Plans to clear and grub the rather bleak planters that line Fourth and Folsom Streets, along the southern perimeter of Yerba Buena Gardens have been drawn. And as envisioned by CMG Landscape Architecture for the Yerba Buena Gardens Conservancy, a new mix of succulents, shrubs, perennials, agave plants and trees will fill the perimeter’s existing planters.
A new dog relief spot is slated to be constructed on the corner of Folsom and 4th as well, as rendered on the corner of Folsom and 3rd:
I love this. I always hated the way it looks in that area, the landscaping i mean, and especially along Folsom walking east.
I also love the dog taking a [wee]! and the couple watching him! haha.
Agree—the central YB gardens has great landscaping while the neighborhood borders are always barren and really unpleasant for neighbors. Would be even better if they expanded the sidewalks across/over the huge loading driveways and added a couple small spaces for neighborhood cafe/food kiosks (coffee, pastries, etc.) to actually give locals a reason to hang out here. Also maybe some benches/restrooms for folks taking a break with their dogs?
What it needs is more trees. A lot more trees.
What it really needs is demo’ing that whole end of the block! and build new there. That building was badly designed to begin with – anti-urban form, with a weird mix of raw brutalist concrete and silly PoMo details – plus it has not aged well since…
Now that the recent expansion has come to a close it’ll probably be another 10-15 years before that has a chance of happening. I wouldn’t hold your breath
Well, there were plants there before – the problem (as always) is lack of maintenance, and homeless / drug use in the bushes. Combined with the brutalist architecture and the lack of a feel of accessibility (blank concrete walls, stairways going who-knows-where), this won’t really do anything to improve that area.
They should rip out the entire hardscape and create something that can be used at a pedestrian level.
Yup. It’s designed like an inward-facing fortress – horrible urban planning for a public space. Moscone folks don’t care bc they are only serving visitors/conventioneers not locals.
You nailed it. It’s always lack of maintenance. SF loves funding splashy projects but never budget for maintenance. There is no advocacy group for maintenance.
To be honest, this seems to be a UNIVERSAL American problem. Not just in San Francisco. One example I love to bring up is from the small city of Benicia up on the Carquinez Straits. A wealthy little city with plenty of tax revenues from the big refinery/industrial park. They have an elaborate network of bayside trails and parks, but the overall maintenance is just…poor. Most of the parks look shabby as all heck.
Politicians don’t get to cut ribbons and turn shovels for the cameras for maintenance.
But I agree 110%. This is a huge problem in SF and all over America. Look at the state of our bridges.
Or the roads in Napa County and Sonoma County. (Although the latter has gotten better the last two years or so). Just pathetic. One city street in the heart of Napa’s Victorian district has literally work away down to the gravel base of the street. I think for the very reason you cite.
Not to beat this topic to death (and not really SF focused) but the “bicycle city” Davis built a short while ago this bizarre separated bicycle route on Mace Blvd. Elaborate concrete work, fancy signage, etc. But they have allowed the network of neighborhood bicycle paths to decay almost into unusability. I can guess that the average resident would prefer the money be spent on maintenance rather than a fancy project of limited utility.
Triumph the insult dog loves the design.
You put in a nice enough succulent or agave it will just be stolen.
This is true. It’s not about maintenance if you can’t even keep the plants in the first place. Remember the lovely little succulent planters by the main library?