Powell Street Improvement Project
Powell Street
Improvement Project
Powell Street Improvement Project
In 2023, the City announced $4 million in funding to improve three blocks of Powell Street between Market and Geary Streets. The City asked the Union Square Alliance to lead the initial design phases of the project. In 2024, the Alliance, in partnership with the City of San Francisco unveiled a new design proposal and robust vision for Powell Street that would allow it to retain its status as the pre-eminent gateway to Union Square, Downtown and all of San Francisco. The design, led by San Francisco-based firms Field Operations and SITELAB Urban Studio, reimagines the three-block stretch of Powell Street with practical and aesthetic upgrades to welcome residents and visitors, offer a more enjoyable transit experience and spur economic development in the area. The proposal celebrates and centers the iconic cable cars as well as the area’s beautiful historic architecture.
Project Updates:
As of spring 2026, the project is moving forward full speed ahead.
The project has entered the Construction Document phase, and a general contractor has been hired by the City to collaborate on construction documentation and to then build the project. Construction is expected to begin in late 2026, with a ribbon-cutting planned for late 2027. We thank Mayor Daniel Lurie and Supervisor Sauter for their leadership in prioritizing these improvements for Powell Street and their support in securing funding for the project.
See press coverage on the Powell Street Improvement Project by SF Examiner, SF Chronicle, and KTVU.
Design Highlights:
Where Powell meets Market at the cable car turnaround, the proposed design includes a giant overhead starburst chandelier, dramatically marking San Francisco’s most important intersection and framing views of the cable cars.
In addition, stretching from Market to Geary, the design includes art nouveau-inspired hanging lanterns to bathe the sidewalks in soft light and give a nod to the street’s turn of the century architecture. This lighting system will be illuminated with programmable LEDs, enabling the lanterns to change color and become a canvas to express the City’s collective celebrations and events.
At the ground level, the proposal creates a clean and elegant corridor where visitors and residents can find everyday moments for relaxation and joy. The existing metallic “parklets” will be removed and the sidewalks widened all the way to the edges of the cable car zone. Restaurants will be able to set up outdoor dining areas where patrons can sit and enjoy the passing scene and famous “ding-ding” of the cable cars. Over time, new trees and benches will be added to create places to linger and socialize and to soften the environment.
FAQs
The complete vision that would position Powell Street for a full recovery is estimated to cost approximately $45 million dollars. The City has identified and secured $26 million in funding, and the remaining $19 million must be secured through private sources with the assistance of the Downtown Development Corporation, a nonprofit entity created to drive downtown investment and revitalization.
The City and project team are aiming to complete the project by November 2027, in advance of the holidays. The project schedule is currently being developed by the City’s contracting team, Clark Construction, in partnership with the design team and key stakeholders.
The design team is currently working with the City and its contracting team to develop construction documents, with an anticipated construction start date in late 2026.
Meet the Design Teams!
Field Operations is renowned as the design team behind the groundbreaking High Line in New York City and locally is known for designing the award-winning Tunnel Tops park in the Presidio.
“We are delighted to be selected for the reimagining of Powell Street,” said Richard Kennedy, Partner at Field Operations. “For many, Powell Street is a gateway to San Francisco: a point of departure to connect to the City’s history, its topography and vistas, its downtown and waterfront. Our hope for the project is to leverage this powerful position to open-up, unlock and reinvigorate our collective optimism about the future of San Francisco’s downtown.”
Sitelab Urban Studio is a highly respected San Francisco-based urban design firm responsible for several transformational local projects including the proposed mixed use redevelopment of Stonestown Mall and the Pier 70 waterfront redevelopment.
“The reimagining of the iconic Powell Street corridor is a natural next step in our continued efforts to champion downtown revitalization in our cities,” said Laura Crescimano, Principal and Cofounder of SITELAB urban studio. “It is an honor to be selected, in partnership with Field Operations, to not only refresh the streetscape into a destination that celebrates the area’s rich heritage and architecture, but inspires new experiences.”
For more information on the Powell Street Improvement Project, please reach out to Brooke Ray Demko, Union Square Alliance Director of Public Realm at [email protected].