In 2003, the Noe Valley Farmers’ Market started operating on Saturdays in a parking lot at 3861 24th Street in San Francisco. The parking lot was owned by a local church. When the Noe Valley community learned of the church’s desire to sell the parking lot, there was concern that the property would be turned into high-rise housing and the farmers’ market would lose its home. At this juncture, a group of residents spearheaded an effort to purchase the parking lot and convert it to the Noe Valley Town Square, a community gathering spot and permanent home for the farmers’ market.

The total cost of this project is approximately $6.4 million: $4.2 million in acquisition costs, and $2.2 million in development costs. Through a fiscal sponsorship arrangement with SFPA, the community has raised almost 93% of the total budget:
Supervisor Scott Wiener’s Open Space Acquisition Fund Legislation funded the purchase of the Town Square for $4.2 million.
The Land and Water Conservation Grant recommended $743,534 for development.
In 2014, the Proposition 84 Urban Greening Grant recommended $559,000 for development.
Neighborhood donations have totaled approximately $500,000.

The project has also benefited from high levels of community support in terms of in-kind donations professional architecture/design services.

Once complete, the Noe Valley Town Square will be a central gathering space for the Noe Valley neighborhood. In addition to the farmers’ market there will be music events, outdoor movies, exercise classes, and senior citizen events. Maintenance will be the responsibility of Noe Valley Town Square and will be paid for by using rental fees from activities that take place in the square.