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Japantown Peace Plaza Renovation Project
Background
The Japantown Peace Plaza (Peace Plaza) Renovation Project is vital to the Japanese American community, Asian American and Pacific Islander community. For over 110 years, over 5 generations, San Francisco’s Japantown is one of the last three remaining Japantowns in the United States. The Peace Plaza open space has been the cultural heart of the Japantown and is a key destination site for cultural festivals and community celebrations in Northern California. It is home to culturally significant community organizations, institutions, artists, businesses, and buildings.
In 2021, Rec and Park temporarily replaced the waterproofing within the seismic joints that run along the east and west sides of the plaza. As part of the current project, these seismic joints will receive new waterproofing to ensure a successful seal.
Scope of Work
The Peace Plaza Vision Plan, video attached, is an inspiration for the future of Japantown’s central public space. An extensive community engagement process resulted in the visionary framework informing both design and future construction. The renovated plaza will have all new features: new paving (over new waterproofing), planting, informal seating, and maintain the highly used, central gathering space for cultural events. To learn more about the proposed design, please see our Civic Design Review presentation, March 20, 2023 (PDF) .
Japantown Center will remain open throughout construction. All entrances will remain open to the public. Please visit and shop local!
Funding
$25 million from the 2020 SF Health and Recovery Bond was initially allocated for this renovation and an additional $9 million in grants was added through the steadfast advocacy work of the Japantown community in partnership with RPD. Sources of the grant were $3 million from Economic Development Initiative, Community Project Funding Grant (via Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi) and $6 million from the California Natural Resources Agency (via Former Assemblymember Phil Ting).
The construction contract award for this project was approved by Recreation and Parks Commission on December 21, 2023 ( PDF ). This construction contract award obtained and complies with all city, state, and federal regulatory approvals, including any that are specific to this project’s funding sources.
Estimated Project Schedule
Phase | Timeline |
|---|---|
Planning | Summer 2018 |
Design | Winter 2020 |
Construction contract awarded | December 21, 2023 |
Construction begins | Spring 2024 |
Open to the public | Early 2026 |
Project Updates
Monthly Public Meetings, every fourth Tuesday, 5-6 p.m. Japantown Task Force (JTF), Peace Plaza Committee holds monthly public meetings. Please visit the committees page of the Japantown Task Force website for agenda, location (zoom link or in-person), meeting minutes, and any updates: https://www.japantowntaskforce.org/peace-plaza-committee
If you would like to sign-up for Project Update blog posts like the ones below, click here , scroll down to the News Flash section, and then select “RPD Park Improvements | All Project Updates” to receive updates on all our active projects, or pick-and-choose your blog subscriptions by project name. Y ou’ll receive an email that includes a link to confirm your new subscription for each blog for which you sign-up. Japantown Peace Plaza Community Vision Plan (August 2019) from Playhou.se on Vimeo .
Project Updates
Japantown Peace Plaza Renovation | Construction update, May 27, 2025
While waterproofing and concrete pours continue in the plaza, work on the underside of the plaza is also happening in the garage. Construction highlights include Plaza/Pagoda Work: Strengthening the Pagoda concrete ring beams and columns, Installing Read on…
Japantown Peace Plaza Renovation | Construction update, April 29, 2025
We hope everyone enjoyed the Cherry Blossom Festival this month! Our contractor is continuing to pour the concrete footings and waterproof the plaza. Construction highlights include demolition of the entrance path against the Read on…
Japantown Peace Plaza Renovation | Construction update, March 27, 2025
Plaza surfaces have more waterproofing (see all those stripes on the plaza slab and reinforcements) and planter concrete foundations are being formed to pour concrete walls next month. Waterproofing work continues on the concrete slabs near Read on…
Japantown Peace Plaza Renovation | Construction update, March 10, 2025
We’ve made headway on the waterproofing and are switching the detours to the Post Street Mall entrances mid-March! Please follow signs leading into each of the mall entrances. Detour entrance to the East Mall will be adjacent to the building Read on…
Japantown Peace Plaza Renovation | Construction update, February 7, 2025
When the rain slows down waterproofing work, our contractor focuses on preparing various mock-ups for approval. Our Pagoda mock-up will receive Fiber Reinforced Polymer (FPR) wrapping and tension rods this month. This will be evaluated by the design team Read on…
Japantown Peace Plaza Renovation | Construction update, January 17, 2025
Saturday Work scheduled for January 18 and January 25 to catch up from holiday rain delays. No night work in January. Waterproofing work continues on the concrete slabs near Post Street East Mall entrance and behind the fences of the current Read on…
Japantown Peace Plaza Renovation | Construction update, December 24, 2024
The recent rains are testing our newly installed waterproofing! To date, 80% of the waterproofing substrate preparation and 50% of the waterproofing assembly have been completed, and they are performing beautifully! East Mall: Entrance from Post Street Read on…
Japantown Peace Plaza Renovation | Construction update, December 9, 2024
Continued Construction Updates for December at Japan Center Malls: East Mall: Entrance from Post Street – Detour through the center of the Plaza until mid-January when a temporary path will be installed alongside the building. West Mall: Entrance from Read on…
Japantown Peace Plaza Renovation | Construction Advisory - Notice of Night Work in December
Please be advised – Plant Construction Company, L.P. will be performing waterproofing work at the Japantown Peace Plaza (1610 Geary Blvd.) on the following dates: December 2-6 and December 9-13. Night work will be performed during the hours of Read on…
Japantown Peace Plaza Renovation | Construction update, November 20, 2024
Continued Construction Updates for NOVEMBER into DECEMBER. EAST Mall: Entrance from Post Street – Detour through the center of the Plaza until a new temporary path alongside building is installed in mid-December. WEST Mall: Entrance from Post Street Read on…
Japantown Peace Plaza Renovation | Construction update, November 4, 2024
The concrete slab below the pagoda has been waterproofed, and the five-story scaffolding is almost completed! Check out the reinforcements (all those vertical sticks being installed in photo) for the future terraced seating. Continued Construction Read on…
Japantown Peace Plaza Renovation | Construction update, October 21, 2024
Get your last glimpses of the Pagoda before it is covered in scaffolding! The shoring installed in the garage supports the scaffolding in the plaza. Please be advised of the following construction updates since our last update earlier this month Read on…
Japantown Peace Plaza Renovation | Construction update, October 2024
Please be advised of the following construction updates: EAST Mall Entrance from Post Street–The current detour through center of Plaza remains through October. We will begin to use a temporary path that runs alongside the building in November. WEST Mall Read on…
Japantown Peace Plaza Renovation | Construction update, September 2024
Demolition work continues! The pagoda scaffolding will be installed this Fall and remain into Summer 2025. To prepare for the scaffolding, the contractor will be installing supports in October/November directly beneath the scaffolding Read on…
Japantown Peace Plaza Renovation | Construction Advisory - Notice of Night Work in August
Please be advised – Plant Construction Company, L.P. will be performing concrete demolition and hot-fluid waterproofing work at the Japantown Peace Plaza (1610 Geary Blvd.) on the following dates between August 19 and August 30 Read on…
Japantown Peace Plaza Renovation | Construction Advisory - Notice of Night Work in August
Please be advised – Plant Construction Company, L.P. will be performing concrete demolition and hot-fluid waterproofing work at the Japantown Peace Plaza (1610 Geary Blvd.) on the following dates between August 19 and August 30 Read on…
Japantown Peace Plaza | Construction Advisory – Notice of Pedestrian Detour Adjustment
Please be advised – Starting this week, the entrance to Japan Center East from Post Street will be adjusted to direct pedestrians through a protected path, more toward the middle of the block/plaza, just west on Post Street. Read on…
Japantown Peace Plaza Renovation | Construction update, July 2024
Major demolition is now 55% completed. The plaza surface surrounding the pagoda has been removed exposing the original and historic base and clearing the way for Pagoda scaffolding in the future. All the previous plaza features have been removed and Read on…
Japantown Peace Plaza | Construction Advisory – Notice of Night Work in July
Plant Construction Company, L.P. will be performing concrete demolition and hot-fluid waterproofing work at the Japantown Peace Plaza (1610 Geary Blvd.) on the following dates Read on…
Japantown Peace Plaza | Construction Advisory – Notice of Night Work
Plant Construction Company, L.P. will be performing concrete demolition and hot-fluid waterproofing work at the Japantown Peace Plaza (1610 Geary Blvd.) on the following dates Read on…
Japantown Peace Plaza Renovation | Construction update, June 2024
We’re pleased to report that major demolition is now 40% completed. In the past few weeks, demolition focused on removing the plaza surfacing near the pagoda and west side of the plaza. The crew is working to expose the structural slab, surface beams, and Read on…
Japantown Peace Plaza Renovation | Construction update, May 2024
Construction on Japantown Peace Plaza has begun! The plaza is now closed, and mobilization is in full swing. This month you can expect to see (and hear) construction activities such as: Adjustments to the perimeter barricades to accommodate Read on…
Japantown Peace Plaza Renovation | Construction Has Begun! Look for pedestrian detours
Construction on Japantown Peace Plaza has begun! Thanks to everyone who was able to join our groundbreaking celebration last Saturday. Now that construction has begun, construction activities you can expect to see this week include Read on…
Japantown Peace Plaza Renovation | Groundbreaking Saturday, April 27, 2-4 pm
Please join us as we celebrate the start of construction with a Groundbreaking Celebration this Saturday, April 27, 2024, 2-4 pm! Construction will start the week of April 29, 2024. Thank you for all your Read on…
Japantown Peace Plaza Renovation | Construction Begins Soon!
We’re excited to report that construction will soon begin on the Japantown Peace Plaza Renovation Project. Since our last update, the construction contract was certified, meaning the contractor and sub-contractors have completed all Read on…
Japantown Peace Plaza Renovation | Construction contract awarded!
Recreation and Park Commission awarded the construction contract for Japantown Peace Plaza Renovation to Plant Construction on December 21, 2023. Thank you to the Japantown Task Force Executive Members that voiced their Read on…
Japantown Peace Plaza Renovation | Construction bids opened
Japantown Peace Plaza Renovation bids were opened in a Public Works virtual meeting on October 18, 2023. Public Works Contract Administration is reviewing Read on…
Japantown Peace Plaza Renovation | Construction bid opportunity now advertised!
Japantown Peace Plaza Renovation bid has been advertised! Please share with Read on…
Nancy Pelosi Secures $3 Million in Funding for Japantown Peace Plaza
On Wednesday, Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi announced that she had secured $3 million in federal funding for the Japantown Peace Plaza Renovation Project, which will install new paving, plantings, informal seating and Read on…
Japantown Peace Plaza Renovation | Upcoming Opportunities to Provide Public Comment
We wanted to share that there are a few upcoming opportunities to provide input into the Japantown Peace Plaza Renovation Read on…
Documents and Materials
Commission Materials
- Rec Park Commission, Japantown Peace Plaza, staff report - contract amendment, June 9, 2025 (PDF)
- Rec Park Commission, Japantown Peace Plaza, staff report - contract award, December 21, 2023 (PDF)
- Rec Park Commission, Japantown Peace Plaza, staff report, March 16, 2023 (PDF)
- Rec Park Commission, Japantown Peace Plaza, General Fund Specified Grant Agreement and Accept and Expend, March 16, 2023 (PDF)
- Rec Park Commission, Japantown Peace Plaza, staff report for Japantown Peace Plaza – Grant Agreement and Accept and Expend, March 16, 2023 (PDF)
- Rec Park Commission, Japantown Peace Plaza, Capital Committee, concept update, March 1, 2023 (PDF)
- Rec Park Commission, staff report, Japantown Peace Plaza Concept Design Approval, August 7, 2019 (PDF)
- Rec Park Commission, Japantown Peace Plaza Concept Plan, August 7, 2019 (PDF)
Grant Award Materials
Community Meetings - Notes and Presentations
- Community Meeting #3 presentation, March 19, 2019 (PDF)
- Community Meeting #2 presentation, October 25, 2018 (PDF)
- Community Meeting #1 presentation, July 31, 2018 (PDF)
Additional Project Documents
- Japantown Peace Plaza, Civic Design Review Phase 2 + 3, March 20, 2023 (PDF)
- Japantown Peace Plaza, Civic Design Review, October 17, 2022 (PDF)
- Japantown Peace Plaza - Concept Design (updated), February 2023 (PDF)
- Japantown Peace Plaza Vision Plan - Conceptual Design and Outreach Report, May 2019 ( PDF - online version ) ( PDF - print version )
- Japantown Peace Plaza, CEQA Categorical Exemption Determination, April 2019 (PDF)
Contact Us
Marien Coss
Project Manager Email Phone: 1-628-652-6647 More Information