Justin Herman Plaza

The plaza in 2009

Justin Herman Plaza is a plaza along the Embarcadero in San Francisco's Financial District, in the U.S. state of California.

The plaza, located at the eastern end of Market Street, opened in 1972. It is named for M. Justin Herman, executive director of the San Francisco Redevelopment Agency (1959-71). The plaza is frequented by nearby office workers on lunch break and by families with small children. Summer features free daytime concerts while winter features an ice skating rink. The Critical Mass bicycle rides have gathered in the plaza for over twenty years. The controversial Vaillancourt Fountain dominates one end of the plaza.[1] La Chiffonniere is also installed in the plaza.

In 2017, County Supervisor Aaron Peskin introduced a resolution to rename the site Embarcadero Plaza, citing Herman's role in displacing poor and minority residents from the Western Addition, Fillmore, Chinatown, and South of Market neighborhoods while presiding over the San Francisco Redevelopment Agency.[2] The San Francisco Board of Supervisors passed the resolution unanimously on September 19, 2017. The name Embarcadero Plaza will be temporary until a new official name can be decided upon.[3] The Board's resolution is nonbinding, as the authority to change the name rests with the San Francisco Recreation and Park Commission. Peskin stated he had received an unsolicited text from the owner, Boston Properties, which said they would cover the cost of replacing the plaque bearing Herman's name.[4]

References

  1. ↑ "Justin Herman – Embarcadero Plaza". San Francisco Recreation & Parks Department. Retrieved August 3, 2013.
  2. ↑ Dineen, J.K. (July 27, 2017). "SF Supervisor Peskin ramps up drive to rename Justin Herman Plaza". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved September 11, 2017.
  3. ↑ "SF Leaders Vote Unanimously to Rename Justin Herman Plaza". NBC Bay Area. September 19, 2017. Retrieved September 19, 2017.
  4. ↑ Swan, Rachel (September 19, 2017). "SF supervisors want Justin Herman's name yanked off plaza". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved September 21, 2017.

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