06/11/2026
Mayor Daniel Lurie yesterday signed legislation allowing the City to accept $14.5 million in private funding to revitalize the Powell Street corridor, connecting the cable car turnaround at Market Street to historic Union Square and accelerating downtown’s revitalization.
The Powell Street Improvement Project – which is being overseen by Public Works – represents a comprehensive reimagination of the streetscape along the three blocks from Market Street to Geary Street. The redesign includes new and widened sidewalks, fresh landscaping and updated cable car stops. There will be ample sidewalk space for restaurants and cafes to set up tables and chairs.
Public Works will be providing project management and construction management services. In collaboration with Field Operations, Public Works also will be providing engineering and design support services.
“With our Heart of the City plan, we are building a downtown that is full of energy 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Today, we are taking another major step toward that reality with an investment that will help transform Powell Street into a world-class gateway connecting visitors, workers, residents, and shoppers to Union Square and the heart of downtown San Francisco,” said Mayor Lurie. “Downtown’s recovery is not the work of any one sector – it takes city government, community organizations, small businesses, major employers, and civic leaders all pulling in the same direction. A stronger downtown means more jobs, more visitors supporting local businesses, and more revenue to fund the services San Franciscans rely on across our city. When downtown thrives, every neighborhood benefits.”
Art nouveau-inspired hanging lanterns – a nod to the area’s historic architecture – will line the corridor. The programmable LED lights can display different colors to elevate seasonal events and civic celebrations. The showstopper in the redesign will be a giant overhead starburst chandelier suspended above the cable car turnaround at Market and Powell streets.
The $14.5 million in private investment from the San Francisco Downtown Development Corporation augments $26 million in public funding from the 2024 Healthy, Safe and Vibrant San Francisco Bond and the pot of local sales tax revenue designated for transportation projects.
Construction is anticipated to start by fall 2026, with substantial completion expected in 2027.
“This reimagining of the Powell Street streetscape made possible by the public-private partnership will build on the momentum of the City’s continued resurgence by creating a more dynamic, safer, and more welcoming experience,” said Public Works Director Carla Short. “The benefits of transforming these three blocks will stretch beyond this corridor to revitalize the broader downtown neighborhood.”
Read the news release: https://www.sf.gov/news-mayor-lurie-signs-legislation-advancing-145-million-grant-for-powell-street-renovation-to-accelerate-san-franciscos-economic-comeback
