The San Francisco Police Athletic Club
July 29th, 2010 -
The San Francisco Naval Shipyard was declared a Superfund Site in 1989 and is a now a 936-acre dead zone on the San Francisco Bay. Accordingly, it has long been a source of inspiration for my photography. There are many strange things to see in the yard, which is also known as the Hunters Point Naval Shipyard. It contains the remains of both the former "World's Tallest Industrial Escalator" and the former "World's Largest Crane." It houses an abandoned diner located across from an abandoned cryptology & periscope building. Gamma radiation is seeping up from the ground and unknown pesticides are floating in the air, according to the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry.
One of the strangest things inside the shipyard is the abandoned San Francisco Police Athletic Club. Also known as Building 120, this was once a canteen and enlisted men's club, according to the SF Planning Department. As recently as 2002, it was a thriving boxing gym, home to a "stable of amateur fighters," according to SF Weekly. Today, however, the building feels like a sealed time capsule from 1985. Out back, there is an empty swimming pool and a rotting Tiki bar. Inside, dozens of dusty weight lifting machines have been left to rust. An old arcade game sits next to a full-sized bar. Military posters line the walls. Several rowboats sit near a crowded work station. The floor is littered with certificates and badges from The Widows' and Orphans' Aid Association of the Police Department.
Its not clear when the Police Athletic Club was closed down or what the future of the building will be. This past Tuesday, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors voted to move forward on a massive redevelopment plan for the Hunters Point Naval Shipyard. The plan "calls for 10,500 residential units, along with 320 acres of parks and open space," according to the San Francisco Chronicle. Much of what remains in the shipyard will be demolished.
For more photographs from the shipyard, click here.
Tiki Bar
Mess Hall
No Boxing Without Coaches Present
Shining Lift
Omega Race
At the Bar
Beer Only
Miss 1985 
Apocalyptic Lounge
Dual Screen
Row Boats
Weights and Plates
Locker Row 
Shower Light 
these dimwits abandonded cool rowboats and video arcade games.... do I sense entitlement?
ReplyDeleteSo great. The place you show in your pictures are like the perfect exemple of the places I'd just like to go, sit on the floor, and smoke a cigarette.
ReplyDelete(I'm french so please excuse my strange english)
Nathan, I'm scouting locations on a documentary style music video shoot for an up and coming neo-soul artist form Brooklyn. I would love to talk to you about some locations, we are looking for locations exactly like your pictures. The artist is Charles Bradley, check out his song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2F-yalldlk8 . Please email me back at rekka.lexx@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteI really like your photos, keep on it man.
Yeah, Ord still has some decent stuff to see and the security is nice and lax.
ReplyDeleteNice
ReplyDeleteI used to fight here when I was 16 years old. PHIL trained me. He would train me cardio for 1 hour then immediatly put me in the ring to spar another fighter. I didn’t stay here long. My brain couldn’t withstand the punishment. Nose bleed everyday and headaches every day. This is where I learn to fight. And I didn’t even know it was associated with “police” thinking back now, cops use to spar here. It’s funny and ironic that I’m a cop now
ReplyDeleteI can’t believe how much memories these photos brought back!!! I remember driving my bucket truck through hunters point everyday for months after to school
ReplyDeleteTo train here. Sometimes there would be gang fights while I was driving through the neighborhood and I remember hoping my truck didn’t break down.
I remember this one boxing mentor told me to take creatine but not too much because it will mess up your liver. The photos here are a lot worse than when I was here.
A lot of people use to train here. Some fought at the Cow Palace. People use to buy tickets to the fights.
Man, I wish I was still connected with the boxing crew that use to run this place. They were great mentors
They were 65 to 70 when they trained me. I hope they are doing well. Thank you PHIL and all the trainers!
ReplyDeleteMy jab was garbage. PHIL use to make me do jabs with a 5 pound weight everyday lol. Back and forth, wall to wall until I got it right
ReplyDelete