Mayor Daniel Lurie announced legislation today to bring five more entertainment zones to San Francisco, including one on Valencia Street between 16th and 21st streets. Along with four other locations throughout the city, this would allow for legal, open-container boozing, performances and events on the commercial corridor.
The five zones are: Valencia Street; Pier 39; Ellis Street between Stockton and Powell streets; Folsom Street between Seventh and Eighth streets; and Yerba Buena Lane between Market and Mission streets, and at Jessie Square.
The legislation allows the areas to close to traffic during public events, so pedestrians can wander the streets on foot, buy alcohol from participating businesses, and publicly imbibe. Valencia, for instance, will be closed every second Thursday of the month from May through October.
The schedules of the other four zones are unclear. They join four others announced since September last year: Cole Valley, Thrive City outside Chase Center, Front Street and Harlan Place.
This is part of an ongoing effort by Lurie and Sen. Scott Wiener to revitalize San Francisco nightlife, an initiative started under Mayor London Breed. So far, much of Lurie’s push has involved various attempts to get young people out into the streets with a beer or cocktail in hand.
First concentrated downtown, where post-pandemic recovery has been particularly sluggish, proposals for new entertainment zones have since popped up across the city.
Business owners in Cole Valley and on Front Street have sung the praises of entertainment zones, and said they benefited from increased foot traffic. Merchants citywide now want entertainment zones on their corridors, but some have argued that high fees and an extensive permitting process has made securing approval difficult.
Lurie’s legislation, slated to be introduced at the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday, is co-sponsored by District 9 Supervisor Jackie Fielder, District 3 Supervisor Danny Sauter, and District 6 Supervisor Matt Dorsey.
Earlier this month, Mission Local reported that a new night market will come to Valencia Street starting on May 8, transforming the street into an “entertainment zone” for the duration of the market. Valencia will close to traffic during those hours, and market-goers can drink alcoholic beverages sold by participating businesses in public areas and enjoy outdoor performances.
Valencia merchants expressed hope that the street will become a permanent entertainment zone as the official “Arts and Entertainment District of the Mission.”
This designation would allow for flexible street use, including outdoor performances, carrying an open container, and hosting events, in addition to the Valencia Night Market.
“Valencia Street and Mission have long been a destination for nightlife, arts and culture,” said Katy Birnbaum, founder of the outdoor events nonprofit Into the Streets. She said Valencia would be a “fantastic” entertainment zone.
“The energy and foot traffic that entertainment zones bring would be a great boon for the corridor, and in turn, the corridor will be a great example of what an entertainment zone can be in San Francisco.”
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