SAN FRANCISCO—San Francisco Mayor Edwin M. Lee and city planners have agreed to begin the process of redesigning the city’s Civic Center Plaza. The mayor and city planners made the decision after finding the plaza’s current look to appear “stripped” and “unwelcoming,” as listed in the Civic Center Public Space Design proposal. Previous redesign efforts were scrapped for various reasons over the last 55 years.

The $600,000 proposal invites designers to submit bids to civilize the Civic Center Plaza. The Planning Department met with candidates on Friday, January 20. Formal proposals are due by Friday, February 10.

The city has listed some general guidelines for the redesign, including words like “inspiring,” “holistic,” “sustainable,” and “inclusive.”

The designated design zone begins from UN Plaza to Fulton Street and into Civic Center Plaza, and ending leading up to the steps of City Hall.

Previous efforts to revamp the Civic Center’s look focused on trying to drive the homeless away from the area. City Hall officials would still like to see this happen, but the text of the new plan points out that “low-income and homeless residents rely on the Civic Center as open space.”

Curbed San Francisco reported that t
he present look of the Civic Center Plaza has not changed since 1961. The space still bears much resemblance to the original 1912 design.