Livable Environments

"3876 Noriega Street Parklet" by SF Planning Department is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0

Shared spaces, including sidewalks, shopping districts, transit plazas, parks, and neighborhood gathering spots, are essential for economic activity and tourism. But just as importantly, they are our public square—places of leisure and entertainment, spontaneous social connection, discourse and dialogue, and creative expression.

Currently, however, San Francisco’s streets and other gathering places are far from inviting. High levels of litter, graffiti, and human or animal feces are common, particularly in commercial areas like the Mission and SoMa. Retail theft, empty store shelves, public drug use, and homelessness drive concerns about public safety. The city encourages residents to report issues through the 311 service and participate in volunteer cleanups, while also providing public toilets, graffiti removal, and public ambassador programs. Yet, the persistence of these issues continues to be a drag on the city’s recovery, discouraging residents and visitors alike.

Source: San Francisco Department of Public Works

Building resilient, thriving communities, especially in the aftermath of a pandemic, hinges on collective, location-specific efforts that prioritize relationships and community bonds. Strengthening social ties and fostering a sense of belonging are critical to this process. A concept that has gained currency in recent decades is the shift from central business districts (CBDs) to central social districts (CSDs). Key components include restaurants and bars; arts and entertainment venues such as theaters, cinemas, galleries, and live music venues; gyms, spas, and nail salons; parks, plazas, and public markets; and social clubs. As Sarah Dennis Phillips, Executive Director of the San Francisco Office of Economic and Workforce Development, puts it: “If downtowns aren’t a place you have to be, then they have to become places you want to be.”

"The central business district can no longer function as a collection of low-end grab-and-go cafeterias, chain coffee shops, restaurants and salad bars. To evolve and survive, its offerings will have to become more local, authentic and actively curated.”

~ Richard Florida, Author, The New Urban Crisis

We have many quality-of-life advantages to build on. San Francisco was recently named the healthiest city in the country, in part because we have universal access to spaces suitable for exercise. We have ten distinct cultural districts and the city’s calendar is filled with cultural events and festivals that impact residents and visitors alike. And, we are about to become the first city in the state to implement new public entertainment zones designed to support struggling bars and restaurants. These are some of the reasons that San Francisco reversed its population decline in 2023 and is now among the fastest-growing cities in California.The vitality of public spaces is both cause and effect—a motivator that draws people into community, as well as a result made possible through a critical mass of activity. Beyond government efforts, community-led initiatives will play a crucial role in generating and sustaining that activity. This is a moment for diverse stakeholders, including business owners, nonprofit groups, and residents, to work together to reimagine and reanimate public life in our city. The required creativity and commitment are already all around us: at our neighborhood and cultural centers, at senior centers and teen drop-in programs, at libraries, street festivals, and farmers markets, in neighborhood associations and amateur athletic leagues.

The challenge now is to leverage these assets to create public spaces that not only are clean, safe, and accessible to all, but that recapture what makes living in or visiting San Francisco so desirable.