SF Daily Local Headlines: Pier 54 Fire, Mission BART Safety Push, Storefront Grants
San Francisco, CA – March 2, 2026 – Pier 54 fire contained; Mission BART plazas get more patrols; $6.3M grants target empty storefronts citywide.
Top local headlines
Pier 54 fire knocked down quickly, fireboat called in
A morning fire under the closed Pier 54 brought firefighters to the waterfront by land and sea. Crews initially tried to reach the smoldering area, but the pier’s weakened structure made conditions unsafe, prompting a pullback and a response from a fireboat. The blaze was put out in roughly half an hour, and the cause was still under investigation.
More police and ambassadors promised at Mission BART plazas
City leaders say the BART plazas at 16th and 24th streets will see stepped-up staffing, including additional officers and a dedicated sergeant focused on the plazas and the Mission Street corridor between them. The plan also adds more street ambassadors and shifts street-cleaning timing, with an emphasis on making the area feel safer and more welcoming for residents, merchants, and students.
$6.3 million in new small-business grants targets vacant storefronts
San Francisco is rolling out a fresh round of funding aimed at lowering the cost of opening or stabilizing neighborhood businesses. The package includes a storefront program that can cover major startup expenses like build-outs and rent support in selected corridors, plus an equipment grant for essentials that keep operations running. Key deadlines arrive in early March and late May, and the city says free application help is available through its small-business support network.
Waterfront tower proposal puts height rules back in the spotlight
A proposed housing project along the Embarcadero is shaping up as a high-stakes test of how far state housing rules can go in overriding local height limits on Port land. The plan envisions a tower far taller than current waterfront restrictions, setting the stage for a political and legal fight that could influence how future waterfront development gets approved.
Sources
- https://www.sfchronicle.com/sf/article/fire-pier-54-21949843.php
- https://missionlocal.org/2026/02/sf-mission-district-bart-plazas-police-16th-24th-street/
- https://sfist.com/2026/03/01/sf-launches-6-3-million-in-new-small-business-grants-to-fill-vacant-storefronts/
- https://www.sfchronicle.com/sf/article/tower-building-waterfront-san-francisco-21941439.php
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