One of the many differences between San Francisco and Washington

On the waterfront, not near it. SBC Park, San Francisco.

is a concern, if not an uncompromising commitment to the quality of the built environment on the part of leading government officials. This photo from the San Francisco Chronicle is captioned: SBC Park opened in 2000 as Pacific Bell Park. By far the most breathtaking of the 18 major league ballparks that have opened since 1989, it glories in its tight perch between a big city and a wide-open bay. SF Chronicle photo by Michael Macor.

Compare that to the process involved with the Washington Nationals stadium.

This and many great photos are part of the article, 15 SECONDS THAT CHANGED SAN FRANCISCO / The sweeping makeover that transformed the city began 15 years ago today with the Loma Prieta earthquake by John King.

The article is also relevant to "discussion" about the future of the Whitehurst Freeway, mentioned in a blog entry yesterday. (Also see this very good article from the Boston Globe, from 2002, "San Francisco Embarcadero Freeway Yerba Buena--Bay watch: Boston planners can learn a lot from the good, bad, and ugly of San Francisco public spaces.")
The elevated Embarcadero Freeway once ran directly in front of the Ferry Building. (Roma Design Group photo)

This same issue is relevant to the proposal to level and rebuild the Florida Market area. San Francisco rehabilitated the Ferry Building, part of the same "sweeping makeover" John King writes about, into a fantastic public market-food-centered district.

See:
-- Dream of Renaissance at Ferry Plaza," from 1995
-- Glory Days Again at Ferry Building - Developer ready to rejuvenate S.F. `gateway' from 2000, and these post-opening reviews
-- Kitchens catch fire: Red-hot Ferry Building rings up $50M food tab
-- A Ferry-tale beginning by the Bay: Downtown San Francisco food market emerges as a gastronome's paradise.
Ferry Market Plaza Farmers Market, San Francisco. AP Photo.

What a difference in vision and execution!

Index Keywords: urban-design-placemaking; stadiums-arenas