Since the 1960s, San Francisco鈥檚 Central Market area has struggled with blight and crime. Once a vibrant hub for retail and the arts, the neighborhood has experienced decades of decline due to public and private disinvestment in real estate, street improvements and other programs. As a result, residents, businesses and visitors have not felt safe in the area or had much reason to visit聽 鈥� until recently.
After decades of failed attempts to revitalize Central Market, the neighborhood is finally showing signs of a comeback 鈥� both physically and economically. This turnaround is happening thanks in part to the Chamber-supported Central Market/Tenderloin Payroll Tax Exclusion passed by the Board of Supervisors in 2011. The incentive provides a six-year payroll tax exemption on net new jobs created by business moving into or expanding in the area.
Enacted at a time when Twitter was considering a move out of the city, critics quickly criticized the incentive dubbing it the 鈥淭witter Tax Break.鈥� But the Central Market incentive has never been about Twitter, or any other individual company doing business in our city. It鈥檚 about providing employers of all types and sizes with the incentive to relocate, expand and help revitalize a vital segment of San Francisco鈥檚 urban core.
According to a new from the San Francisco Office of Economic and Workforce Development, that鈥檚 exactly what鈥檚 happening.聽 In total, 17 new businesses have moved into the Central Market area and 14 have taken advantage of of the incentive. Storefront vacancies have declined by 60 percent – from 30 to 8.5 percent 鈥� since the tax incentive was put into place.聽 Sales tax revenues have grown by 21 percent since 2010.
The effect is proving positive. These businesses have brought 7,000 jobs to Central Market. That鈥檚 7,000 people now walking the once blighted six block stretch to and from work every day and breathing new life and commerce into the area. This in turn has helped spur more revitalization, with 13 small businesses opening in the area over the past two years and five others about to open. Nine arts organizations have opened or are in development. More than 5,500 new housing units are also under construction or approved for development, with 26 percent of the units below market rate.
Businesses taking advantage of the tax incentive are also giving back to the community through Community Benefits Agreements between each company and the city. Last year, these partnerships provided nearly 40 community organizations with volunteers, donations and internships for local youth.
San Francisco鈥檚 Central Market/Tenderloin Payroll Tax Exclusion is a key driver in the area鈥檚 comeback. It is also a good reminder of what can be accomplished when the city, its residents and businesses allign goals and work together to solve problems.