The Market Octavia Living Alleys Program in San Francisco relies on resident-initiated design and implementation of alley improvements. Based on a collaborative effort led by the San Francisco Planning Department, the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency, and San Francisco Public Works, the Program includes a design and implementation toolkit to facilitate the creation of Living Alleys. The toolkit builds on elements of other programs such as the Better Streets Plan, the Parklet Program, Green Connections and the City’s Public Works Sidewalk Landscape Program to create a network of active, safe, and walkable alleys. But living alleys go further by claiming and rebalancing entire streets for both bike and pedestrian-priority zones, and by providing a range of public open spaces.
Linden Alley -San Francisco, CA
Linden Alley in in the Hayes Valley neighborhood of San Francisco was transformed into a pedestrian-friendly, “green” street creating an intimate social setting for people to linger and relax. Paved with single surface concrete, the widened pedestrian areas are separated and defined from the vehicle lane by plants and granite curbstone seating. A coffee shop with a serving window that opens up to the alley and several retail stores with alley entrances bring people and life to the alley. Linden Alley is most often referred to as the urban living room of Hayes Valley.
Annie Alley -San Francisco, CA
Annie Alley, a narrow alley that connects Market and Mission Streets between Third and New Montgomery Streets in San Francisco’s Yerba Buena Community Benefit District, was transformed into an active and comfortable plaza. The new alley encourages pedestrian and bicycle connectivity and brings people and events to this overlooked space. The alley hosts on-going weekly programming, such as picnics, film screenings and dance and music performances. CMG Landscape Architecture designed the space to include trellises with hanging plants, benches, and cafe tables. The temporary improvements were completed in 2014.
For you downtown advocates out there, take a look at the images on the next page and let us know what would you recommend for a space like this?