San Francisco will solicit feedback on plans to improve the Powell Street pedestrian and cable car experience at an open house Wednesday afternoon.
The city is working with the Union Square Alliance — the area’s business improvement district — on a $4 million project that hopes to spur economic development and honor the history of the cable cars that run up and down Powell Street.
A number of businesses have fled the Powell Street area near Union Square in recent years, including Westfield mall, the city’s largest shopping center. Most have cited a lack of customer foot traffic since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in their decisions to leave.
Designs by San Francisco-based firms Field Operations and SITELAB Urban Studio include wider sidewalks that stretch to the edge of the cable car zone and the removal of restaurant parklets that clutter the street. They also envision an array of new light fixtures, including hanging lanterns and a giant starburst chandelier at the intersection of Powell and Market streets.
“I’m pleased that the design not only respects and celebrates San Francisco’s rich history but adds a layer of modern design. It’s a perfect hybrid of the past and future,” said Supervisor Aaron Peskin, whose district encompasses the project.
The initial design phase has used up nearly $500,000 of the current $4 million budget.
Peskin and Mayor London Breed announced the funding for the improvement project last year, but the Union Square Alliance estimates that a “full recovery” for Powell Street could cost up to $30 million.
Breed has proposed putting a general bond on the November ballot to fund the initiative to completion.
“The design vision for Powell Street calls attention to the corridor’s historic and prominent status as San Francisco’s gateway, home to the iconic cable car that connects residents and visitors alike to our remarkable city,” said Laura Crescimano, Co-Founder and Principal of SITELAB Urban Studio.
