In 1961, a report entitled “What to Do About Market Street” stated that “Market Street is a Paradox. It is San Francisco’s most famous street. It is wide, busy, and important. But is is also congested, dirty and unattractive.” Fifty years later these sentiments still persist. Once Northern California’s center for theatre and entertainment, the district has undergone a precipitous economic decline. For half a century, Mid-Market has suffered from severe disinvestment, neglect from property owners, blight, and homelessness.
In 2010, (long before it was clear that tech companies would be in San Francisco, let alone on Mid Market) San Francisco Beautiful issued a timely report call the Mid-Market Activation report which has served as a manual for the myriad efforts that have success engaged more city agencies, philanthropists, neighbors, and businesses in contributing to the street life.
Today, the City of San Francisco, through the Mayor’s Office of Economic Development, the Planning Department, the Arts Commission, and the MTA are working in conjunction with numerous businesses, arts organizations, and non-profits like San Francisco Beautiful to address these problems and revitalize this historic boulevard.