Streetscape Improvements Moving Forward
The Castro/Upper Market Community Benefit District is making great strides in implementing its Neighborhood Beautification and Safety Plan from 2008.
Castro Street Design Project
The most recent project to be implemented is the Castro Street Design project. With the passage of the Road Repaving and Streets Safety Bond in 2011, monies became available to implement one of the core recommendations in the CBD’s streetscape plan for Castro St. which calls for sidewalk widening, intersection improvements, new street trees and other streetscape and landscaping improvements.
The S.F. Planning Department in collaboration with the Municipal Transportation Agency and the Department of Public Works are leading this effort. The project area includes the length of Castro Street from Market to the south side of 19th Street. In broad terms, the scope, includes, but is not limited to:
- Widening the sidewalks on the 400 and 500 blocks of Castro Street up to an additional 10 feet in width for a total of up to 22 feet of sidewalk space.
- Pedestrian safety improvements at the intersections of Market and Castro, 18th and Castro and 19th and Castro.
- Streetscape enhancements possibly including lighting, street trees, bike racks, street furniture.
- Special sidewalk/crosswalk paving.
- Landscaping and pocket parks.
Community involvement is critical to this process and all Castro area residents, merchants and property owners are encouraged to get involved. Go to the SF Planning Deptartment website to review the Planning Department’s website on this project and detailed materials. To submit your ideas to the Planning Department go to: Castro Street Design Workshop Survey (PDF) to complete the Workshop 1 Survey. This survey must be completed by February 8, 2013.
Workshop 1, the 1st of two community meetings, was held on January 23, 2013. “The January 23rd meeting was a great success”, stated Andrea Aiello, Executive Director, Castro/Upper Market CBD, “the room was packed with over 150 people, the process allowed for many to share their ideas, and the consensus was to move forward.”