News

Mayor Lurie’s downtown revitalization effort reaches a major milestone as the San Francisco Downtown Development Corporation announces $60 million in private commitments, with Google and OpenAI among the funders backing the public-private recovery initiative.

A major downtown street party generated $27.9 million in local economic activity, demonstrating that large-scale activation events can meaningfully boost foot traffic and spending in the city’s recovering core, with organizers already planning a return in 2026.

The privately funded street ambassador program at downtown BART stops is set to grow, with plans to bring trained welcomers to more Market Street stations. The Examiner looks at the program’s early impact and what expansion would mean for safety and visitor experience.

The San Francisco Downtown Development Corporation’s first major investment: dramatically increasing sidewalk power-washing near Moscone Center from twice a month to five days a week, aiming to improve the convention corridor’s cleanliness and hospitality for visitors and businesses.

As the largely vacant San Francisco Centre mall awaits its future, a large-scale art installation wrapped around its exterior facade offers a creative use of the empty space and a splash of color to the stretch of downtown.

The East Cut neighborhood hosts a Super Bowl LX watch party thanks to funding from the Downtown Development Corporation. The event demonstrates how the DDC is channeling resources into neighborhood activations that drive foot traffic and community engagement downtown.

Mayor Lurie’s downtown revival initiative receives early momentum as private donors commit millions to the newly formed San Francisco Downtown Development Corporation. The Chronicle breaks down who is giving, how much has been raised, and what the funds are expected to support.

David Stiepelman, co-founding partner of global investment firm Sixth Street Partners, steps up to chair the newly formed San Francisco Downtown Development Corporation. The profile explores his motivations, his vision for revitalizing downtown, and the collaborative approach he’s bringing to the role.

In an exclusive, the Chronicle reveals that Shola Olatoye, a veteran affordable housing and public housing executive, has been selected as the first CEO of the San Francisco Downtown Development Corporation, the nonprofit at the center of Mayor Lurie’s downtown recovery push.

As major conventions return to Moscone Center, the privately funded cleanup effort along the Convention Corridor expands its reach and frequency. CBS reports on the growing partnership between the Downtown Development Corporation and neighborhood community benefit districts.

A pilot program placing trained ambassadors at downtown BART stations has delivered striking results, a significant reduction in 911 calls. The SF Standard covers early data from the initiative and the push to extend it to more Market Street stations.

San Francisco rings in the New Year with a free street party in the heart of downtown, giving residents a festive reason to gather outdoors and helping reclaim public space as a draw. The event is part of a broader strategy to reinvigorate downtown through programming.

In his first State of the City address, Mayor Daniel Lurie strikes an optimistic tone, spotlighting downtown recovery, public safety progress, and the city’s renewed focus on livability and economic vitality as early signs of his administration’s direction.

Indigenous artist Jeffrey Gibson is commissioned by ICA San Francisco to create a major public artwork for Super Bowl LX in the Bay Area. The piece will bring contemporary Native American art to a global stage during one of the world’s most-watched sporting events.

The Downtown Development Corporation leans into creative programming for Valentine’s Day, including an activation featuring goats, as part of a broader strategy to attract visitors, support small businesses, and bring energy back to downtown San Francisco through fun, unexpected events.

A beloved San Francisco Valentine’s Day tradition returns to the downtown area, drawing crowds and giving local small businesses a welcome seasonal boost as the city continues its push to revitalize the commercial core through events and community programming.

San Francisco Business Times’ annual Newsmaker 100 list spotlights the Bay Area’s most influential headline makers of 2026, recognizing leaders across business, civic life, and culture who have shaped the region’s direction over the past year. This year’s list features the DDC’s own Shola Olatoye and David Stiepleman.