San Francisco, CA — Mayor London N. Breed, Supervisor Matt Haney, the Office of Community Investment and Infrastructure (OCII), the Transbay Joint Powers Authority (TJPA), and East Cut Landing Partners (ECLP) today celebrated the opening of The Crossing at East Cut (“The Crossing”). The block between Howard, Main, Folsom, and Beale Streets will temporarily host community activities and events beginning today, September 10, through mid-2023, when the development of affordable and market-rate housing is scheduled to begin on the site.

As part of Mayor Breed’s Downtown Recovery Plan, the temporary activation of the approximately 3.5-acre site in the Transbay neighborhood will help revitalize San Francisco’s downtown area and support the City’s economic recovery.

“This year has shown us just how essential access to outdoor space is for the well-being of our communities and the overall development of our city,” said Mayor Breed. “This beautifully designed site will provide a safe and engaging space for both community members and visitors of our city to get outside and enjoy the vibrancy of our downtown core.”

The Crossing provides opportunities for community members to gather outdoors and support local businesses safely. Today, September 10, The Crossing opens with a family-friendly beer garden, food trucks, soccer fields, and a ground mural in the easily accessible and freshly designed space. 

ECLP, a partnership between the East Cut Community Benefit District, Street Soccer USA, Real Active, and Nestory Park, will ultimately offer fitness space, an outdoor cinema, food and retail kiosks, a community marketplace, play areas and flex space for events, classes, and other community-serving uses.

"This is a neighborhood that is growing and thriving, but absolutely needs more open space for the community to gather, play and enjoy,” said Supervisor Matt Haney. “The Crossing was designed to meet that need in close partnership with residents. With so many fun aspects and features, it's definitely going to add even more vibrancy to one of our city's fastest growing neighborhoods."

“OCII is pleased to partner with ECLP to provide an exciting space for community-serving activities while we work on bringing forward the future housing and park developments that will add to this already dynamic neighborhood,” said Sally Oerth, Interim Executive Director of the Office of Community Investment and Infrastructure.

“The TJPA is excited by the impending activation of the former Temporary Transbay Terminal that will provide San Franciscans a variety of fun, community offerings while revitalizing this burgeoning neighborhood and helping the City’s economic recovery,” said Nila Gonzales, Interim Executive Director of the Transbay Joint Powers Authority.

ECLP added, “After collaborating with residents, business owners, and the City, we look forward to launching this fun and safe outdoor venue to be enjoyed by all.”

The Crossing is a key example of Mayor Breed’s Downtown Recovery Plan aimed at encouraging people to return to the City’s downtown core by ensuring a welcoming environment that offers a range of activities and opportunities for public participation. The opening of the Crossing joins initiatives like the Downtown Ambassadors Program and SFWednesdays to offer full-time programming throughout the week and on weekends.

Throughout the pandemic, the economic impacts of the necessary health precautions were felt most strongly by small businesses in San Francisco’s downtown. As the high vaccination rate in San Francisco, coupled with ongoing health measures such as masking indoors, has reduced the public health risk of resuming many in-person activities, the City is investing in the infrastructure and opportunities that draw people back to support the recovery of the businesses, workers, and cultural institutions. 

The Crossing allows local businesses to operate outdoors and provides a space that promotes community health and wellness and space for community members to gather safely in the Transbay neighborhood seven days a week. Tentatively, the site will operate starting at 6:00 am for fitness uses and 7:00 am for general uses until 10:00 pm on weekdays and 11:00 pm on weekends, with weekend cinema screenings extending to 12:00 am. 

ECLP proposes to operate the site through the commencement of construction of permanent affordable and market-rate housing, and park uses on the site, currently planned for mid-2023. ECLP has planned programming that follows San Francisco health directives and asks that participants protect the health and safety of others by wearing masks, practicing good hygiene, and following social distancing protocols.

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