San Francisco residents just got a new glimpse of the future Embarcadero Plaza waterfront.
At a community meeting on April 28th, city officials and developers unveiled new proposed renderings for the highly anticipated $40 million redevelopment of Embarcadero Plaza. The proposal aims to transform the aging public space into a vibrant, modern “living room” for the city.
Goodbye, Vaillancourt Fountain
The newly released renderings showcase a dramatic departure from the plaza’s current 1970s Brutalist aesthetic. At the center of the redesign is a major and controversial change: The planned removal of the historic Vaillancourt Fountain.
The concrete structure dates back to 1971, but after mounting structural issues, it’s sat dry since 2024. Faced with high restoration costs and safety concerns, the San Francisco Arts Commission made the difficult decision to approve the fountain’s removal late last year.
The new design instead utilizes that footprint to offer open, flexible community space designed to draw both everyday locals and tourists alike, replacing the concrete with multi-use lawns.
Designed to foster community gathering and enhance pedestrian waterfront access, the proposed layout features expansive green areas, shaded seating, a brand-new children’s playground, and dedicated community performance spaces.
Timeline to groundbreaking
This ambitious overhaul is the result of a massive public-private partnership between the San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department and BXP, the property group behind the adjacent Embarcadero Center. The project is currently listed in the “Design” phase.
City officials have previously cited a mandate to break ground by the fall of 2026, but the SF Rec & Parks website still lists “Groundbreaking” as “TBD” on their timeline. The newly unveiled concepts must still go through final rounds of community feedback and environmental reviews in the coming months.
Head to the website to find out how you can join the conversation.
