SAN FRANCISCO—The Golden State Warriors can now began building a new stadium in the Mission Bay neighborhood. On Monday, July 18, Supreme Court Judge Garrett Wong approved the city’s environmental review and the approval process.
The judge has the rejected claims from lawsuits filed in December 2015 and January 2016 by the Mission Bay Alliance challenging the city’s environmental review and approval process for the event center and mixed-use development at 16th and Third streets, according to KTVU.
A statement was released by Mayor Edward M Lee who was pleased with the Supreme Court’s decision.
“Today’s Superior Court decision today is an important milestone in the process of bringing the Golden State Warriors back to San Francisco and to building a state-of-the-art entertainment venue the entire San Francisco Bay Area can be proud of,” said Mayor Lee.
Mayor Lee believes that the judge’s decision helps the Planning Department, the Office of Community Investment and Infrastructure, the City Attorney’s Office, the University of California San Francisco and the community on the work they have done over the past two years.
City Attorney Dennis Herrera released the following statement in response to the decision: “The Warriors project is an important civic priority for San Francisco, and I am grateful that the court affirmed the city’s efforts to complete an exhaustive environmental review and planning process, and to successfully win widespread public support. Herrera added that “The fact is that this worthwhile project has been thoroughly scrutinized under the law, and it has won overwhelming support every step of the way, from all parts of San Francisco — including its neighbors. I hope that the decision becomes final soon so that the much-awaited construction of the project can begin.”
The new stadium will have 18,000 seats, and will be used as a concert venue and includes office space. Mayor Lee indicated that the ruling validated the city’s environmental review process.
“The Warriors are inspiring a new generation of fans throughout the Bay Area, and I can’t wait to welcome them back home to San Francisco,” said Lee.
Golden State Warriors President and COO Rick Welts released the following statement that read: “We’re very pleased by the court’s ruling,” Warriors president Rick Welts said in a statement. “We engaged in an extensive public planning process and we were approved by every board, agency and regulatory body we went before. Now our project has been upheld by the court. We look forward to breaking ground soon.”
