meta_pixel
Tapesearch Logo
Log in
KQED's Forum

What Should A Remodel of Fisherman’s Wharf Look Like?

KQED's Forum

KQED

Politics, News, News Commentary

4.6656 Ratings

🗓️ 28 August 2025

⏱️ 56 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Before the COVID pandemic hit, San Francisco’s Fisherman’s Wharf averaged over 15 million visitors each year. While the waterfront is still one of the most visited areas in the region, the local businesses — including fishing companies, souvenir shops and restaurants — are struggling from a lack of investment, high rents and lower tourism. Now, the Port of San Francisco has announced a multi-year plan that involves a $10 million investment to renovate the area. Set to begin in 2026, the first phase of “Fisherman’s Wharf Forward” is a facelift for Taylor Street, which includes the demolition of a historic fish restaurant, Alioto’s, and the construction of a new public plaza with a waterfront lookout. We talk with the San Francisco Port, local fishermen and an urban design critic about the revitalization project, plans to preserve the history of the area, and what it all means for locals, tourists, and those whose livelihood depends on the waterfront. Guests: John King, author, "Portal: San Francisco's Ferry Building and the Reinvention of American Cities"; former urban design critic, San Francisco Chronicle Elaine Forbes, executive director, port of San Francisco Sal Alioto, captain of historic fishing and tour boat, The Golden Gate, in Fisherman's Wharf Sarah Bates, captain of the fishing vessel, Bounty Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

If you haven't tried Abercrombie denim yet, you're missing out.

0:03.8

Denim should fit like this.

0:06.0

It's all about proportions.

0:07.7

Abercrombie has their classic fits and athletic fits for guys who want a little more room in the thigh.

0:13.1

When you find your staple fit, it'll be the pair you reach for day after day for every plan.

0:19.2

Shop Abercrombie denim in the app, online and in store.

0:27.1

Support for this KQED podcast comes from California environmental voters, building the political

0:33.5

power to solve the affordability crisis by holding oil companies accountable for creating the climate crisis.

0:41.0

Learn more at envirevoters.org, paid for by California environmental voters.

0:48.2

From KQD in San Francisco, I'm Alexis Madrigal.

1:05.3

Fisherman's Wharf has long been an icon of San Francisco to people who don't live in San Francisco.

1:12.5

Before the pandemic, 15 million people a year visited the spot to take in the vibes of what's

1:17.5

left of the commercial fishing industry and imagine a different era.

1:22.7

The pandemic crushed tourism across San Francisco, but the truth is the place needed a facelift and maybe a lot more for many years.

1:31.9

Now there are plans afoot to change the look and the feel of fishermen's wharf, led by the port, and a lot could be different by next summer.

1:40.8

It's all coming up next, right after this news.

1:57.7

Welcome to Forum. I'm Alexis Madrigal. Seems like every big city has an area that for one reason or another, usually rascally charm and cool history, comes to be a magnet

2:02.6

for outsiders, you know, Pike's Place in Seattle. Great example. Here, the tricky thing is that

2:08.7

at Fisherman's Wharf, the very shops and restaurants that are set up to serve the hordes of tourists

2:13.9

drive away a lot of the locals to say nothing of the people who are still catching fish and staying out on the wharf.

2:21.5

Now, there's a big plan to start remaking the area.

2:25.5

And how do you balance the needs and desires of such different groups of people?

...

Transcript will be available on the free plan in 18 days. Upgrade to see the full transcript now.

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from KQED, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of KQED and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.

Copyright © Tapesearch 2025.