Port tries to make spot hot again. (Port of San Francisco; Mission Rock Resort restaurant and dive bar)

The Port of San Francisco will sign a lease next month it hopes will pave the way for a massive renovation of the dilapidated Mission Rock Resort, a popular dive bar and restaurant near Pier 64 that has fallen into disrepair over the years.

Located between two thriving dockside restaurants, Jelly's (formerly Olive Oil's) on Pier 50 and The Ramp on Pier 66, port officials believe renovating Mission Rock will be a major step toward attracting a more upscale crowd of San Francisco locals to the southern waterfront, traditionally a haven for diesel trucks and dockworkers.

"It used to be quite a hot spot," said Port Commissioner Preston Cook. "We want to recreate that." …