Skip to main content

Valencia Street and Grant Street: The first two “Shared Spaces” Street Closures 

Valencia Street and Grant Street: The first two “Shared Spaces” Street Closures 
By Phillip Pierce

To expand public space for physically distanced outdoor dining, retail and mobility, the city’s Shared Spaces program will close parts of Valencia Street to traffic starting this week. This temporary repurposing of Valencia Street from Thursdays to Sundays is similar to another zone created on Grant Street in Chinatown on weekends. 

Valencia and Grant streets are the first two full street closures in the Shared Spaces program, initiated by Mayor Breed to support the economic and social recovery of neighborhood businesses. 

 A shared space in front of a Mano restaurant

a Mano restaurant in Hayes Valley using the area in front of their restaurant as a Shared Space.  

A multiagency city program of the Economic Recovery Task Force, the program allows merchants to use sidewalks, full or partial streets, and other nearby public spaces like parks and plazas for restaurant pick-up and other neighborhood retail activity, as allowed by San Francisco’s Public Health Order.  

Valencia Street Shared Space 

Beginning this week and continuing through the fall, each Thursday through Sunday from 4:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., the following blocks will be closed to traffic and open for people: 

  • Valencia between 16th and 17th streets  

  • Valencia between 17th and 18th streets (Local traffic and deliveries allowed)  

  • Valencia between 18th and 19th streets 

Local traffic for residents and deliveries will be tightly controlled by ambassadors on Valencia between 17th and 18th streets. All parking for this block will be converted into short-term loading zones for the same hours each week. These loading zones will support take-out food orders, passenger drop-off and pick-up and similar uses. Normal parking will not be allowed on the block during this time. People walking and biking may pass through the entire length of the Shared Space on Valencia from 16th to 19th streets anywhere on the street. 

Grant Street Shared Space 

As of last weekend and through the fall, parts of Grant and Commercial streets in Chinatown will be temporarily closed to traffic every Saturday and Sunday from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Parking along the following blocks is restricted during the operational time and through traffic is advised to use other routes. 

  • Grant between California and Washington streets 

  • Commercial between Kearny Street and Grant Avenue 

The first weekend was huge success and the community looks forward to the coming weekends. As a reminder, these spaces are not for block parties/gatherings and all rules related to physical distancing, face covering, and other public health requirements apply. 

Find Out How Your Business Can Apply for Shared Spaces

For more information on the program or to apply visit the Shared Spaces website. Each application is reviewed by a city committee with representatives from SF Planning, SFMTA, Public Works, the Fire Department and SFPD to ensure it does not interfere with emergency operations, meets accessibility requirements and has a solid operation plan. Business owners self-manage the Shared Spaces and must have plans for public safety and compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).  



Published July 24, 2020 at 04:49AM
https://ift.tt/2D1LYv7
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

150 Years Ago Today – The Cable Car is Born

150 Years Ago Today – The Cable Car is Born By Kelley Trahan August 2, 2023, marks the 150th anniversary of the world’s first successful cable railway, born right here in San Francisco. To celebrate the occasion, we bring you the story of Andrew Hallidie and the very first cable car company, the Clay Street Hill Railroad.  Andrew Hallidie (1834-1900) was a pioneering inventor and entrepreneur who changed urban transportation. In 1852, at the age of 18, Hallidie emigrated with his father from the United Kingdom to San Francisco during the California Gold Rush. His father, an engineer and inventor, had a wire rope patent that played a crucial role in his son's future success.   Portrait of Andrew Smith Hallidie in 1890. Inspired by his father's wire rope business, Hallidie developed a steel cable mineral mine hauling system in 1857. About a decade later, he designed a wire rope aerial tramway for transporting materials over mountainous terrain. Then, after a stint in bridg...
Post a Comment
NEXT

Shared Spaces are Here to Stay. Permit Renewals are Due January 15, 2023.

Shared Spaces are Here to Stay. Permit Renewals are Due January 15, 2023. By Anne Yalon Shared Spaces, amongst many other benefits, allows our residents and families to enjoy safe and social outdoor dining. Seen here are the the owners of Tio Chilo’s Grill and their children in the restaurant’s parklet on 24th Street in the Mission.  San Francisco’s popular Shared Spaces program allows merchants, restaurants and arts and culture organizations to use the curbside, sidewalk and other public spaces to conduct local business activities and stay afloat. What emerged as an economic lifeline during the pandemic is making San Francisco’s streets more energized, engaged and activated. Many of the Shared Spaces parklets have become central gathering places for the local community. “ Our parklet makes me feel like when I go to Mexico, where outdoor seating is everywhere. People end up joining their friends in our parklet. It is a space for our customers and our community," said Liz V...
Post a Comment
NEXT

Tenderloin Streets Transform During COVID-19

Tenderloin Streets Transform During COVID-19 By Kimberly Leung COVID-19 has disproportionately impacted people who live and work in the Tenderloin. As a result, the SFMTA has been working closely with District 6 Supervisor Matt Haney’s office, other city departments, the Tenderloin Traffic Safety Task Force and community members to address the public health issues and unique challenges in the neighborhood through innovative interventions.    The Tenderloin is home to many of our most vulnerable communities including historically marginalized groups such as people with disabilities, residents of SROs and supportive housing and limited-English proficient communities. With every single street in the Tenderloin on the city’s High Injury Network -- the 13 percent of San Francisco streets that account for 75 percent of severe traffic injury collision and fatalities -- thi...
Post a Comment
NEXT