"When they popped on, it was kind of this surprise, like what's going on here? But it was so magical in terms of the way it lit up the waterfront and the bay. The Bay Lights brought a real notoriety, as well as just a brightened physical appearance, to the southern waterfront for San Francisco. It was a time that then sort of propelled this neighborhood to start to grow and expand."
"When the Bay Lights began dazzling the western span of the Bay Bridge in 2013, Sittnick said diners started making reservations at his restaurants specifically to see them. That year, sales at both restaurants went up by 15%, he said. The installation of the Bay Lights coincided with the Embarcadero's transformation into a premier cultural destination, driven by the relocation of the Exploratorium to Pier 15 and infrastructure upgrades."
The Bay Lights, an artistic LED installation on the Bay Bridge created by artist Leo Villareal, originally debuted in 2013 and dramatically transformed the San Francisco waterfront. Environmental damage caused the lights to go dark three years ago. Now, thanks to $11 million raised by nonprofit Illuminate, the Bay Lights 360 will reactivate on March 20 with double the previous LED count. Restaurant owner Pete Sittnick witnessed firsthand how the original installation boosted business, with his restaurants experiencing 15% sales increases when diners specifically sought reservations to view the illuminated bridge. The restored lights symbolize San Francisco's recovery and are expected to further revitalize the southern waterfront neighborhood.
#bay-lights-public-art-installation #san-francisco-waterfront-revitalization #led-bridge-illumination #economic-impact-of-public-art #urban-neighborhood-transformation
Read at SFGATE
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