Abandoned after the prison closed in the early 1960s, the Gardens of Alcatraz are a study in survival.

Three finalists are vying for the coveted site of the current Sports Basement in the Presidio. The proposals being presented for discussion are the Lucas Cultural Arts Museum, the Presidio Exchange and the Bridge/Sustainability Institute. The Presidio is a national park site.

The Presidio Trust has a spectacular opportunity to remake two sections of the Presidio with amazing views of San Francisco Bay and the Golden Gate Bridge. The process to select a project will redevelop the former commissary building, which currently houses the Sports Basement sporting goods store.

Three very different proposals were presented Monday for one of the most potentially memorable sites in San Francisco - 8 acres facing the marsh at Crissy Field, downhill from the Presidio's Main Post.