A San Francisco supervisor is proposing a new downtown theater arts district that looks to revitalize a portion of Market Street.
The proposal by Supervisor Bilal Mahmood is a public realm enhancement that would not be designated as an official district by the city but as a public-private initiative with several city departments collaborating with local businesses to install digital displays, murals, and other street activities without requiring a formal vote from the Board of Supervisors.
The district would span Market Street from Fifth to Ninth streets.
City officials have been working to revamp the downtown area after many businesses closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and resulting economic downturn. Mahmood, whose district includes parts of the Tenderloin and Civic Center neighborhoods, is hoping to avoid a curtain call for local performance centers.
An estimated $1 million would be needed for a pilot version of the proposal, while a total of $5 million would be needed for the full plan to take action. Public and private partnerships are being sought out to fund the pilot, potentially by the end of this year.
“San Francisco’s recovery starts downtown, and downtown’s recovery starts with the arts,” said Mahmood in a written statement. “The Theater Arts District is about making Market Street live, breathe, and speak the theater, turning the incredible venues we already have into a destination people experience both inside and outside.”
The Mid-Market Business Association and Foundation, an organization that advocates for the business community along Market Street, was pleased to hear of plans to create a theater district.
“The Theater Arts District is about making Market Street live, breathe, and speak the theater, turning the incredible venues we already have into a destination people experience both inside and outside.”
Supervisor Bilal Mahmood
“Supervisor Mahmood’s proposal catalyzes the momentum that has been building in Mid-Market,” said Fernando Pujals, the association’s executive director. “A formal Theater Arts District tells the world that San Francisco’s downtown recovery is real, and that Mid-Market is a key anchor.”
The proposal was created in collaboration between Mahmood’s office, the city’s Department of Public Works, Recreation and Park Department, and the Office of Economic and Workforce Development. Community members also contributed and those interested are also encouraged to contact Mahmood’s office to provide input.