1 What is the poets plaza?
2 What will the plaza look like?
3 Is the plan final, and if not can I personally influence the design?
4 Why build this plaza?
5 How will the traffic be effected by street closure and has street closure been approved by the city?
6 How much will it cost to build the plaza?
7 Are there different ways to contribute to the plaza project?

1) What is the poets plaza?

The Poet's Plaza began as a vision by Lawrence Ferlinghetti. He imagined an Italian piazza for San Franciscans and a national site for poets, a kind of national poetry forum, with a permanent poets’ podium built into one corner of the square.
Since the the Shrine of Saint Francis of Assisi and the Caffé Trieste are both within the same block and this area is a renowned gathering place for poets, he considered it a natural spot for a plaza. A concept for the plaza was then designed by architect Dennis Sullivan.

2) What will the plaza look like?

The Poets Plaza Piazza Saint Francis will have olive trees, a Poets Podium, chess tables and park benches, plus many, many quotes
from great poems inscribed in the pavement of the Plaza. Architectural renderings of the proposed plaza can be found on this web site.

 

3) Is the plan final, and if not can I personally influence the design?

No, the plan is not final. And individual suggestions are welcome.

 

4) Why build this plaza?

To beautify the city and improve the quality of life! And to reduce car traffic....

5) How will the traffic be effected by street closure and has street closure
been approved by the city?

An official traffic study was conducted by the City, and the Plaza was approved by the Parking & Traffic dept.

 

 

6) How much will it cost to build the plaza?

Roughly 3 million dollars. Currently, we owe approximately $50,000 for detailed engineering plans required by the City and this must be paid off before we can proceed further.

 

 

7) Are there different ways to contribute to the plaza project?

If you wish to have your name inscribed on the podium or a bench or chess table, this can be arranged, for a donation. Otherwise a donation of any amount is most welcome. You may prefer to be involved in a volunteer capacity and help us to spread the word through social media or funding development.