PRESS RELEASE

For Immediate Release:      

October 22, 2010

Contact: (415) 554-6926          

PUBLIC WORKS AND COMMUNITY CELEBRATE THE RENOVATION OF ALLEYWAYS IN CHINATOWN

San Francisco, CA— The Department of Public Works and the Chinatown Community Development Center celebrated the renovation of alleyways in Chinatown. The transformations are part of the Chinatown Alleyway Master Plan that aims to improve and enhance alleys in Chinatown.

“The restoration of these alleyways allows the City the opportunity to provide comprehensive public realm improvements to some of Chinatown’s most historical landscapes. The new features create a safe and attractive environment for people to enjoy the rich culture of the community,” said Board of Supervisor David Chiu, who represents the district.

The alleyway renovation projects were designed to improve pedestrian safety, provide accessibility compliant with the American with Disabilities Act, reduce illegal dumping, create open space through the installation of landscape features and seating, provide attractive and safe streets for tourists and visitors, enhance economic vitality for Chinatown, and improve the overall quality of life for residents. The scope of work included the reconstruction of roadways with decorative paving, color concrete and/or cobble paving; new pedestrian scale decorative street lights; undergrounding of utilities; new sewer lines; seating areas, and sidewalk bulb-outs.



“The Chinatown Alleyway Master Plan was a forward thinking and innovative plan to reinvigorate the public realm,” said Ed Reiskin, Director of the Department of Public Works. “Its concept to enliven the public space was a springboard for streetscape improvement projects that Public Works continues to implement citywide.”



The Chinatown Alleyway Master Plan was conceptualized by the community in 1994 and adopted by the city in 1998. Alleyways improved under this plan included Jack Kerouac, Waverly Place (two alleys), John, Commercial, Ross, Spofford, Cordelia, Beckett, Wentworth and Cooper. These were selected as Phase One under the Chinatown Alleyway Master Plan. The selection criteria were based on usage, location, and visibility. Chinatown, the most densely populated community in the city, has more than thirty alleyways in its twenty core blocks.  The alleys are narrow streets regularly used as pedestrian thoroughfares, social meeting places for residents, and storefronts for merchants.  These improvements were funded through $3.5 million in state and local funds. 



DPW is responsible for the care and maintenance of San Francisco’s streets and much of its infrastructure. The department cleans and resurfaces streets; plants and maintains City street trees; designs, constructs and maintains city-owned facilities; inspects streets and sidewalks; constructs curb ramps; removes graffiti from public property; and partners with the diverse neighborhoods in San Francisco to provide stellar cleaning and greening services.

   

                   

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