The Goettingen Stairs
The story of the Steps to Wisdom is one of community resilience, turning a neglected hillside in the Portola District into a landmark of collective growth and beauty.
A Neighborhood Reclaimed (2006–2008)
Before it was a destination, the hillside connecting Goettingen Street to Dwight Street was a site of deep neglect. For decades, the corridor, frequented by neighbors walking to the San Bruno Avenue commercial district or the local library, suffered from illegal dumping, graffiti, and unsafe conditions.
The Goettingen Stairs: Steps to Wisdom
In 2006, the Goettingen Neighbors Group (GNG) formed with a simple goal: to clean up the “forgotten fragment” of their neighborhood. By 2008, through tireless volunteer hours and support from organizations like SF Beautiful and SF Parks Trust, the group successfully:
- Landscaped the hill with native plants.
- Installed a permanent irrigation system and retaining walls.
- Added community benches and a vista point.
From Maintenance to Masterpiece (2009–Present)
As the greenery flourished, the vision expanded. The neighbors sought to create more than just a clean pathway; they wanted a public art installation that would act as a “meditative labyrinth” for the city.
The Steps to Wisdom project was born from this desire to landmark the Portola. Led by artist and GNG member Phillip Hua, the design transforms 59 stair treads into a multicolored gradient. The journey begins at the bottom with charcoal gray and ascends into a golden yellow middle, culminating in fully mirrored steps at the top that reflect the climber’s own image.
The Words of Wisdom
The current phase of history involves the community directly. Interspersed throughout the mosaic are “Words of Wisdom” tiles, reflections, and advice collected from neighbors of all ages. This record of collective wisdom ensures that the history of the Portola is literally baked into the steps for future generations to read as they climb.
Our group, Goettingen Neighbors Group, found Greening Projects just in time.
After working more than six years on our project, Steps to Wisdom, on the Goettingen Stairs in the Portola, San Francisco’s Garden District, was completed days before our previous fiscal sponsor became insolvent.
That meant we didn’t have access to our grant money to pay our tile contractor for the labor and tile. Our grant money was not lost; we were simply unable to access it until the San Francisco City Attorney found a way to legally set up a contract with Greening Projects as our fiscal sponsor. Although the process took six months, Mike Doherty and Jorge Romero-Lozano of Greening Projects guided us through the process and made crucial connections
Mike and Jorge are easy to work with. They make dealing with city agencies easier. They have simplified reimbursements and paying contractors. Not only that, they are knowledgeable of permitting and city policies. Jorge is a civil engineer familiar with what is acceptable and safe in public spaces and has a number of trusted contractors that can help with future development on the stairs, such as solar lighting, and maintaining the hillside garden. Mike is the nuts-and-bolts guy who tracks expenses, manages fundraising, streamlines reporting, and helps us recruit volunteers to maintain the stairway. They both are very responsive to our needs and questions that come up.
We are happy to work with them and are looking forward to doing so in the future.
Ruth Wallace, Gottingen Neighbors Group
The Role of Greening Projects
As the project’s fiscal sponsor and technical partner, Greening Projects provides the essential professional support to move this community vision from a blueprint to a permanent installation.
Our involvement includes:
- Permit Management: Navigating the complex Major Encroachment Permit process with San Francisco Public Works.
- City Liaison: Coordinating with the Board of Supervisors and city agencies to secure fee waivers and approvals for public art.
- Strategic Fundraising: Providing the 501(c)(3) framework that allows for tax-deductible community donations and eligibility for major grants, such as the Community Challenge Grant.