Although the Port is integral to the history and identity of San Francisco, the City has grown apart from its waterfront despite expanding towards it. This is mainly due to the Port’s almost singular function as a place of industry within a de-industrializing environment. Having reached its height of maritime activity during World War II, the need for the Port’s facilities have been in decline as bridges had been built, technological innovations made in the shipping industry, in addition to, struggling with competition both neighboring and foreign.
Meanwhile, the Port of San Francisco is expected to contribute to city and state-wide interests without financial assistance from either as a public agency responsible for maintaining its own 7 1/2 miles of shoreline. Interests of which often conflict with the ability to improve the situation from decline. Furthermore, previous attempts to develop and reunite with the City have proven ineffective and resulted in even more set backs. Thus, we have arrived at the current Waterfront Land Use Plan adopted in order re-strategize its use and functions; in hopes to “alter the course of history at the Port.”
For my project I plan to create a kit for navigating through the Port’s past attempts at gentrification towards the future. The kit will be complete with an abridged copy of the current Plan, a sort of old Sanborn map that will layer the past plans of redevelopment, a log book detailing these past plans, along with, a few tools for recording and mapmaking reminiscent in aesthetic to maritime navigational devices.
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| Images of old Sanborn Maps |
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| Maritime logbook and navigational devices |
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