The Crossing at East Cut: Revitalizing San Francisco A New Destination

A New Destination

The Crossing at East Cut in downtown San Francisco is a multi-year urban activation aimed at reviving city life post-pandemic. Occupying the 3.5-acre former SF Temporary Transit terminal, this evolving urban destination in downtown’s East Cut neighborhood brings locals and tourists together through continuous activities and amenities that celebrate community, promote wellness, and offer diverse entertainment experiences.

Transformative Partnerships and Future Developments

Driven by a public and private sector partnership, The Crossing is a free, open space that activates future development parcels that would otherwise be idle. It is one of the few undeveloped parcels left in downtown San Francisco, with future plans for affordable housing buildings, a public park, and a mixed-use high-rise. The site aims to become a central hub where workers and residents intersect, surrounded by the residential and office high-rise buildings in the area.

A Vibrant Community Hub

The urban design vision for The Crossing focuses on transforming this space into a lively community hub. By reinvigorating existing structures and implementing resilient community programming, the project creates opportunities for small businesses, outdoor recreation, all-ages entertainment, and safe gatherings. The asterisk logo, derived from the urban design diagram, symbolizes the intersection of wellness, sustainability, community, and entertainment, representing the diverse interests that shape this communal space.

Dynamic Activities and Programs

Identified through community engagement, The Crossing offers a wide array of activities, making it the neighborhood’s dynamic hub. Key features include food and beverage options like a beer garden, food kiosks, and food trucks, alongside community activities ranging from dog parks and kids’ play areas to seasonal celebrations and cultural festivals. The site hosts major events such as Super Bowl watch parties and Women’s World Cup Soccer, along with regular comedy and dance performances, free outdoor movie nights, and a summer-long youth rock band series. Fitness and recreation facilities, including an outdoor gym, street soccer, and pickleball courts, ensure a healthy, connected community.

Sustainability and Adaptability in Urban Design

The Crossing emphasizes sustainability with adaptable, resource-efficient temporary structures designed for reuse or recycling, aligning with circular economy principles. This project exemplifies a replicable model for temporary urban activations, turning underutilized land into vibrant recreational spaces through strategic architecture, landscape architecture, and urban design techniques that maximize the experience and minimize any excess.

Community Success

Originally set to operate only until permanent developments commenced, the success of The Crossing has led to community-requested delays for the future park space. Consequently, the activation will now continue until at least October 2026, extending beyond its initial three-year term. As of November 2023, construction has begun on the affordable housing project on Block 2, with some temporary activations being relocated within the site. The Crossing’s diverse offerings showcase how a centralized space can drive downtown recovery and resilience, strengthening communities through community benefit district operations, real estate, architecture, landscape, and urban design strategies and solutions.