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		Source: York not happy with S.F. site location By David Zizmor September 10, 2007

	SAN FRANCISCO-- A source tells Sportstalk that the Naval Shipyard site at Hunters Point, which San Francisco officials propose a site for a new 49ers stadium was one of the key motivations for 49ers owner John York to step up an aggressive campaign to move the San Francisco 49ers out of San Francisco. York and the 49ers have made it clear that they are set to put on a February or June 2008 ballot measure to vote in Santa Clara for local financial help to build a new 49ers stadium. Santa Clara officials have made it clear that they would not touch their General Fund and the expenses would come out of redevelopment from Santa Clara's north side area. The price tag on the local government's behalf would be to the tune of $222 million towards an $853 million stadium which if everything goes through would be set for opening around 2012. The one hitch in the deal the source said is that Cedar Fair Company, which owns and operates the Great America amusement park on the site where the Niners want to build the new park, has not approved anything to move forward on the new stadium project, as they would be relinquishing a portion of their land, which is owned by the City of Santa Clara, and Cedar Fair leases the property. Basically it’s a highest bidder matter whether the 49ers will pay out to Cedar Fair for a new stadium or will the City of Santa Clara pay out through tax revenue from the redevelopment properties from Santa Clara's north side. Santa Clara's point man Ron Garrett has also indicated that it's a highest bidder situation and if the team wants in on the properties and managing the properties they will have to come close to the sniffing range of more than half the total of the stadium costs. "There is definitely a chunk there, but we don't know where the money is going to end up," said Garrett. Santa Clara and the 49ers have also indicated that a Mall development would be part of the equation and the costs on that is also in question as neither the team or Santa Clara have identified a developer or contractor yet. Everything is still in the planning stages and contractors would be determined when the election is over with if Santa Clara voters vote to move forward with the new stadium, "You have a big timing issue with that," added Garrett. York has been firm against a San Francisco stadium but Senator Dianne Feinstein and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, who have both been adamant about getting a new park for the team in the City has already asked for a federal clean up of the Naval Shipyard at Hunters Point Shipyard asking for a chemical toxic cleanup. The shipyard was used as a toxic dump site and has reportedly has chemical residue from all those years of dumping. Residents nearby the Naval Shipyard have reported over the years of getting sick and that area of the city, according to City health records has the highest amounts of cancer development and complaints of related illnesses. The residents also are aware of the chemical dumping at the Shipyard. Regardless of those issues Feinstein and Pelosi want to move on with the stadium development and want an aggressive start on the clean up to get the stadium groundbreaking environmentally ready. They have already selected a contractor and developer already with or without John York's approval, real estate firm MacFarlane Partners, for the Mall project Kimco Developers and base conversion expert MACTEC Engineering. A vote to approve a Hunters Point and Candlestick development will be put in front of San Francisco voters in June of 2008 the same time a Santa Clara Stadium vote will be in front of Santa Clara voters. San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom has estimated that the clean up will be completed by 2009 just in time for ground breaking. York has said that he does not like Candlestick, the Naval Shipyard, nor the Hunters Point area for a 49ers Stadium that its in an isolated part of the City, he was concerned about the chemical clean up (ala Giants Stadium in New Jersey), and the high crime areas of that part of the City. York has pretty much said that Santa Clara is his target and he's staying with that. Feinstein has said that she would use senate powers to block any such move by the football team if they leave the City and the NFL's commissioner's office has indicated that they support the 49ers staying in the City . The 49ers are in St. Louis to play their old rivals the Rams kick off is at 10 AM Sunday September 16th. David Zizmor covers 49ers football and co-hosts Sportstalk on 1690 KFSG Sacramento.