About Business

The history of Yerba Buena Gardens is one of transformation. The downtown San Francisco site once was part of a challenged neighborhood. Today, it is part of an 87-acre urban redevelopment project and is recognized as one of the top 30 urban parks in the nation with a mixture of housing, open space, cultural facilities, children’s facilities, a convention center, and commercial development. The work of the San Francisco Redevelopment Agency and the community transformed the area and this one-of-a-kind destination is now considered a model for how to improve public space and urban areas.The guiding vision for Yerba Buena has been that of a genuine neighborhood: a diverse mixture of different uses and constituencies co-existing in a new downtown community. The project was integrated into the city, both architecturally and programmatically. The result has been a balance of interests rather than a one-dimensional – and ultimately fragile approach.This inclusive process resulted in a series of diverse projects being completed that did not ignore the bottom line economics or the aesthetics of the project or neighborhood goals. In 1993 the Esplanade and Yerba Buena Center for the Arts opened and the initial Moscone expansion was completed. In 1998, the Central children’s area, including ice rink, Childcare Center, and Children’s Creativity Museum opened. A year later, Metreon opened. During 1987-1990, San Francisco Museum of Modern Art decided to relocate to Yerba Buena. It opened in 1995 and is currently undergoing a new expansion.

• Parks and Museums
• Concert Venue
• Park
• Event Venue