San Francisco Officials Approve Treasure Island Eco-City

In 2000, plans were announced to redevelop Treasure Island from a dumpy former military base with sensational views of <a href="http://www.inhabitat.com/sf">San Francisco</a> into a model sustainable residential community only a ferry ride away from downtown. The San Francisco Board of Supervisors recently unanimously approved a planned $1.5 billion green <a href="http://inhabitat.com/nyc/som-designed-moynihan-station-redevelopment-will-decongest-penn-station/">redevelopment</a> plan for the island, after the San Francisco Planning Commission greenlighted the environmental review earlier this spring.

The planned eco-village is centered on pedestrian and bicycle traffic (after all, the island is less than a mile square), but there must be a large enough population to justify regular bus and ferry service.

The Treasure Island green development has been dubbed a Clinton Climate Intiative founding project, and developers Wilson Meany Sullivan, Lennar Urban and Kenwood Investments hope to break ground in 2012.

The concept for a sustainable urban community includes multiple units of housing, an artificial wetland area integrated with water treatment, wind power, recreation and gardening areas, a marina, and a small shopping district.

There is only one Muni bus line that connects to Treasure Island, no trains, and no currently existing bike lanes.

Treasure Island is completely flat, and as a result of being built from fill, especially vulnerable to earthquake damage.

Proponents of the eco-development point out that Treasure Island's stellar views of the San Francisco skyline are a major selling point.

The wetlands area on Treasure Island could be integrated into the wastewater treatment system - part of the development's eco-conscious plan.

Since Treasure Island and Yerba Buena Island fall under the jurisdiction of the city and county of San Francisco, the project is a collaboration between a San Francisco redevelopment board and a private development team.