LOOKING FORWARD MID-MARKET FUTURE INTIATIVES In the last few years, there has been a resurgence of interest in the revitalization and development of Mid-Market. The opportunities are plentiful and hopes are high that initiatives that build on the assets of the neighborhood will help it to flourish. Plans and proposals from the City of San Francisco, the San Francisco Planning and Urban Research Association (SPUR), and others are consistent in their vision to improve Mid-Market through a series of interventions with multiple partners. Mid-Market cannot become a healthy cultural district with broad-stroke initiatives, nor can only one group do it alone. The following is a list of resources and initiatives aimed at revitalizing Mid-Market.
“There are many different aspects in terms of revitalizing a neighborhood. Small-scale projects won’t be cure-alls, but we want things we can manage and test to see how they work.” Daniel Hurtada, Executive Director, Central Market Community Business District1
Better Market Street | City of San Francisco and several city agencies This plan focuses on creating active public spaces. Its overarching goal is to “make Market Street the signature sustainable street in San Francisco and the Bay Area by creating a memorable and active identity, with gathering spaces, the ability to promenade, and a vibrant public life.” 2 Mid-Market Redevelopment Plan | City and County of San Francisco Redevelopment Agency The agency has initiated the process necessary for the city to reconsider a Mid-Market Redevelopment Plan. The adoption of a MidMarket Redevelopment Plan would allow the city to utilize tax-increment financing, a longterm and stable funding source, to invest in the physical rehabilitation of existing buildings and spaces, new mixed-use affordable housing, and arts-focused catalyst projects in the area. Can a great street be great again? How to transform Market Street | SPUR The July 2011 issue of the Urbanist updates the conversation around SPUR’s long-term plan for Mid-Market, 3 a report published almost a decade ago. Topics include linking the fortunes of the Tenderloin and Mid-Market districts, strategies for a vital economy on Mid-Market, and using arts districts as a redevelopment tool. CityPlace development | Urban Realty Co., Inc. CityPlace is a proposal for 250,000 square feet of new retail on Market Street between 5th and 6th. These stores will be more budget-friendly than the high-end stores in Westfield San Francisco Center down the street. CityPlace is currently under development by Urban Realty, Commonfund Realty, Gensler, and Plant Construction. Architecture and the City: Renewal of San Francisco’s Mid Market Area | HOK In 2010, the architecture firm HOK held an eightweek charrette that began by identifying the problems that plague Mid-Market. They made an agreement that all solutions would conform to the principles of being actionable, sustainable, scalable, and realistic. The team arrived at a simple adaptive-reuse solution using Market Street’s newspaper kiosks. The plan proposed repurposing the kiosks for a number of modern applications, including: an anchor for food trucks, an artist-in-residence booth, a ticket kiosk, and a
1. King, John. “SF’s Mid-Market: Small Steps Point to Potential.” SF Gate, November 8, 2010 >>>Link
2. About Better Market Street.” Better Market Street, February 9, 2010 >>>Link 3. Mid-Market Street Redevelopment District: A Plan for Incremental Change. San Francisco Planning + Urban Research Association (SPUR), January 16, 2002 >>>Link
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