There have been a lot of COVID-related changes to our neighborhood over the past two years. Prior to the pandemic, our streets were exclusively for cars (either parked or moving). The only space for pedestrians were the narrow sidewalks - only three feet wide in some locations! Businesses were not allowed to have any presence on the street (especially if they were serving alcohol) without obtaining difficult and costly permits. Now, people and businesses are using our streets in unprecedented ways. It will be curious to see what remains and what changes in the months and years to come.

The state of ground-floor retail was not in a great place at the beginning of 2020, and the pandemic did not help. While it’s been sad to see neighborhood favorites like Cafe Flore sit empty, it’s been inspiring to see other gems like L'Ardoise Bistro adapt. The new parklet spaces that extend businesses into our streets have become a staple of city life during COVID-19. DTNA has been a strong supporter of these efforts, encouraging businesses to get creative and do whatever they can to not just survive, but thrive. Overall, they have been a net positive to our city streets. The extra life and vitality make a stroll through our neighborhood even more exciting. Even the simpler parklets, such as the waiting area outside of Healing Cuts SF, have created a chance to bump into friends. Sure, you may have to do a bit more sidewalk dodging if it’s a hopping night at Willkommen, but that’s part of living in a city. Plus, the extra “eyes on the street” are a great way to make our neighborhood safer.

Another notable change to our neighborhood caused by the pandemic is the Noe Slow Street. DTNA played a very active role in having Noe Street selected for SFMTA’s program. Having been installed for several months now, it’s been wonderful to see people walking, playing, and even celebrating (10/17 Phoenix Day Block Party) in the street. This would have been almost impossible to imagine and implement before the pandemic. Now, it’s a valued asset to our neighborhood. It’s not perfect, and hopefully, over time, people will grow more accustomed to it. No one should feel stigmatized for walking or driving (or rollerblading) on Noe Street. It is a space that belongs to all of us, and something we need to learn to share. 

Overall, we have all witnessed and had to live with some pretty significant changes to Duboce Triangle that probably would have never been possible if not for the pandemic. DTNA is a proud advocate for parklets, shared streets, and slow streets. We see them as a silver lining to the depressing lockdowns of COVID-19. Now, as the pandemic seems to be winding down (fingers crossed) and we enter a new normal, it will be interesting to see what becomes of these additions to our neighborhood. Hopefully, they also become a new normal. An integral part of Duboce Triangle. Without the masks and restrictions, we are able to use these amenities in a new way - with smiling faces.