We've been closely following the progress of Piazza St. Francis, The Poets Plaza, a project slated to close Vallejo Street between Columbus and Grant avenues to vehicle traffic (except emergency vehicles) and create an Umbrian-style piazza for reflection, art, poetry and music.

Back in April, we reported that attorney and former Board of Supervisors president Angela Alioto, who's spearheading the project, wanted to coordinate with the city over the summer, when it began digging up the street for power and sewer lines. The plaza aimed to start construction in September.

But when September rolled around, some neighbors protested the temporary traffic closure, saying they were caught off guard and concerned about traffic congestion if Vallejo is shut down. The latest word from District 3 Supervisor Julie Christensen's office is that the temporary closure is still on hold, while the permanent closure is under review with city departments.

Rendering: Courtesy of Angela Alioto

Echoing what many have said on social media, Alioto wrote in an email that it's hard to believe anyone in North Beach hasn't heard about the plaza, which has been in the works for several years, by now. "You would have to have lived under a rock for the last 10 years to not know about the piazza," she wrote, "and quite frankly, North Beach is a very hip place. Everyone knows everything ... LOL."

Alioto also said people who attended a meeting to decide on the temporary closure of the plaza "were not representative of North Beach ... as Supervisor and president of the Board of Supervisors, I have sat in hundreds of hearings, if not thousands. I have never experienced what I heard happened at that meeting, and the uncivilized behavior of people yelling at commissioners. I do not understand why that was tolerated."

As for fundraising for the plaza, it's "going great." Alioto clarified that the total budget for the plaza is $2.4 million, which includes $2.1 million to build it and $500,000 for a five-year maintenance contract. Of that, $1.1 million has been raised, and pledges in the millions have been obtained in addition to that. "The piazza will be, and it will be soon," Alioto said.