Opposition to Pedestrian-Only Street Proposal Surfaces in San Francisco

The same political force that helped bring the Central Subway in San Francisco is now opposing a proposal that grew in the project's wake—turning Stockton Street into a permanent pedestrian space.

1 minute read

August 11, 2016, 9:00 AM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Stockton Street

drserg / Shutterstock

Matier & Ross report from San Francisco that a Chinatown political activist named Rose Pak is marshaling forces to obstruct a proposal to turn lower Stockton Street into a pedestrian walkway.

"The idea of turning lower Stockton Street into a permanent pedestrian space — possibly with a provision for buses — has been percolating since the city tore up the once heavily traveled link between Chinatown and Market Street five years ago to build the Central Subway," according to Matier & Ross. Business in the area suffered while subway work was underway, so the city compromised by suspending work during the holiday season and "turning the three-block stretch between Market and Post streets into an artificial-turf-covered walkway complete with benches, food trucks and nighttime light shows."

Union Square merchants support the proposal to permanently turn Stockton Street into a pedestrian-only space, but Pak disagrees. She's opposing a preliminary study on the proposal, arguing that Stockton Street is "a vital link in and out of Chinatown that needs to be restored to its old self as soon as possible."

Sunday, August 7, 2016 in San Francisco Chronicle

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

June 18, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Two people walking away from camera through pedestrian plaza in street in Richmond, Virginia with purple and white city bus moving in background.

Vehicle-related Deaths Drop 29% in Richmond, VA

The seventh year of the city's Vision Zero strategy also cut the number of people killed in alcohol-related crashes by half.

June 17, 2025 - WRIC

Woman and young girl looking at subway map, woman pointing.

Can We Please Give Communities the Design They Deserve?

Often an afterthought, graphic design impacts everything from how we navigate a city to how we feel about it. One designer argues: the people deserve better.

June 9, 2025 - John Pobojewski

Close-up of yellow and black goldspotted oak borer beetle on blade of grass.

Southern Californians Survey Trees for Destructive Oak Pest

Hundreds of volunteers across five counties participated in the first Goldspotted Oak Borer Blitz, surveying oak trees for signs of the invasive beetle and contributing valuable data to help protect Southern California’s native woodlands.

3 hours ago - UC ANR Green Blog

New five-story apartment building under construction.

Opinion: How Geothermal HVAC Lowers Costs, Improves Grid Resilience

Geothermal heating and cooling systems can reduce energy costs and dramatically improve efficiency.

5 hours ago - Greater Greater Washington

Close-up on clipboard with pre-tenancy application and red pen.

Tenant Screening: A Billion-Dollar Industry with Little Oversight. What’s Being Done to Protect Renters?

Reports show that the data tenant screening companies use is often riddled with errors and relies on information that has no bearing on whether someone will be a good tenant.

7 hours ago - Shelterforce Magazine