San Francisco Planning
The Bayview Hunters Point neighborhood is one San Francisco’s most historically disadvantaged communities. The neighborhood has long suffered from legacy contamination due to prior land uses and unregulated waste practices. The Yosemite Creek Sediment site and the Hunter Point Naval Shipyard Superfund Site are adjacent to the project area. Lack of investment has also contributed to the vulnerability of the neighborhood. However, the Bayview Hunters Point neighborhood is a culturally vibrant area and is part of San Francisco’s African American Arts and Cultural District.
As a subconsultant to AECOM, Pathways Climate Institute supported the existing conditions phase through the development of a contaminated lands memorandum. Pathways led an in-depth review of publicly available data from the Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Toxic Substances Control, and State Water Resources Control Board to map all known and existing contaminated sites within the project area. Pathways ran an exposure assessment of the sites to sea level rise and groundwater rise to begin to address community concerns about potential contaminant mobilization.
Pathways also led the inventory of assets and systems, including critical assets and community assets (such as hospitals, community centers, and open spaces) and developed a ‘No Action’ memorandum that highlights exposed community assets and critical assets to sea level rise and groundwater rise hazards. The memorandum highlights asset impacts and potential social consequences.
Community engagement and outreach is at the center of this project. Pathways staff supported outreach efforts that aimed to gather community input and feedback. Community input was used to craft strategy alternatives that best reflect community needs.
The final strategy report was released in February of 2026.