SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) — San Francisco’s Union Square, a downtown area that generates about 40% of the city’s general fund tax base, is showing signs of recovery.

However, key challenges remain as city leaders and real estate officials push for revitalization.

“Downtown, like all of San Francisco, is on the rise,” Mayor Daniel Lurie said.

City officials and commercial real estate agents point to improvements in retail occupancy as evidence of progress. The retail vacancy rate in Union Square on Thursday stood at about 15%, down from a peak of 22% in 2025. In 2019, before the pandemic, the vacancy rate was 6.4%.

Commercial real estate agent Julie Taylor of Colliers International described the shift as significant.

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“The nightmare is over. The nightmare is totally over,” Taylor said.

She said activity is underway even in buildings that remain vacant.

“Every building that is vacant has something going on — at a minimum, people touring. But a lot of them have multiple offers trading,” Taylor said.

Taylor said she expects the area to fully rebound within about two years, including the Powell Street corridor, which last year experienced a retail vacancy rate of 71%. She said interest from corporations has increased this year as companies reassess the city.

“They want to tour space. They want to understand what’s changed in the market. They want to know about the Powell Street improvement project. They want to know everything that our DA and our mayor are doing for Union Square and how things have changed,” Taylor said.

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Interest from potential tenants has also coincided with lower lease prices, with some spaces seeing declines of up to 30%. Several major retailers are shifting locations within the area, including Zara, Uniqlo and Chanel. There are also unconfirmed reports that Nordstrom, which left the Westfield Mall, may take over the space previously occupied by Saks Fifth Avenue. As part of the effort to attract businesses, the mayor recently announced the Downtown Business Fund, which aims to provide grants and low-interest loans to businesses that lack the capital to lease space downtown.

“Helping a business open its doors downtown creates jobs, activates streets and restores confidence in the heart of the city,” Lurie said.

Another major component of the revitalization effort is the Powell Street improvement project, estimated to cost between $20 million and $40 million. The project is intended to help restore Union Square as a commercial and pedestrian hub at an estimated cost of $2 to $4 million.

“It is a significant amount of money,” said San Francisco Supervisor Danny Sauter. “Part of this is coming from a 2024 bond that the voters approved, we’re not raising taxes with this. It’s some of that bond money and some of the downtown partnership money from across business leadership realizing this is a really important corridor.”

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Despite optimism around retail, downtown office vacancy remains a concern. Office space vacancy stands at about 28%, compared with between 4% and 6% in 2019. Adding to the mixed outlook, one of England’s largest real estate companies, which owns property around Union Square and elsewhere in San Francisco, said last week that it is selling off part of its Bay Area portfolio.

“Those that want to depart our city, they’re missing out,” Lurie said.

The mayor acknowledged that progress remains fragile.

“Now, I will say this: our economy is coming back, but it’s fragile, and we gotta nurture it, and we have to build partnerships like you’re seeing today to keep it growing, because the rug could be pulled out from under us quiet easily,” he said.

Ryan Nitzen | May 2, 2026

Denver, Colorado serves as round 16 of the Monster Energy SuperMotocross World Championship at Empower Field at Mile High Stadium. Today is the penultimate round of the Supercross Championship and things are coming down to the wire as Ken Roczen leads the championship by four points over Hunter Lawrence. In 250SX, the Western Divisional Championship is back on track with Haiden Deegan looking to close out his season on top. Let’s get into the action from qualifying!

450 QUALIFYING

Ken Roczen is turning up the heat late as he leads the 450SX points for the first time ever in the second-half of the season. The Progressive Suzuki rider set the fastest lap in the 450’s and posted the fastest time of anyone on track with a 50.103. He was only two-tenths quicker than Hunter Lawrence who took second overall with a 50.314. Chase Sexton looked fast all morning and clocked the time to beat in Q1 before taking third overall.

450SX OVERALL QUALIFYING RESULTS (Top 10)

250 QUALIFYING

With 250SX West back on track today, it’s no surprise to see Haiden Deegan as the fastest qualifier. He’s already clinched the 250 title so there’s no real pressure other than closing out his 250 career with a win. Deegan heads to the line first going into the night show and was the only 250 rider in the 50-second range. Levi Kitchen was a close second and looks up to speed after a mid-season back injury. Ryder DiFrancesco rounded out the top three after setting the time to beat in the first qualifying session.

250SX OVERALL QUALIFYING RESULTS (Top 10)

Denver Notes

• Eli Tomac returns to action today after crashing in Cleveland and missing the last two rounds
• Joey Savatgy crashed in 450 Q1 and injured his wrist. He’s out for tonight’s racing
• Cameron McAdoo is back on track after recovering from a fractured humerus in Seattle
• Kayden Minear makes his pro debut today with the Star Racing Yamaha team
• Gage Linville starts his time with the Triumph Factory Racing Team today

Reliever Nick Davila is making the jump from Double-A to the big leagues to join the Seattle Mariners.

The Mariners announced they selected Davila’s contract from Double-A Arkansas on Saturday.

Joel Sherman of MLB Network and The New York Post first reported the right-hander was being promoted to the major leagues earlier in the day.

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In a corresponding move, left-hander Josh Simpson was optioned to Triple-A Tacoma.

Davila filled the last open spot on the Mariners’ 40-man roster.

Davila, 27, has pitched in eight games with the Travelers this season, posting a 2.00 ERA and 0.78 WHIP with 10 strikeouts to one walk over nine innings of work. He’s held opponents to a .182 batting average.

Davila also pitched in seven games for the Mariners during spring training, compiling 6.75 ERA and six strikeouts over 5 1/3 innings.

Davila, who signed a minor league contract with the Mariners in March 2023, is in his fourth year in the organization. He pitched across three levels of the minors in 2023, including making three starts for Triple-A Tacoma, his only experience above Double-A during his pro career.

In 2024, the Hialeah, Fla., native pitched in 13 games with a 4.98 ERA over 18 2/3 innings for High-A Everett.

Last season, Davila appeared in 39 games at Double-A. He had a 3.55 ERA over 50 2/3 innings.

Davila went undrafted out of South Florida in 2020 before signing a minor league deal with the Detroit Tigers a month after the draft. He made his pro debut the following season with Detroit’s Single-A affiliate.

Simpson, 28, was called up by the Mariners on Friday when right-hander Matt Brash was placed on the 15-day injured list with right lat inflammation. He has yet to pitch in a big league game this season.

In nine appearances with Tacoma prior to be called up, Simpson had a 0.96 ERA and 0.96 WHIP with 12 strikeouts and six walks allowed over 9 1/3 innings.

Simpson pitched in 31 games as a rookie for the Miami Marlins last season, posting a 7.34 ERA over 30 2/3 innings.

The Mariners continue a three-game series with the Kansas City Royals on Saturday at 6:40 p.m. Radio coverage on Seattle Sports 710 AM and the Seattle Sports app begins with the pregame show at 5:30 p.m.

More on the Seattle Mariners

• Seattle Mariners place Matt Brash on IL, recall lefty reliever
• When Brendan Donovan is expected to return to Mariners
• The Seattle Mariners’ competition in AL West doesn’t look strong
• Checking in on how notable ex-Mariners are doing with new teams
• Salk’s Take: What’s behind Mariners shaking off their slow start

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