Powell Street Improvement Project – Final Concept Designs!
Powell Street
Improvement Project
2024
Powell Street Improvement Project – Final Concept Designs!
In 2023, Mayor Breed and Board of Supervisors President Peskin announced $4 million in funding for the Powell Street Improvement Project. The City asked the Union Square Alliance to lead the initial design phases of the project. On June 10, 2024, the Union Square 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 a 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 Powell’s beautiful historic architecture.
Project Updates:
As of fall 2025, the project is moving forward full speed ahead. The Prop B general obligation bond, passed by the voters in November of last year, is providing $22 million toward the project, on top of $4 million in other available City funding. The Alliance and the City are working together to identify the remaining dollars needed to fully fund the project.
The project has entered the next phase of design and new design renderings have been released. In September, the San Francisco Arts Commission approved the design. Construction is expected to begin in late 2026, with a ribbon-cutting planned for late 2027. We thank Mayor Daniel Lurie for his leadership in prioritizing improvements for Powell Street and his support in securing funding for the project.
See press coverage on the Powell Street Improvement Project by SF Examiner, SF Chronicle, and KTVU.
FAQ
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 a bit.
At present, The City has approximately $3.5 million remaining for revitalizing Powell Street, a sum left over from last year’s $4 million budget allocation.
As an initial phase, this amount could be allocated towards acquiring the proposed “Golden Lantern” chandelier, or it could be used to rejuvenate the tired aluminum parklet areas currently frequented by pedestrians. This phase might involve the addition of tables, chairs, and food kiosks.
The full vision, which will require additional funding, entails the complete removal of the parklets, with sidewalks extended to the boundaries of the cable car zone. This expansion would provide more room for pedestrians and outdoor dining and beverage services.
The complete vision that would position Powell Street for a full recovery is estimated to cost between $20 – $30 million dollars. The project proposal includes an initial phase (see FAQ above) that would utilize the currently available $3.5 million. Mayor Breed has proposed a general obligation bond to be placed on the November 2024 ballot which could fund this proposal in full.
If we are able to receive funding for the full vision, we would expect that to be completed and open in 2026.
Starting later in this year, the design team will begin the next, more detailed phase of design. We expect that to be wrapped up and construction ready to begin sometime in 2025.
The reimagination of Powell Street is just one of a number of initiatives on which the City of San Francisco and the Union Square Alliance have been working together closely to support the recovery and revitalization of Union Square and all of Downtown. On June 4th Mayor Breed announced an action plan to enliven Union Square and Yerba Buena Districts, which includes the following key initiatives:
- Create Bustling Public Spaces through new funding for daily programming in Union Square Park and ongoing support for marquee events like Winter Walk and Union Square in Bloom.
- Active and Vibrant Storefronts with a Vacant to Vibrant program designed specifically for Powell Street to place pop-up tenants in vacant spaces for medium-term leases; targeting markets campaign for Powell; and new leasing and permit support staff to speed business permitting and leasing.
- Ensure Downtown is Clean, Safe, and Easy to Navigate with new funding for a 24/7 security presence, continuing the Downtown Welcome Ambassador program, and providing free parking hours as Union Square and area garages.
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.”
Technical Consultant
RISE Consulting LLC was founded by Brent Tyndall, who also serves as CEO. With over 15 years of experience working for top General Contractors, Brent leverages his expertise to assist clients in managing projects of any size successfully. Brent will utilize his technical construction experience to help the Alliance successfully manage this project. His belief is that communication, hard work, experience, and teamwork drive results.
For thoughts, questions, comments, or ideas for Powell Street:
Reach out to [email protected].