The need for public open space in urban places like San Francisco's South of Market is not new. SoMa, as a light industrial / warehouse district, has always been home to thousands of workers as well as residents who could have benefited from such spaces. The area was not, however, planned with open space in mind, and existing public spaces are limited in number, size, and accessibility. Now the need for open space is even greater. The future health of this diverse urban fabric depends, in large measure, on open space development.

Public Architecture's self-initiated proposal seeks to convert one of the primary arterials, Folsom Street, into a more pedestrian-oriented, with Sidewalk Plazas, permanent sidewalk bulbouts that create new spaces for a variety of outdoor activities and urban amenities. A series of Plazas, installed incrementally, would provide diverse public amenities, keyed to the particular conditions of SoMa’s varying uses. This would make for a responsive, rather than prescriptive, urban plan. This plan quickly earned support from the San Francisco Planning Department, Redevelopment Agency, and Transportation Authority as well as numerous community groups.

The first Sidewalk Plaza will be constructed in front of Brainwash Café Laundromat on Folsom Street. The centerpiece of Brainwash Plaza will be 18 foot long “Community Table” that will provide communal sitting space not only for the patrons of the business but the entire neighborhood. It will be a public outdoor gathering space around which the community can come together. It’s scheduled to be built by the end of 2008.

The design is being done by Public Architecture in conjunction with CMG Landscape Architecture. Funds for the project are being provided by the City of San Francisco through a community grant fund, the owner of Brainwash (who will also serve as project steward), the LEF Foundation, and the Studio for Urban Projects SEED Fund.

The ultimate aim of this design campaign is to improve the quality of spaces available for social interaction and to engage local residents in the process of creating and advocating for better community environments. The Sidewalk Plaza is also meant to be prototypical, providing tools that can be employed in other communities facing similar issues.

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