Yerba Buena History

In 1953, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors designated a 19-block section south of Market Street as a Redevelopment Area. In the late 1970's, after years of delays and setbacks, San Francisco artistic and community groups gathered to collect information about practical needs and cultural aspirations. Developed with extensive community involvement, the Yerba Buena project planned to put much of the proposed convention center underground while providing low-income housing and cultural and open space above ground. In 1980, Mayor Dianne Feinstein and the San Francisco Redevelopment Agency issued an invitation to developers worldwide to "Create. . .in the heart of one of the world's great cities, an environment in the form of a magnificent urban garden . . ."

The 87 acres of the Yerba Buena district include the area from Market to Harrison and 2nd to 4th Streets. Within these blocks are 5.5 acres of urban gardens, The Contemporary Jewish Museum, The Museum of the African Diaspora, The Museum of Craft and Folk Art, SFMOMA, YBCA, Zeum, Metreon, Moscone Convention Center, Yerba Buena Childcare Center, Yerba Buena Ice Skating and Bowling Center, more than a dozen art galleries, and countless restaurants and cafés.

The Yerba Buena Gardens Festival is the result of the community's determination to ensure that the Yerba Buena district reflect the rich cultures and creativity of San Francisco and the greater Bay Area.