City approves Eagle Plaza project in SoMa

San Francisco Mayor London Breed says that she’s signed legislation giving the go-ahead to Eagle Plaza, a long planned new park in west SoMa nearly four years in the making.

Originally proposed in 2015, the city describes Eagle Plaza as “a LGBTQ leather-focused public pedestrian” space with a “shared public way allowing cars at times but with emphasis on pedestrian[s].”

The designs for the 12,500-square-foot space include a prominent Leather Pride flag to acknowledge SoMa’s history with the LGBTQ and leather communities. The Eagle Plaza name derives from the nearby San Francisco Eagle gay bar.

The Planning Commission voted in favor of the plaza plan in 2016. At Tuesday’s Board of Supervisors meeting, the full board voted unanimously to approve the necessary “street encroachment permit” for the park plan.

Breed’s signature gives final approval for the permit, the last City Hall hurdle between the park’s design and reality.

Upon signing, Breed said in a public statement that Eagle Plaza “will be a place where we can recognize the Leather community and all LGBTQ people for their contributions to Western SOMA and our city, while also creating a much-needed new open space for all of our residents in the neighborhood.”

The Eagle Plaza sponsors—a “neighborhood-based group that will be responsible for managing and maintaining the space—report that they’ve raised $1.7 million of the projected $1.85 million budget and is attempting to raise funds for the remaining $150,000.

• Eagle Plaza Designs
• Eagle Plaza Funding
• Eagle Plaza Permit Legislation [SF Board of Supervisors]