Google's idea of using a barge as a floating retail store in San Francisco, may come to an end, as it needs permit from the regional Bay Conservation and Development Commission to moor a barge for any length of time in the bay, and the commision may also dismiss the idea of a floating retail store.
It is confirmed that Google is building a high-tech barge at the Treasure Island as a part of its $35 million project. However, Google has not confirmed the utility of the barge.
A report by SFGate reveals that the publication has obtained a confidential budget report from the barge builder Turner Construction Co., who says that Google is planning to construct three barges at Treasure Island and then dock them in three different locations: San Francisco, Los Angeles and New York. The construction company also said that the project is called Hangar 3.
The report says that Google will use each barge as a floating retail store and each of them will be loaded with 80 shipping containers.
However, San Francisco's Bay Conversation and Development Commission (BCDC) has different idea. "A floating retail store that is not a bay-oriented enterprise would probably make a lot of jaws drop at a commission meeting," said Larry Goldzband, an executive at BCDC.
The SFGate report also suggests that Google's lawyers have notified Goldzband that they are continuing with the construction of the barge at Treasure Island three times in the last six weeks, but did not reveal the intention of the construction.
"We have told them we don't want to wait a heck of a lot longer because ... the public needs to know what Google is doing," Goldzband said.
The commission reached out to Google and asked the company's intention regarding the usage of the barge. Google replied that they have explored several ideas for the barge but there current plan "is to use them as an interactive space where people can learn about new technology."
The commission thinks that Google is not very open with its plan and the public will want to know more details regarding the barge.
