In early May, following a direct recommendation from ULI SF’s Downtown Revitalization Advisory Services Panel, Mayor London Breed has proposed turning Front Street into California’s first entertainment zone which will bring nightlife into the downtown core. “Our goal is to encourage more fun and accessible outdoor community events,” Mayor Breed stated. “Our message is clear: San Francisco is having fun, thriving, and open for business.”

The ULI Advisory Services Panel (ASP), which convened urban planning and real estate experts in May 2023 from across the country to provide recommendations on revitalizing San Francisco’s downtown post-Covid-19, identified Front Street as an ideal location for an entertainment zone. This recommendation was based on the street’s walkability, high concentration of bars and restaurants, and low concentration of residential buildings. By allowing bars and restaurants to sell alcohol directly on the street and promoting entertainment activities, Front Street has the potential to become a new downtown destination within San Francisco for residents and tourists alike.

This proposal is just one of many recommendations from the ASP that has been implemented across the City. In just the last year since the panel convened, there has been funding for new downtown events and activities, alongside investments in public spaces, many of which coincided directly with recommendations from the ULI panel. The City has also revised tax structures and introduced programs to attract new businesses downtown, and a bill (AB 2488) is currently being reviewed by the Assembly supporting enhanced infrastructure financing districts, which was backed by ULI’s findings. Additionally, the City launched a PR campaign, “It All Starts Here SF”, which was also a strategy recommended by the panel.

Concurrently, the passage of Proposition C on the ballot in March, eliminating the transfer tax for office to residential conversions in the City, followed a report ULI SF and SPUR produced, “From Workspace to Homebase” exploring the feasibility of conversion projects under different economic conditions and policy scenarios. This legislative change is expected to facilitate the transformation of underutilized office spaces into much-needed residential units, contributing to the overall revitalization efforts.

We look forward to continuing to track the City’s progress and applaud all of the great work that ULI members are contributing towards downtown revitalization across the country. A detailed report outlining the ASP findings may be found here. You can also view a recording of the panelists presenting their findings alongside the City in a public webinar presented on October 18, 2023.