KQED's Forum What Should Replace San Francisco Centre?
Jan 27, 2026
Michael Covarrubias, CEO of TMG Partners, talks redevelopment economics and policy levers. Lisa Wang, design director at Gensler, offers ideas on building reuse and streetscape activation. Laura Crescimano, co-founder of Sight Lab, explores placemaking and mixed-use concepts. J.K. Dineen, Chronicle housing reporter, gives on-the-ground context about downtown decline and reuse possibilities. They debate phasing, interim uses, and civic reconnection.
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Carve Mixed Uses And Create Experiences
- Laura Crescimano advised carving the mall into mixed uses and preserving historic rotunda elements.
- She recommended experiential draws like immersive moments, recreation, and learning to attract locals and visitors.
Plan The District, Not Just The Mall
- Laura Crescimano urged planning the mall together with Union Square, Yerba Buena and nearby parcels as a cohesive district.
- She suggested thinking big, linking plazas, garages and projects to create a unified downtown strategy.
Secret Rooftop Terrace Memory
- A caller remembered skateboarding, finding a secret ninth-floor terrace and hanging out with friends at the mall.
- The memory highlights the mall's role as a youth destination in earlier years.