This Week's Top Stories

Embarcadero

Chainsaws at the Waterfront: Tree Removal Signals Embarcadero Plaza Overhaul Is Truly Underway

Crews began felling nearly 100 trees at Embarcadero Plaza on September 14, the first visible ground-level work on the $40 million waterfront park expected to open in early 2028.

The long-planned transformation of Embarcadero Plaza moved from blueprints to bulldozers this week. Crews started removing trees from the 5-acre site on Monday, September 14, according to the San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department — the first tangible construction activity since the Rec-Park Commission unanimously approved the final design in June. NBC Bay Area confirmed the work was underway as of that date. Of the plaza's 113 existing trees, 97 will come down.

Financial District

Dreamforce Crowds Gave Downtown a Mid-September Jolt

Salesforce's annual conference brought tens of thousands of attendees to Moscone Center September 15–17, providing a short-term but measurable boost to Financial District and Union Square businesses.

Dreamforce 2026 — Salesforce's flagship global conference — wrapped its three-day run at Moscone Center on September 17, drawing more than 40,000 in-person attendees to downtown San Francisco. For restaurants, hotels, and retailers in the Financial District and Union Square corridor, the annual conference is one of the most reliable revenue weeks of the year. CBS San Francisco reported this week that businesses near Moscone Center felt the impact immediately.

Union Square

Powell Street Makeover Is Locked In for a Fall Groundbreaking — Here's What the Corridor Will Look Like

With $40 million in public and private funding committed and construction documents in progress, Powell Street's first major streetscape overhaul in decades is weeks away from breaking ground.

The Powell Street Improvement Project — a $40 million redesign of the three-block stretch between the cable car turnaround at Market Street and Union Square — is in its final pre-construction phase, with crews expected to break ground this fall and a ribbon-cutting targeted for late 2027. Mayor Daniel Lurie signed legislation in June authorizing the city to accept a $14.5 million private grant from the San Francisco Downtown Development Corporation, anchored by a group of investors including former First Republic Bank executive Katherine August-deWilde and her husband David deWilde…

Upcoming Events

Thursday, September 18

People in Plazas: Country Concert at Rincon Center

📍 Rincon Center, 101 Spear St, Rincon Hill · 12:00 PM

Saturdays, ongoing

Ferry Plaza Farmers Market — Saturday Edition

📍 San Francisco Ferry Building, 1 Ferry Building, Embarcadero · 8:00 AM – 2:00 PM

Friday, September 25

Critical Mass Bike Ride — September Edition

📍 Embarcadero Plaza, foot of Market Street · Meet 5:30 PM, roll 6:30 PM

Sunday, October 4 – Monday, October 12

San Francisco Fleet Week 2026

📍 Embarcadero waterfront; Piers 27 & 35; San Francisco Bay · Various times

More from the Neighborhood

Downtown Visitor Count Hit a Record in Q2 2026

The Downtown San Francisco Partnership's second-quarter 2026 market report recorded 10.54 million non-resident visits to the Financial District and surrounding neighborhoods — a record for the district — along with hotel revenue…

BAPE Opens First Northern California Store at Union Square

A Bathing Ape — the Japanese streetwear brand known as BAPE — has opened its first Northern California location in Union Square, according to the Union Square Alliance's website.