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Downtown San Mateo's revival is a playbook for other California cities
By Lyanne Melendez at ABC7 News (KGO-TV, ABC)
· June 23, 2026
· 1 min read
San Mateo made the year-round pedestrian-only closure permanent in 2021 as part of an effort to revitalize downtown and support local businesses. Since then, the area has experienced steady growth, with new businesses, public events and increased foot traffic helping fuel its success.
Key takeaway Since then, the area has experienced steady growth, with new businesses, public events and increased foot traffic helping fuel its success.
Why this matters in The San Francisco
San Francisco can look to its neighbor's success for inspiration in revitalizing its own public spaces. The permanent pedestrian-only closure in downtown San Mateo has shown that prioritizing foot traffic and community events can be a key factor in supporting local businesses and fostering growth. As San Francisco considers its own urban planning initiatives, the city could apply similar strategies to its own underutilized areas, such as closed or underperforming streets, to create vibrant public spaces that benefit both residents and businesses. By examining the specific factors that contributed to San Mateo's success, such as the types of new businesses that have opened and the public events that have been hosted, San Francisco can develop targeted approaches to address its own unique challenges and opportunities.
About this story
Original reporting by ABC7 News (KGO-TV, ABC) . The San Francisco surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit ABC7 News (KGO-TV, ABC) . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: library ·
Published: June 23, 2026 ·
Source: ABC7 News (KGO-TV, ABC) ·
Reading time: 1 min
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Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? San Mateo made the year-round pedestrian-only closure permanent in 2021 as part of an effort to revitalize downtown and support local businesses. Since then, the area has experienced steady growth, with new businesses, public events and increased foot traffic helping fuel its success.
When was this published? This article was first published on June 23, 2026 by ABC7 News (KGO-TV, ABC) and curated for The San Francisco readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Lyanne Melendez at ABC7 News (KGO-TV, ABC). To learn more about how The San Francisco selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more library coverage from The San Francisco, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
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