Envisioning a walkable and sustainable waterfront neighborhood

Harmonizing urban development with nature

India Basin, one of San Francisco’s last undeveloped waterfront areas, is renowned for its salt marsh wetlands, grasslands, and diverse bird species. A project of this magnitude demanded a design approach that is sensitive to the land’s natural features — including its hydrology and topography. Gehl spearheaded the urban and mobility strategy for the area, crafting a framework that fosters the development of a high-quality public realm in harmony with the site’s ecological surroundings.

The proposed framework includes central squares within the urban village and waterfront terraces and boardwalks along the edge of the Great Park, enhancing community access to nature. Streetscape and mobility improvements feature a grade-separated bicycle network, enhanced pedestrian and transit connectivity between India Basin and surrounding neighborhoods, and the introduction of a continuous Bay Trail. This trail weaves through an active plaza with restaurants and concessions, where pedestrians and cyclists intermix. The Cove Terrace gently descends with expansive terraces to a newly created tidal marsh.

Parts of the project were approved in 2020 and 2024, with construction beginning thereafter. Full build-out will create 1,575 homes, over 200,000 square feet of retail, and six acres of public open space. About 400 units are expected to be subsidized affordable housing. Overall, the strategy aimed to build a well-connected, resilient community, with the final master plan honoring the site’s topography and celebrating San Francisco’s ecological heritage.