The mini-plaza at Treat Avenue and 16th Street is usually empty and deserted, something the city hopes to change with a little financial incentive.
The city is offering grants of up to $15,000 to encourage creative events at the plaza and revitalize the area, a 1,600-square-feet public space located at the corner of Treat Avenue, Harrison Street and 16th Street.
The grant, which also offers technical support to each winner, is open to residents, small businesses, groups and nonprofit organizations located within a half-mile radius of the space. Its deadline has been extended to March 8 at noon.
After reviewing the program guidelines and application questions, those interested can complete a questionnaire online and then email their budget and letter of recommendation to minigrants@intothestreetssf.com.
“The goal is to activate Treat Plaza with recurring activities and events,” said Maro Guevara, communication and partnership manager of the grant program facilitator, Into The Streets, a production studio specializing in outdoor cultural events. “Folks are encouraged to be super creative.”
Some examples: Block parties, neighborhood clean-ups, planting or restoration projects, weekly workshops and events with performances and retail vending.
The budgets for recurring events should not exceed $15,000, and budgets for a single block party or a one-off special event should stay under $7,500.
The program is funded by the Department of Public Works, the Planning Department and the Office of Economic & Workforce Development.
Winning projects are organized at and around Treat Plaza through the end of June 2024. The events are required to be free to the public.
“We are hoping to make awards soon,” Guevara said. “It really depends on how quickly folks submit their applications.”
Should you have any questions, you visit the Treat Plaza mini-grant website for more information, or write to minigrants@intothestreetssf.com or call (415) 226-6208 for assistance.
I love it,
How about a Parisian Stroll a’ la Irma la Duce only whereas in the movie they used actresses, in San Francisco we use real Hookers ??
“Here come the banker and the lawyer and cop; one thing for certain it ain’t never gonna stop.”
Bob Seger (‘Fire down below’)
h.
Isn’t it great to have a city with the resources and talent to be able to “think outside the box?”
Why then am I not surprised, and a tad skeptical of projects like this one?
Whereas $15,000 is probably loose change for a city with deep pockets, how will the city cover the the cost of the technical support? And does this imply any form of political clientelism?
After ribbon-cutting day, such projects seem to have a short shelf life and produce dwindling benefits. Also they tend to repurpose what should intuitively belong to the public into space to be utilized for potential commercial purposes.
Our little “Sparc” on Turk Street between Jones and Leavenworth (a short-sighted nod to equality that was built when fancy parklets popped up elsewhere) is still a cold and uninviting eyesore. It did manage to make homeless campers move around the corner. Perhaps that was what it was really intended for. I wouldn’t know. I was not in on that committee. What could $15,000 do for it?
The parklet’s naked yellow gibbets are a daily insult. I am not alone in thinking that they look more fit for hanging people than bouquets of flowers (which I suppose they were intended for, but never materialized).
Sigh.
Why is the broke city spending money to activate bad projects that the public is not interested in? Quit speeding our money on stuff we don’t need and take care of the stuff we do.