“Developers Don't Live Here:” SF Resident on Demolition of Candlestick Park

Candlestick Park is no longer.

But now the question is, how will it be knocked down?

It's an important question, especially for those living near the old stadium who say the area is toxic enough and demolition through implosion will only kick up more health problems.

Bayview residents on Monday night packed a gymnasium for a meeting after learning developer Lennar Urban is pursuing a permit to implode the old stadium.

Lennar Urban expects to bring down the stadium before spring and begin infrastructure improvements almost right after. A conventional demolition would mean an estimated two months of schedule versus an implosion which Lennar says will be one event of dust generation, up to 30 seconds of noise and vibration.

A representative from Lennar Urban told the crowd at Monday's meeting that imploding Candlestick will take one day compared to two months of dismantling. Hazardous materials like asbestos and lead paint will be removed before the implosion, according to the developer.

"The implosion option does not risk health," Lennar Urbran representative Bronson Johnson told the crowd. "Otherwise we would not pursue it."

A change.org petition cites community concerns about exposure to implosion dust clouds as far as six to 12 miles from the site.

One woman who has lived nearby since 1948 said she and her neighbors have been left out of the conversation despite their many concerns.

"It's all about development honey," Espanola Jackson said. "And the developers don't live here."

The Candlestick demolition is set to make way for new development, more than 12,000 homes and more than 3 million square feet of office space set to produce more than 12,000 permanent jobs.

Lennar Urban says it completed a hazardous material assessment last August that did find things like asbestos-containing material and lead-based paint, adding that abatement is underway, set to be done in February.

Lennar also says an onsite environmental consultant is monitoring its hazmat abatework work methods, procedures and containments and says it's also tracking air quality levels.

San Francisco's Department of Public Health has approved a dust control plan to minimize dust exposure.

Meanwhile, city staff say Lennar Urban does not have a permit approved to dismantle or implode Candlestick.

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