The Multi Generational Problem of Paying for Downtown San Francisco’s Protective Sea Wall

The City of San Francisco, CA is a finalist in the third round of the City Accelerator, which is focused on finding viable and sustainable ways of funding public infrastructure. Your feedback on its story map will inform final selection of the cities.

You have the option to view the Story Map full screen here but be sure to return to this page to give it a star rating and leave comments below! 

What is San Francisco proposing?

The city of San Francisco is focused on assembling a long term municipal financing plan for their coastal sea wall protecting a densely developed downtown core. Understanding that this will be a multi-generational project, officials are most interested in conceptualizing a budgeting and public engagement strategy that can endure a near term change in administrations as well as sustain public support 10, 20, 30 years from today. As cities around the world begin to reconcile the very real and unpredictable consequences of sea level rise and increased seismic vulnerability, San Francisco is looking to draw upon the City Accelerator to explore innovative financing options to fund sea wall upgrades now and ongoing maintenance costs over several decades.

VIEW OTHER CITY PITCHES 

• Pittsburgh, PA
• Providence, RI
• St. Paul, MN
• Washington, DC

A detailed description of the mission and purpose of the City Accelerator’s cohort on funding public infrastructure.

Public response is one of several criteria being used by the City Accelerator to select cohort cities. The number of ratings or comments by themselves do not determine final status or selection.