Yesterday’s post included a few small steps that can be implemented in the short term. Today I’ll go over some of the more transformative plans, and what their associated issues may be. I recognize that by definition, this will be an incomplete list, so I welcome any input from my readers. I’ll try to organize my list in terms of Roads, Transit, & Built Form, and then in order of difficulty.
Roads: Surface issues are what it’s all about in this category. Different transit plans and street alignments that can fix Market.
- Re-route significant portions of the South of Market area to handle more traffic. Many streets in SOMA have extra capacity, with the goal being to shift auto traffic towards them. This is the natural progression as the center of mass of the business district moves further south.
- Create Pedestrian/Transit Malls and Boulevards. Apart from Market St, Folsom has also been mentioned as a possible Boulevard. Along with the above plan, this can help reduce the dependancy on Market as a transit and commerce destination.
- Create more linear parks, by closing lanes or even single parking zones. See Webster in the Japantown Plan. We could also include skylights to the subways below.
- Remove the overhead section of Highway 101 above Division/13th St. While this mostly affects Upper Market, this is not unprecedented. I like to think of it as finishing the job that began in 1989, and we just need to tear out one more scar through our neighborhoods.
From SF CityScape
Transit: This is generally thought of as the reason Market St is so important. Of course is has two huge transit tunnels, and is the destination of most of the city’s Muni lines, but we need more that the TEP.
- Central Subway! Time to look at extending the line out to Fort Mason or Fisherman’s Wharf.
- Again, create a Folsom St Boulevard, serving as another transit destination for commuters.
- Remodel BART/Muni stops to be more like underground malls. Similar to Tokyo and many other cities, we could make the idea of being underground actually enjoyable. Powell Station connects directly into a shopping center, and 19th St in Oakland has a Subway, so why not integrate more services into our stations.
- Connect transit stations underground. Transferring from the Central Subway station to Powell will be done underground, as will transfers from the new Transbay Terminal. Any other Subway lines will need to connect underground as well, so why not make everything more seamless?
- Geary BART, new Transbay Tube, Folsom BART. These are the hallmarks of dreamers. As SPUR indicates in their Downtown Report, Montgomery and Embarcadero are at capacity. It’s time to begin planning for the next alignment, whatever that happens to be.
Built Form: The buildings we see (or ignore) every day really affect our feeling of space. Market street contains some of the best and worst.
- Create a plan to revitalize the new ‘Arts District’ from 8th to 5th Streets. These long ignored blocks should be some of the most valuable in the city. They have great transit access, and proximity to many jobs, yet they remain blighted. It’s time to be proactive.
- The Transbay Plan doesn’t encompass much of Market, but it can inspire development nearby. More office space leads to more condominiums and apartments nearby.
- Rewrite the planning code to allow for more commercial zoning downtown. This is where transit is, and it’s the best location for future density.
- Ease the Historical Preservation restrictions. Many buildings along Market are old, and have the faults of older buildings. If it were profitable to remodel or reuse them, then it would have been done already. It’s time to acknowledge that not everything is worth saving.
- Remove some of the decrepit buildings near the Tenderloin. The Planning Department will tell you that any loss of affordable housing is a crime, but one has to question the level of standards that are employed. Many buildings are rotten beyond repair, but there is no reason to fix them. If we allow owners to replace buildings (while promising to house current tenants), but add more on top, then it’s a win-win.
As you might be able to tell, this was all off the top of my head. Again, if you have any suggestions, please feel free to add them!
Comments
Leave a Reply
