Board committee endorses concept for Mint Plaza, asks for later street‑closure and management details

The Board of Supervisors Budget & Finance Committee on Tuesday endorsed the concept of creating a Community Facilities District to finance the construction of a public plaza on Jesse Street between Fifth and Mint, a project backers said would turn a small, neglected right‑of‑way into publicly accessible open space.

Erin McGrath of the city’s Office of Economic Development described the resolution as an endorsement of the financing concept only, saying the bonds would be issued by the Association of Bay Area Governments and that “the city and county would not be liable in any way for this financing.” Michael Yarny, project sponsor with Martin Building Company, told the committee the plaza footprint runs roughly 290 feet along Jesse Street and reaches about 54 feet at its widest point; the design calls for a flush stone paver surface, small tree groves at each entry and an arbor along the north side.

Why it matters: The CFD (a Mello‑Roos mechanism) moves the cost of constructing and maintaining the plaza onto property owners within the district rather than the city’s general fund. That financing approach makes the project feasible without a direct city appropriation but requires subsequent approvals — including a street‑closure ordinance and a management plan — that the board will review later.

Supporters and opponents: Tom Radulovich of Livable City called the plaza a “down payment” on downtown streetscape revitalization and praised the project’s financing model. Several taxi drivers and union representatives raised operational concerns about closing Jesse Street, asking for routing alternatives and specific turn movements so taxi circulation to Union Square and other downtown destinations would not be impaired. Yarny said the project team worked with civic design and landmark review bodies and proposed several mitigation measures — including adjustments to Stevenson/Stephenson Street, valet arrangements near Nordstrom and potential elimination of a southbound left turn from Fifth onto Mission — and said Nordstrom had moved toward a supportive stance.

Next steps: The committee forwarded the concept and recommendation to the full Board for later consideration of easement acceptance, a street‑closure ordinance and the management plan. The sponsor said the board would see the closure ordinance (with detailed plans and maintenance provisions) in approximately two months.