Mayor Lurie, Community Leaders Cut Ribbon, Celebrate Completion of Potrero Gateway Project, Unveil New Public Art

SAN FRANCISCO (April 28, 2025) – Mayor Daniel Lurie today, joined by District 10 Supervisor Shamann Walton and community and city leaders, cut the ribbon on a transformative streetscape project in Potrero Hill. The project, which widens sidewalks and protects bike lanes, creates a safer, more welcoming, and more accessible passageway for pedestrians and cyclists.  

As part of his work to make San Francisco safer, Mayor Lurie has supported projects that do so while making communities more vibrant and welcoming for residents and visitors. Last month, Mayor Lurie launched San Francisco’s first-in-the-state automated speed camera program, immediately making streets across the city safer for pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers. Shortly after, he broke ground on the long-anticipated project to transform the Buchanan Street Mall into a vibrant public space that honors the Western Addition’s rich cultural heritage.

“I’m excited to celebrate the opening of the Potrero Gateway, a project that’s making Potrero Hill safer and more inviting,” said Mayor Lurie. “Our administration is working relentlessly to make sure San Franciscans can feel safe walking in their communities. Congratulations to the city leaders and community groups who advocated for this project and fought for a brighter version of their neighborhood.”

The Potrero Gateway project, led by San Francisco Public Works and members of the Potrero Hill and Dogpatch communities, transformed the U.S. Highway 101 underpass on 17th Street, between San Bruno Avenue and Vermont Street, as well as the adjacent block of Vermont Street, between 17th Street and Mariposa Street.

Both stretches that were upgraded were identified by SFMTA’s Vision Zero team as areas in need of enhanced safety. As part of the project, crews widened sidewalks, shortened crossing distances, constructed concrete dividers to protect bike lanes, and installed new fencing and lighting along the area’s perimeter. 

“The Potrero Gateway project is proof of what’s possible when the community leads and the city listens,” said Supervisor Walton. “This area was neglected—unsafe, uninviting, and overlooked. Today, we’re celebrating a transformation that didn’t start at City Hall but with neighbors who demanded better. This is about creating spaces that are safe, clean, and welcoming for everyone who lives, works, or passes through District 10.”

“Projects like Potrero Gateway are vital to making San Francisco a safer and more pleasant place to live and travel through,” said San Francisco Public Works Director Carla Short. “What the project might lack in size, it more than makes up for in impact. These key improvements aim to change how the community interacts with and perceives the area.”

“The Potrero Gateway project is a powerful example of how strategic infrastructure investments can dramatically improve safety and mobility,” said San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) Director Julie Kirschbaum. “These thoughtful upgrades turn what was once a challenging and overlooked passage into a safe, functional, and inviting route for people walking, biking, and moving through the neighborhood.”

In partnership with the San Francisco Arts Commission, native plants and four new pieces of public art sculptures were added to the project area. The sculptures, titled “Metamorphosis” and created by lead artists Jason Kelly Johnson and Nataly Gattegno of the art and design studio FUTUREFORMS, consist of four stacked spherical forms. 

Grouped in two pairs, they emerge from the terraced gardens, transforming into intricate lattices as they grow towards the sky. The uppermost forms evoke the microscopic cell structures of radiolaria and other organic sea forms that would have been found at this location as late as 1850. Prior to urbanization, the site was on the marshy shoreline of Mission Bay, which teemed with mollusks and other sea creatures.

“Public art has the power to transform not just physical spaces, but how communities see themselves and their neighborhoods,” said Ralph Remington, Director of Cultural Affairs at the San Francisco Arts Commission. “‘Metamorphosis’ is a striking example of what’s possible when artists, neighbors, and city agencies work hand-in-hand to reimagine forgotten spaces. Though not part of the Civic Art Collection, this artwork is deeply rooted in local identity and history, evoking both the natural past and the evolving spirit of Potrero Hill.”

The Potrero Gateway Park Steering Committee has been championing change and improvements in the area since 2012, working with the greater community and raising funds for this project. The Dogpatch and NW Potrero Hill Green Benefit District is also actively involved in the area, providing maintenance through an Adopt-a-Highway permit and partnering with San Francisco Public Works on the continued upkeep of the space. 

“The completion of the Potrero Gateway project is a testament to the perseverance and hard work of many community members, green space and street safety advocates, and our partners in the city and state governments,” said Donovan Lacy, Acting Executive Director of Dogpatch and NW Potrero Hill Green Benefit District. “It creates a gateway to the Potrero community.”

The Potrero Gateway project sits partially on California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) land. Caltrans provided critical support for the improvements with Clean California grant funding aimed at beautifying state-owned right of way near highways.

Funding for the project also came from the San Francisco County Transportation Authority through its voter-approved Proposition AA Vehicle Registration Fee.

“The Potrero Gateway Loop is a showcase of community and agency partnerships to deliver critical safety improvements for pedestrians, cyclists and motorists in the Potrero Hill and Dogpatch communities.” said District 7 Supervisor and San Francisco County Transportation Authority Chair Myrna Melgar. “It’s so rewarding to see the many years of project development and collaboration result in these access improvements for the neighborhood. The Transportation Authority is proud to contribute voter-approved Prop AA pedestrian safety funds towards the project’s success."

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