Businesses, Residents Cheer Valencia Street Revamp

The "Valencia Great Streets" project is complete in San Francisco, featuring a distinctive streetscape design, and so far the project appears to be good for business and art.

A Thursday ribbon cutting on Valencia and 16th streets marks the completion of five of nine "Great Streets" projects in the city, reflecting enhanced pedestrian safety, and creative use of parking lanes. Click to Listen

"We're all excited about these changes, and feel that everyone- merchants, customers and neighbors, along with people who live all around the area, will greatly benefit from this," said Ampara Vigil, who owns the Puerto Allegre mexican restaurant on 16th street.

Mayor Gavin Newsom says this is not the debate the city was having in 1999 when businesses felt bike lanes would shut down the corridor.

"This is not the debate we were having in 1999 when we put those bike lanes in, when every business thought it would shut down the corridor," said Newsom. "Now businesses say it's fabulous that we're re-striping the bike lanes, they think it's great we're putting these bike racks in, and they love the idea that we're doing curb extensions, and the motorists seem quite happy as well."

The street project also features new public artwork, including Victorian inspired posts that can be used as community bulletin boards.