agreement on the terms and conditions for the conveyance of Hunters Point Shipyard to the City in the attached Conveyance Agreement."
March 2003: Following a four-month public review process, the Citizen’s Advisory Committee for the Shipyard unanimously endorses the version of Conveyance Agreement attached to HT Johnson’s November 26 2002 letter. The Conveyance Agreement was scheduled to go before the San Francisco Redevelopment Agency Commission in April, the only necessary City approval to make the agreement legally binding.
March 2003: At a Senate Military Construction Appropriations Subcommittee hearing, Deputy Undersecretary of the Navy Wayne Arny indicates that the Navy will sign the Conveyance agreement in 1-2 months, but that the Navy would like the City to consider taking over protection and maintenance services at the Shipyard under a Cooperative Agreement.
April 2003: The Navy continues to advocate for the City to take over fire services. As a compromise, the City offers a proposal that would completely relieve the Navy of any obligation to provide fire services at the Shipyard in the event that (1) it can no longer feasibly maintain current staffing levels and (2) the City fails to approve a Cooperative Agreement for fire services 90 days thereafter. A written proposal on these terms is provided to the Navy on April 28. The proposal also states that the City will negotiate in good faith to reach mutual agreement on a Cooperative Agreement for police services, following approval of the Conveyance Agreement.
April 2003: Pelosi sends a letter urging that that Navy not delay approval of the Conveyance Agreement while a fire services contract is negotiated.
May 2003: HT Johnson responds to Pelosi’s letter stating that the Navy is requesting that the City enter into a Cooperative Agreement for police and fire services prior to the execution of the Conveyance Agreement.
June-Oct 2003: At the Navy's request, City and Navy negotiate terms of Cooperative Agreement regarding police and fire. That document is substantially complete, but for resolution of a few relatively minor technical and financial issues.
Summer 2003: City and Navy negotiate exhibits to Conveyance Agreement. These exhibits are substantially complete, but for resolution of a few relatively minor technical issues.
March 2004: Pelosi convenes a meeting with H.T. Johnson, Newsom, Boxer, House Defense Appropriations Subcommittee Ranking Member Jack Murtha, and Feinstein staffer to discuss disagreements in negotiations and move toward signing of the agreement. Lawyers for the Navy and the City are tasked with working out remaining language issues.
March 2004: A final agreement is reached between the Navy and the City on the Conveyance Agreement. With Pelosi and Murtha present, H.T. Johnson signs the agreement, which is then sent to San Francisco for approval by the Redevelopment Agency.
April 2004: The San Francisco Redevelopment Agency approves unanimously the Conveyance Agreement. The transfer of the property is expected to begin with the transfer of Parcel A sometime late in 2004.
Dec 2004: The San Francisco Redevelopment Agency approves the transfer of Parcel A and the San Francisco Board of Supervisors agrees to amendments to city ordinances to begin construction on Parcel A in March 2005.
Jan 2005: Pelosi, Newsom and community members celebrate the transfer of Parcel A to the City of San Francisco.
