QUARTER 4  RECAP 2019
MID MARKET NEWS RECAP
Car Free Market Street Begins January 29

In October the SFMTA Board unanimously approved the Better Market Street project,  which centers on increasing pedestrian and cyclist safety along the corridor. Prior to the vote, the City also submitte d a letter of support  to restrict personal and ride hailing vehicles from Market Street, and encouraged the Vision Zero "Quick Builds" to begin soon. Starting January 29, these " Quick Builds" are rolling out, they include:
  1. Making Market a car-free zone east of 10th Street 
  2. 100 new cross-street passenger and commercial loading zones to accommodate safe loading
  3. Peak hour loading restrictions on Market Street to reduce conflicts between people on bicycles, transit and commercial vehicles
  4. Extending existing transit-only lane east from Third to Main Street, the segment of Market with the most transit service, and making it Muni-only (taxis and non-Muni buses will no longer be allowed)
  5. Adding bicycle intersection improvements at Eighth, Page, Battery, and Valencia streets
Other elements will roll out in phases --  from Fifth to Eighth streets is phase 1, Market from Fifth to Second streets is phase 2, and Market from Van Ness to Octavia Boulevard will comprise phase 3 -- and will include elements such as building out wider sidewalks and protected bike lanes. Phase 1 construction will extend into 2022.
Interactive map of how to cross Market Street via car

If you're wondering how as a driver you'll cross Market Street, more info can be found on the Better Market Street site. Also, i f you  have questions or concerns about this project or its upcoming construction impacts, please contact Cristina C. Olea, PE; Better Market Street Project Manager: [email protected].
Community Benefit Districts 
Beautify UN Plaza Construction Barricade


Before
The UN Plaza Fountain is closed for a year as the San Francisco Department of Public Works addresses issues related to fountain drainage. Working with the City, Mid Market and Civic Center CBDs seized the opportunity to use the fountain's vast construction barricade (over 100 feet long) as a means to bring color and vibrancy to the area. The barricade now offers blue skies, bold colors, greenery and the feeling of vibrant pedestrian activity in the Plaza 24/7. 

Special thanks to Public Works and Creatis Group for their expertise and collaborative spirit.

If you would like help improving a construction barricade in Mid Market, the MMCBD offers technical assistance through the  BE BARRIER BEAUTIFUL program. Give us a call.

Chris Foley accepts MMCBD's 
2019 Golden Brick Award from 
Page & Turnbull's Lada Kocherovsky
MMCBD's 2019 Golden Brick Award 

Market on Market's Chris Foley received the 2019 MMCBD Golden Brick Award for his dedication and efforts to revitalize the ground floor of the historic Market Square building at 10th and Market. Market on Market has brought much needed goods, services and jobs to the community; and has markedly enhanced pedestrian foot traffic in the area. The urban market also boasts a bent toward sustainability and significant support for local small businesses and entrepreneurs.

Coming up in 2020, Foley is taking part in another great project: unveiling a new food hall in the former Bon Marche and Dirty Water spaces. The new food hall will open with five vendors: "Mensho Tokyo (their second location), as well as Northern Ducks (which will serve items such as Peking duck and dim sum); Hot Bird (serving Nashville-style hot chicken), 3-19 Coffee (which also has a Mission location) and Heroic Deli, an Italian-style deli," according to Hoodline. While the food hall and the Market on Market are adjacent, they are two, "separate sites and entities," and the food hall will "only offer cooked, prepared foods from restaurant vendors." 
STREETSCAPE NEWS 

Mid Market Business Association Hires Urban Alchemy

The addition of  Urban Alchemy to the District in June was great timing as the Mid Market Business Association (MMBA) was looking for assistance to provide more private security services for its member base. Businesses like Zendesk and WeWork now have the support of Urban Alchemy, on and in the vicinity of, Market Street between 5th Street and 7th Street. 

MMCBD Cleaners, Ambassadors, and Safety Teams are grateful for the extra support from the business community to make this portion of the District safer.

MMBA is also currently accepting Board Member applications

GSA Hires Streetplus for Weekends

The GSA's Federal Building at 7th Street and Mission now has weekend coverage through MMCBD's vendor  Streetplus, who oversee the building's public plaza space. Typically building staff only works Monday-Friday. With the addition of weekend service, the plaza receives attention 7 days a week. Thank you GSA for taking care of your Plaza, for your employees and the community.

Colorful Basketball Court from UNDSCVRD Brought Community Together

UNDSCVRD's 2-month pop-up court was a bustle of activity -- featuring basketball games, dance classes, free concerts, and more, during its short run. Among the events at the court at 541 Stevenson were: a league championship series, the Concert in the Court series -- free, weekly lunchtime concerts featuring local musicians in a variety of musical styles -- and dance classes from Shea of Kiki House of Angels + Friends; learn more about the court and other UNDSCVRD events on their site

5th Street Safety Project

SFMTA's  5th Street Safety Project -- a project to make the street a safer route for cyclists and pedestrians -- has started. In October,  MUNI closed three stops on the 27 Bryant line and opened a new stop in order to begin work on improved bike lanes.

If you have questions about this project or its upcoming construction impacts, please contact SFMTA Transportation Planner  Thalia Leng at  [email protected].

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT NEWS 

Popular Streetwear Brand Supreme Opens, Already Very Popular

Massive crowds greeted the new Supreme store at 1015 Market St. in October. With a line extending down the block, visitors to the hip, streetwear-brand store can check out the skate bowl and art sculptures, as well as purchase skateboard decks and of course, the clothes. 

Also of note, Complex shared how the arrival of the store brought life to Mid Market; they state, "[Supreme] was a smart bet on a neighborhood that has historically struggled to attract retail even when big tech companies have established a strong presence there." 

Create Skateboards Opens 
on  6th Street

Just around the corner from the new Supreme store at 40 6th Street,  Create Skateboards opened in October and features skateboard decks, accessories and apparel.  

Vegan Filipino Food arrives in the District

Nick's Kitchen opened its third outpost in November. Operating as Nick's on Mission, the restaurant offers a rotation of vegan Filipino food at 996 Mission St. (at 6th Street). The restaurant is serving breakfast and lunch buffet style Monday-Saturday, 7am to 3pm.

Sales of Serif Apartments to Being in 2020

Featuring apartments, a 232-room hotel, and 16,050 square feet of retail, the Serif (aka 950 Market Street) moves closer toward completion with the start of sales for the residential portion of the building. The Serif is projected to be completed in 2021. 
EVENTS

Epic Immersive at Hotel Whitcomb

Part performance, part experience, Epic Immersive opens this month at Hotel Whitcomb. Using the historic ballroom space as part of the inspiration for the night of entertainment, those interested in taking part in an evening that brings you back in time can learn more on the Epic Immersive site.

More Mid Market News Links 

STAKEHOLDERS ADVOCACY UPDATE

The Advocacy Update for the District is now available, covering topics such as City leaders' plans for mental health services and the Street-Level Drug Dealing Task Force, District SFPD meetings, CBD services and more. Please read it HERE
Q4 CLEANING, MAINTENANCE & PUBLIC SAFETY STATS
Mid Market, Civic Center and Yerba Buena 
Ambassadors and Clean Teams  attend a de-escalation training led by SFPD

MMCBD Clean Team
Graffiti abatement on the 500 block of Stevenson Street

 

HOW IT'S DONE!

When planting trees on City sidewalks  providing: 
trunk supports, grates over basins, and regular watering, pruning and fertilizing
are ESSENTIAL  for tree success.
  
DISTRICT BEAUTY
     
1145 Market's lobby holiday decor
Have a great 2020!
If you missed the last recap CLICK HERE.