QUARTERLY NEWS AND UPDATES

Civic Center Public Realm Plan Unveiled
The Civic Center Public Realm Plan was unveiled to the public on February 27 at an Open House at City Hall. Hosted by the San Francisco Planning Department, plans designed by CMG Landscape Architecture featured reimagined spaces for Civic Center Plaza, Fulton Mall and United Nations Plaza.  With staff on hand to address questions, concerns and comments, the plans feature elements such as closing off Folsom Street to traffic and adding lawn space, repurposing the  Lawrence Halprin fountain in UN Plaza, adding more trees and a water feature to Civic Center Plaza. The SF Chronicle described the plans as, "an ambitious, inventive balance between Beaux-Arts grandeur and small-scale welcome..."  See the plans on the Civic Center Public Realm Plan site .
CCCBD Renewal Underway 

District renewal is underway for the next term with expanded boundaries, more cleaning & maintenance and public safety services. 

Every vote counts!


PLEASE RETURN YOUR PETITION by Friday, April 12 
to: info@sfciviccenter.org


CBD Ambassadors & Clean Team Attend Mental Health Training

Our District Ambassadors and Cleaners recently joined their other downtown CBD colleagues to attend a day-long mental health training -- generously underwritten by Lendlease The training covered effective support techniques for helping those in need on our streets; as well as how our Ambassadors and Cleaners should take care of themselves given the intense work they do day in and day out. Attendees also heard a presentation from San Francisco's HSOC team. The Healthy Streets Operations Center (started last year) has been instrumental in helping our District find solutions when multiple City agencies are needed.
New Light Art Debuts on Bill Graham Civic Auditorium

W.F.T (San Francisco), created by conceptual artist Joseph Kosuth, has been unveiled on the facade of the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium. Regarding this piece, the SF Arts Commission writes, " Through the use of language, Kosuth's artwork reflects the historical significance of the Auditorium while also demonstrating how words reveal relationships to cultural and social realties." The piece was privately funded by Emerald Fund through the Public Art Trust.
Better Market Street Pop-Ups & EIR Report
 
Better Market Street hosted a public information station at A.C.T.'s Strand Theater in February. Following this, the Planning Department unveiled the draft EIR report, which is open for public comment through April 15The largest element of focus may be the plans to close 2 miles of Market Street to private cars, from Steuart Street to Octavia. This would allow for a sidewalk-level bikeway, expanded MUNI-only lanes as well as shared bus lanes, new landscaping and more.
BART Station Elevator Program Deemed a Success & New Escalators Coming to Downtown Stations

BART shared a series of tweets in February about the success of the elevator attendant pilot program for Civic Center and Powell Street stations, so much so they're seeking funding to make it permanent for the next two years by applying for a joint grant with SFMTA.  BART will also be replacing 41 escalators, including those at Civic Center and Powell Street stations.  
Important Budget Hearing Meetings at City Hall

KEY CITY HALL BUDGET HEARING MEETINGS TO ATTEND:

-Public Safety (April 17) 
-Homelessness and Housing (April 24)
- Mental Health & Substance Abuse (May 1) 
-Other Policy Priorities (May 8)

All meetings take place at City Hall
Room 250, at 1pm.

CIVIC CENTER EVENTS & PROGRAMS
Lines Ballet Training Program students perform for the public.
Join in the free Alonzo King LINES Dance Center dance fitness classes at UN Plaza Thursdays through May 2 from 12:30 to 1pm . Also on Thursdays at UN Plaza are  Off the Grid food trucks (11am-2pm)  and the  UN Gift Gallery (9am-5pm). And on select Thursdays,  Alonzo King LINES Ballet Training Program Students perform on the UN Plaza "stage" (1-1:30pm).

See photos of the events on the Civic Center Commons Flickr page.
More Commons News

* Phase two of Knitting the Commons is underway. Elephants, parrots and flamingos are the latest creatures from  Knits for Life  to move into Civic Center Plaza. 

* Hunters Point Family's dedication to their work in Civic Center was highlighted in the SF Chronicle, noting "City officials credit the Hunters Point Family crew for its significant role in reactivating Civic Center and U.N. Plaza..." The staff's dedication has also saved lives and lead to expanded services -- they're also now providing services for the BART elevators and the restrooms at the City's Main Library.

* February 14 marked the one year anniversary of the Grand Opening of the new Helen Diller Civic Center Playgrounds, a popular kid spot that's already been highlighted as one of the best playgrounds in the City by Red Tricycle, and earned an award for design from the American Institute of Steel Construction. 

* Civic Center Commons also had the opportunity to moderate a panel at the Night of Ideas at the Main Branch of the San Francisco Public Library in February on the "Welcoming City." Panelists discussed how inclusive public spaces can serve as a model for creating a more holistically welcoming city. 
District News
Hayes Street Grill Celebrates 40 Years

On March 17, the Civic Center classic celebrated its fourth decade with a week of celebratory dinners. The birthday was noted with an article in the SF Chronicle, calling the restaurant a classic -- we couldn't agree more. And preceding this, Edible magazine featured Civic Center CBD Board Member  Patty Unterman on the cover with a feature about her work at the healm of the grill. You can read the article here.
New Redwood Credit Union Opens at Fox Plaza 

Bay Area-based  Redwood  Credit Union opened a 6,600 square foot branch in the old USPS location in Fox Plaza. Services include: business and personal banking, loans and credit cards, mortgage lending, wealth management, insurance, and more. For more information, visit their website.
New District Businesses 

A recent Hoodline article shares "the freshest" additions to the area, which includes a couple places to eat in the District -- and follows with a place to workout. Urban Bowls, a Hawaiian and Japanese spot, is now open at 340 Grove. The article also notes the Civic Center Bi-Rite Cafe -- with a large image of a delicious ice cream sandwich; but -- it also shares a new place to burn off the calories: Core Power Yoga at 150 Van Ness.

Market to Expand Inside Twitter Building  

The SF Market announced an expansion that will bring 8-12 new vendors that will " feature ramen, Korean food and burgers, and there might even be a vegan deli;" according to the SF Chronicle article. One new vendor includes Smokebread, which is offering its popular dips. 
Van Ness 
Improvement Project

The first quarter of 2019 saw work on sewer and water main installation, sidewalk replacement, paving and installation of street light conduits, among other elements. 
The improvement project is projected to be completed in 2020.

For more information on the project, check out the informational  video, and visit the SFMTA site.
 
Real Estate News
New Housing Project Readies To Break Ground

The  SF Business Times notes the housing project at  1629 Market St. could break ground by the end of the year -- when completed it will feature 480 market-rate rental units and 100 affordable units. This project includes renovating the Civic Center Hotel and providing brand new affordable housing on site.
WeWork to Open in Uber/Square Building

The popular co-working office WeWork is opening their latest location at 1455 Market St ., renovating 67,000-square-feet into for-rent work spaces. They're also opening an office in Union Square.
New Buildings Popping Up at The Hub


The SF Chronicle's urban design critic John King authored a piece on the buildings popping up along Market and Van Ness, an area being dubbed The Hub. Among the buildings at The Hub include District parcels 1 Oak, 30 Van Ness and 10 South Van Ness, which has not approved as of yet, but developers are proposing features such as sky gardens, being carbon-neutral, and $13 million towards affordable housing. The article goes on to state that beyond the current and future building plans of The Hub,  "city planners want to go further - the area is being studied for a rezoning that would allow three towers in the 600-foot range at the vast intersection of Market, Van Ness and South Van Ness." 
Upcoming Events
AERIAL PERFORMANCE DEBUTS IN DISTRICT
 
The acclaimed aerial dance company Flyaway Productions' new show, in partnership with the Essie Justice Group, THE WAIT ROOM will debut in April, and is "a performance installation that exposes the physical, psychic, and emotional burden of incarceration for women with imprisoned loved ones." Show dates and times on their website
HOLOCAUST ART EXHIBIT

Coming to  Civic   Center  Plaza on  April 17, the art piece "Lest We Forget," is an installation by German artist Luigi Toscano that features 78 portraits of Holocaust survivors. The installation runs through May 19, and is presented by the Goethe-Institute San Francisco and the German Consulate in partnership with the San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department and San Francisco Arts Commission.
CLUSTERFEST LINEUP DEBUTS 
 
The popular comedy festival "Clusterfest" is returning to Civic Center June 21-23, and the lineup is already generating a lot of buzz, with names like John Mulaney, Leslie Jones, Patton Oswalt, Tig Notaro, Amy Poehler and more. Tickets are available via the Clusterfest site
More News Links
Curbed SF names the Main Branch of the San Francisco Public Library one of the most beautiful libraries in the Bay Area.

Speaking of the library -- all branches of the San Francisco Public Library extended their hours.

7x7 shares their annual 100 Best Dishes in San Francisco list, which includes some of our District favorites.

Curbed SF also shares their favorite interiors of San Francisco buildings, which includes District standouts City Hall and the Davies Symphony Hall.

DISTRICT BEAUTY
Bikes and bouquets -- a colorful burst on a District sidewalk.
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