Candlestick Park Redevelopment Breaks Ground on Waterfront Housing Project

September 10, 2026 - 01:22

Construction crews have started work at the site of the former Candlestick Park in San Francisco, marking the beginning of a long awaited transformation of the storied stadium grounds into a new waterfront neighborhood. The project aims to replace the demolished arena with thousands of homes, along with parks, retail space, and improved access to the bay shoreline.

The stadium, which opened in 1960, hosted decades of sports history, including Giants baseball and 49ers football, before closing in 2014. Demolition wrapped up in 2015, but plans for the site stalled for years amid financing hurdles, environmental reviews, and shifting development proposals. The new effort signals a renewed push to bring housing to a part of the city that has long been underused.

Planners say the development will include a mix of market rate and below market rate units, aiming to address San Francisco's persistent housing shortage. The design calls for open green spaces, walking paths along the water, and connections to nearby transit. Supporters argue the project could breathe new life into the southeastern edge of the city, an area that has often been overlooked compared to downtown and the northern waterfront.

Some local residents have raised concerns about traffic, density, and the pace of construction. City officials say they will monitor impacts as work proceeds. The first phase of building is expected to take several years, with residents possibly moving in before the end of the decade. For now, the site that once echoed with cheering crowds is giving way to cranes, excavation equipment, and the early outlines of a new community.