After undergoing a comprehensive five-year public process, the Japantown Peace Plaza renovation project is poised to begin groundbreaking soon. The project proposal includes the renovation of the plaza between the East and West malls.
The project is designed by the San Francisco Department of Public Works for San Francisco Recreation & Parks Department and Japantown Task Force, Inc. Plant Construction Company, LP will renovate the Japantown Peace Plaza.
Japantown Peace Plaza Existing Plan via San Francisco Recreation & Parks/Public Works
Japantown Peace Plaza is a major cultural landmark celebrating iconic structures like the historic Peace Pagoda monument. The outdoor plaza is over 30,000 square feet in area and built over a parking garage. Named the Peace Plaza Vision Plan, the project will bring to life the vision proposed for the central public space in San Francisco’s Japantown. The scope of work includes demolition of the existing plaza down the structural roof slab, seismic retrofit of structural concrete, and installation of new, below-grade drainage and waterproofing. The plaza will be completed with new pavers, landscape planters and irrigation, decorative walls, curbs and railings, lighting and electrical systems. Architectural work includes the construction of a new storage building. The existing buildings at the Japan Center Mall that front the edge of Peace Plaza as well as the parking garage below will be occupied and used by the public during construction.
Japantown Peace Plaza Street View via San Francisco Recreation & Parks/Public Works
Once completed, the renovated plaza will have all new features: new paving (over new waterproofing), planting, informal seating, and maintain the highly used, central gathering space for cultural events.
Per the San Francisco Department of Public Works, Japantown Center will remain open throughout construction. All entrances will remain open to the public. The website also states that $25 million of the 2020 SF Health and Recovery Bond is allocated for the renovation project.
Japantown Peace Plaza Pagoda and Cherry Trees via San Francisco Recreation & Parks/Public Works
The construction timeline is anticipated to be 18 months, starting in June 2024.
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This isn’t a major renovation but it’s an investment in the community which will spur visitors and influence decision making for the next few decades. We also need just dozens more of these car free plazas.
This plaza is another public works scam for mayor to make under table money, the last time it was done was during Mayor Willie Brown administration , now Mayor London Breed administration. Nothing at the plaza changed, it still has leaking roof, wonder why the fountain is no longer filled with water! Look at the rendition that looks the same, wonder where your tax dollars goes? To these projects that line politician pockets with minimal benefits to the neighbourhood!
It’s not terrible, but I don’t love it. What would be really nice is if it were connected better across Post, since the other half of the plaza is almost nicer than this half.
I know they’re not going to close Post to cars, but maybe they could narrow it to 2 lanes, with expanded curbs? A lot of the cars going east turn into the japantown garage anyway, before the crossing.
I don’t see significant improvement to the plaza to take “25 million dollars taken from SF health & Recovery bond allocation for renovation project” it looks like the money allocated for health should be spent more wisely .