(BLACK PR WIRE) SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 20, 2007--In BW6085 issued Nov. 20, 2007: Contact organization should read: Bayview Jobs, Parks and Housing Initiative (sted African American Community Revitalization Consortium).


COMMUNITY COALITION FILES "BAYVIEW JOBS, PARKS AND HOUSING INITIATIVE"

Plan to Revitalize Candlestick Point and Hunters Point Shipyard

A community coalition of residents, neighborhood leaders and local businesses is filing today ballot language for the June 2008 California primary election, seeking city voter approval for the redevelopment of Candlestick Point and the Hunters Point Shipyard in a bid to bring jobs, new housing and opportunity to southeast San Francisco.

"This measure is not only important to the people of District 10 but to the entire city by bringing jobs, much-needed affordable housing and over 350 acres of new parks and open space for San Francisco," said Supervisor Sophie Maxwell.

The ballot initiative is backed by the African American Community Revitalization Consortium, a group of area churches, organizations, residents and local merchants who are working to improve Bayview-Hunters Point.

"Our community and our neighborhoods have waited far too long for the same benefits and opportunities that many other San Franciscans enjoy," said Rev. Arelious Walker of the True Hope Church of God in Christ in Hunters Point. "This is a chance for all of us to move forward together. It is truly an exciting and hopeful time."

The project would include between 8,000 and 10,000 homes, 350 acres of parks and open space, a "clean tech" business campus, improved transit routes, and a shoreline trail. The Alice B. Griffith (Double Rock) public housing project would be completely rebuilt without dislocating any residents.

The ballot measure repeals 1997's Propositions D and F which had authorized up to $100 million in publicly financed bonds for a new football stadium for the San Francisco 49ers. Under the plan envisioned in the measure, Lennar Urban would provide a site for a new stadium for the Niners at the Hunters Point Shipyard without any impact on the City of San Francisco's general fund.

"This is a great chance to improve quality of life for Bayview-Hunters Point residents," said Robert Simms, a local business owner and signed proponent of the ballot measure. "This plan will be developed with significant input from our community and we are eager to move forward with it."

"This is a pivotal moment in the history of this community and for the city of San Francisco as a whole," said Lola Whittle, director of the Bayview Business Resource Center and a signed proponent of the measure. "I am excited to be participating in this initiative."

Once City Attorney Dennis Herrera's office has approved the ballot language, it will be circulated later this month for signatures to qualify for the June election.