Save the Bluepeter Building from Demolition!
Constructed of heavy timber with truss roof and exposed vaulted ceiling, this two-story industrial modern building at 555 Illinois St. was built by the Martinolich Company for WWII contract ship repair. When built, it had direct access to the bay; access was later lost in one of the last bay filling operations. Leased by CJ Hendry Company, a ships chandlery business started in 1890 at Sacramento and Market Sts., the building was used for warehousing the company's aircraft parts from 1947-1961. Around 1955 the rear of the building was notched out to preserve the building and to accommodate the newly constructed bay side street now known as Terry Francois Blvd. The second floor was occupied by Jotz Sailmaking during the 1970's. The Bluepeter Company, by which name the buidling is now known, was an exhibit design company which leased the building in the late 1970's-late 1980's.
Latest News and Information:
Future Looking Brighter for the Blupeter Building
Another milestone was reached when, on March 9, 2010, the San Francisco Port Commission passed a Resolution allowing the design/build of the Bay Front Parks in Mission Bay to move forward. Included in the resolution are two alternative designs for P24, one of which includes the Bluepeter building. The Friends of Bluepeter now has until March 1, 2011 to secure funding to stabilize the building (approx. $300,000) until it can be revitalized, and to secure a viable developer partner who can rehab and re-purpose the building for a public serving capacity, likely to include a restaurant.
Friends of Bluepeter thanks the large community of Bluepeter fans for their support and letters over the past two years which helped show that the Bluepeter is worthy of rehabilitation.
For more information see below, San Francisco Port Commission Hearing Minutes (pdf - scroll to pg 33), and pdf of Attachment 10-Conditions of Retention of Bluepeter.
A milestone reached! On February 16, 2010, the San Francisco Redevelopment Agency Commission passed a Resolution giving the Friends of Bluepeter one year to secure funding for stabilization of the building and to secure a development partner willing and able to bring the Bluepeter back to life as a public-serving entity. Thank you for your letters of support!
- Resolution of San Francisco Port Commission (March 9, 2010)
- San Francisco Heritage Newsletter Article, Spring 2010 (pdf - scroll to page 7, Project Notes)
- Resolution of the San Francisco Redevelopment Agency (February 16, 2010)
- Information Flyer- Bluepeter in a Nutshell
- San Francisco Heritage Newsletter Article, Fall/Winter 2009 (pdf - scroll to page 6, Project Notes: Bluepeter)
- Feasibility report about future uses prepared by Equity Community Partners, LLC, September 9, 2009 (pdf)
- Potrero View Newspaper article about community efforts to save the Bluepeter Building (June 2009)
- Report about the history of the Bluepeter Building, June 6, 2009 (pdf)
- Support Letter- please fill out and return (MS Word)
Feasibility Report
In September 2009, the Friends of the Bluepeter received an Economic Feasibility Report, prepared by Equity Community Builders (ECB). Founded in 1994, ECB is a San Francisco based real estate developer and project manager that specializes in in-fill residential, commercial, and historic rehabilitation projects in northern California. http://www.ecbsf.com. The report concludes that looking beyond today’s difficult economic times that it seems very reasonable to foresee an economically feasible Bluepeter rehabilitation.
Danger of Demolition
The preservation of the building is threatened: it lies on land within the Mission Bay development that is currently planned for "open space." The building was included in the 2001 San Francisco Planning Dept. Central Waterfront Cultural Resources Survey wherein it is stated "This building has been determined ineligible for National Register or designation under local ordinances, BUT should be given special consideration in local planning." The Mission Bay Plan, completed in 1998, did not benefit from the our knowledge gained through this survey. As one of the last remaining buildings in Mission Bay, and indeed in the Central Waterfront, representing the area's rich history in small boat construction, this building should be preserved if at all possible, and rehabilitated to be used by the citizens of San Francisco and visitors to Mission Bay. Creative re-use of this building could include community meeting space, child care center and food vending, as well as its becoming part of a historic tour which would include Mission Bay, the Central Waterfront and Pier 70.
Help Save It!
Community members see some great possible uses for the building: Read about proposed ideas (pdf) for the site.
If you are interested in helping save the Bluepeter building, please contact us.
Bluepeter Building - Illinois Street
Bluepeter Building from Terry Francoise Blvd.
Bluepeter Building from the south
Inside the Bluepeter Building
A group of people interested in the building were given access to the building on August 22, 2008 by the Port of San Francisco. The group included interested community members, former employees of the Bluepeter Company, and staff members of the Port of San Francisco, the San Francisco Redevelopment Agency, and the Catellus Corporation.