Recent footage has laid bare the desolate reality of San Francisco’s hollowed-out city center. The video shows every store in an entire retail block shuttered and empty, highlighting the stark decline in the once-thriving Union Square area.
Lloyd Chapman Highlights Retail Devastation
Lloyd Chapman of the American Small Business League recently visited Union Square, the heart of San Francisco’s retail district. The prime real estate, once home to popular outlets like Uniqlo, H&M, Rasputin Records, and Lush, now stands deserted, plagued by crime, drugs, and homelessness.
Empty Streets and Shuttered Stores
“Unbelievable!” Chapman exclaims as his camera pans over the ghostly remains of former stores, now defaced by graffiti. “This whole street is vacant, every store is empty.” This retail exodus mirrors nearby streets, with 22 out of 33 stores vacant in a three-block section of Powell Street.
Record Vacancy Rates in Union Square
The entire Union Square district now has a record vacancy rate of 20.6 percent, contributing to San Francisco’s overall retail vacancy rate reaching a new high of 7.9 percent, according to a recent survey by Cushman and Wakefield. Analyst Soany Gunawan attributes the decline in retail performance to worsening conditions in Union Square and surrounding downtown areas.
Rising Crime Amid Retail Decline
Despite a new police command center in the area, assaults in Union Square’s police district are up 10 percent this year, and vehicle thefts have increased by a third. Figures for most crimes have fallen citywide, but the damage from years of increases has already been done, according to Chapman.
Homelessness Crisis and Economic Impact
California has spent $24 billion tackling homelessness in the five years leading up to 2023, but a report revealed the state did not track if the money was helping the growing number of unhoused people. Homelessness jumped 6 percent to over 180,000 people in California last year, contributing to a significant budget deficit and prompting proposals for painful spending cuts.
Retail Giants Abandon San Francisco
Retail stalwarts like Old Navy, Nordstrom, Whole Foods, Anthropologie, and Office Depot announced their exodus last year. They were followed by North Face, Jeffrey’s Toys, and Lacoste, with Macy’s expected to close its flagship store next year.
Mayor London Breed Responds to Macy’s Closure
San Francisco Mayor London Breed expressed sorrow over Macy’s impending closure, noting its significance to the community. “It’s hard to think of Macy’s not being part of our city anymore,” Breed said. Workers cited rampant shoplifting as a primary reason for the decision.
American Eagle and Other Stores Cite Security Concerns
American Eagle announced it would leave the former Westfield San Francisco Centre, citing over 100 significant security incidents between May 2020 and May 2023. Despite new figures suggesting a reduction in street homelessness, visitor numbers to Union Square are down nine percent this year.
National Political Issue of Homelessness
Scenes of homeless drug addicts and fears of violence have become a national political issue. Donald Trump has made it part of his campaign platform, vowing to ban urban camping and create tent cities for homeless people, staffed with doctors and social workers to address systemic problems.
Public Sentiment on Homelessness
A recent DailyMail.com/TIPP Poll revealed that over two-thirds of US adults believe homelessness is out of control and that officials need to move those sleeping rough into tented encampments outside towns and cities. “San Francisco was like Disneyland for adults,” Chapman wrote. “Maybe someday it will all come back.”
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