Civic_Design_Committee
2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 CIVIC DESIGN REVIEW COMMITTEE
Monday, April 18, 2005
3:00 p.m.
25 Van Ness Avenue, Suite 70
Minutes
Commissioners Present: William Meyer, Rod Freebairn-Smith, Barbara Stauffacher Solomon, Jeannene Przyblyski
Absent: Andrea Cochran
Staff Present: Richard Newirth, Nancy Gonchar, Jill Manton, Kristin Zaremba, Rommel Taylor
Call To Order: 3:10 p.m.
Note: As the team for the Argonne Playground Clubhouse was not present at the call to order, this item was not heard as indicated on the agenda.
- Larsen Park Sava Pool Renovation—Phase 2
Presented by Paulett Taggart, Principal, Paulett Taggart Architects. Ms. Taggart presented color and material samples.
Commissioner Meyer opened the floor to public comment.
Commissioner Meyer closed the floor to public comment.
Motion to approve Larsen Park Sava Pool Renovation—Phase 2
Motion: Przyblyski
Second:Stauffacher Solomon
Vote: The motion was unanimously approved.
- Argonne Playground Clubhouse—Phase 2 and 3
Nancy Gonchar reviewed the comments from the Phase 1 review held March 15, 2004. Commissioners Meyer and Stauffacher Solomon felt that the roof should be studied further. Commissioner Freebairn-Smith felt that the color palette could be stronger.
Edgar Lopez, Project Manager, DPW, explained that the project had been on hold due to funding issues. DPW reduced the budget by 10% and they were proceeding with the project. Damon Louie, Project Manager, Recreation and Park Department, presented the project and addressed the Commissioners' concerns in the Phase 1 review. The roofline was studied and made more substantial and the colors were reconsidered. Mr. Louie presented the colors and materials board.
Commissioner Meyer opened the floor to public comment.
Commissioner Meyer closed the floor to public comment.
Motion to approve Argonne Playground Clubhouse—Phase 2 and 3:
Motion: Przyblyski
Second:Stauffacher Solomon
Vote: The motion was unanimously approved.
- MissionBay Pump Station at Park P-18—Phase 1
Tom Evans, Assistant Project Manager, Redevelopment Agency, provided a brief overview of the Mission Bay project, discussing the open space. The 1998 Mission Bay Plan provided for 51 acres of open space including Mission Creek, Mission Bay Commons and Bay Front Park. The parks are to be built by the master developer and maintained by Redevelopment for 45 years. Mr. Evans introduced the landscape architect, Cliff Lowe, Principal, Cliff Lowe Architects. Mr. Lowe explained that the design elements in P-18 reflected those in P-17 that have been completed. The landscaping was designed to soften the building and make a less of a presence on the site. Amy Eliot, Principal, Tom Eliot Fisch, explained that all design elements attempted to minimize the building's impact on the site. The building is as small and compact as possible while still fulfilling the functionality required by the PUC. The material choices and palette are consistent with adjacent elements in the park as well as the adjacent BOSA developement. The steel and metal elements are painted Mission Bay grey.
Commissioner Meyer opened the floor to public comment
Commissioner Meyer closed the floor to public comment.
Commissioner Freebairn-Smith expressed concern that the City continues to put infrastructure building aboveground and obstructing Bay views. Amy Eliot responded that they had suggested submerging the building but that the PUC had rejected the concept, responding that they would not maintain an underground building.
Commissioner Przyblyski suggested that perhaps the Committee could prepare a position paper on the topic.
Commissioner Stauffacher Solomon felt that the building could be designed more as an outdoor room with much more landscaping to conceal it.
Commissioner Przyblyski agreed with Commissioner Stauffacher Solomon but was also concerned about littering the waterfront with infrastructure buildings and then not labeling them as such, sending the wrong message.
Tom Evans explained that the location of the building had been thoroughly studied.
Commissioner Freebairn-Smith asked whether the team had explored all alternatives to the location and siting of the building.
Commissioner Przyblyski was concerned that we not stop a project without a hoped-for outcome. She asked about the timing.
Tom Evans replied that construction is scheduled to begin in September and that the project must be approved as soon as possible.
Commissioner Meyer noted that no motion was possible.
The Committee asked the team to return with a representative from the PUC to present the alternative designs. The presentation should also explain why those design were not feasible options.
- Hunter's Point Shipyard Project Open Space and Streetscape Masterplan—Site Furnishings and Structures—Phase 1 and 2
Richard Newirth, Director of Cultural Affairs, stated that he received a call from the City Attorney's office regarding the review of the shipyard project The Arts Commission does not have jurisdiction over this project. Mr. Newirth explained that the Committee can make a motion for recommendation to the design team.
Nicole Franklin, Project Manager, San Francisco Redevelopment Agency, stated that Michael Cohen, Mayor's Office, couldn't be present due to a conflict in schedule. Ms. Franklin gave a brief introduction to the scope of the project and introduced Evan Rose, Principal, SMWM to present the design ideas.
Mr. Rose commented that the suggestions from the last Civic Design hearing had been considered and in some cases incorporated into the design. He said the this phase of the project was focused on the Hilltop, Hillside and Waterfront parks. Mr. Rose stated that it was very important for the team to create excellent waterfront parks that have a relationship to the many other regional parks in the Bay Area.
Mr. Rose commented that the Hilltop concept had been revised to provide additional pathways on the east side of the hill to provide universal access from Galvez Avenue, the Interim Market Place and the Galvez Steps area of the Hillpoint Park. He stated that the Hillside open spaces had also been revised based on suggestions by the committee. A new major open space corridor at the center of the Hillside along with secondary open spaces that run perpendicular to the Hillside, further integrates the overall network of open spaces. These parks offer better view corridors to the waterfront and also connect to a system of pathways that provide access down to Crisp Street. These new pathways combined with minimized retaining walls switch back up the hill providing universal access and improved viewing experiences along the Hillside bluff.
Mr. Rose briefly reviewed the streetscape master plan. He said that lighting at the major intersections would create a gateway to the cross-sectional parks. Planting at these intersections would also support this concept. Mr. Rose explained that the design team looked at different configurations for the Galvez Steps. He presented examples of other major stairs in the city that were not in a straight run configuration. Mr. Rose stated that their primary design goals was to create a safe stair that offered visual access with respect to the surrounding landscape and vistas.
Commissioner Meyer opened the floor to public comment.
Marcia Dale-LeWinter, Hunter's Point Shipyard Community Advisory Committee-Planning and Development, stated that she was very concerned about the process for integrating art into the overall design scheme. Ms. Dale-LeWinter wanted to make sure that community artist and children had some involvement in the process.
Commissioner Meyer closed the floor to public comment.
Commissioner Meyer commented that the modifications were good. Mr. Meyer stated that there were three issues raised at the last meeting that were not addressed today: whether the design team had explored the possibility of incorporating taller buildings at the high points of the sites, whether street level retail had been incorporated into the masterplan and wheter benches would be incorporated into the neighborhood streetscape.
Mr. Rose stated that the massing of the buildings conformed to the the San Francisco General Plan. The massing of the development visually sculpts the Hilltop site. He stated that steetlevel retail was allowed in certain areas of the development and that any additional development would be based on demand. Mr. Rose said that would not be placed along typical residential streets, however seating will be provided in the open spaces.
Commissioner Przyblyski stated that her primary concern reagarding the configuration fo the stair was visual access in terms of safety. She stated that it is important that there aren't any blind spots along the route. Ms. Przyblyski commented that there seems to be strong ideas regarding the inclusion of art in the masterplan however there doesn't seem to be a concrete vision for funding. She recommended that the Arts Commission be involved early on in the planning stage since we have a proven system for selecting artist and implementing public art projects.
Commissioner Stauffacher-Solomon stated that the design was fine.
Commissioner Freebairn-Smith agreed with Commissioner Przyblyski's comments and said that local and national artists should be involved in the process as well.
- Joseph Lee Recreation Center—Phase 1
Brook Mebratu, Project Manager, DPW BOA, explained that the scope of the project was to demolish part of a dilapidated recreation center in the Bayview Hunter's Point neighborhood and build a new recreation center and park. Mr. Mebratu explained that the the original proposal for the recreation center designed by consulting architects Gita Dev, was unbuildable due to budget constraints. The project was reworked by architects at the Department of Public Works. He introduced John Thomas, Landscape Architect, DPE_and Victor Talatala, Architect, DPW BOA to present the design proposal.
Mr. Thomas, stated the the concept for the open space was to create spaces that relate to the organization of the building. At the top of the park is the play area for the youngest children and is adjacent to the admin office and latchkey center. The middle of the park offers an open park space and denotes the main entry to the building. At the lower part of the site is a play are for older children and is adjacent to the Mendell Plaza.
Mr. Talatala explained that the auditorium portion of the center would be demolished to to severe structural deterioration and the presense of hazardous materials. The gymnasium will be retrofitted and a new structure will be built around it to house new programatic functions. The new building will house a large multipurpose room, a smaller multipurpose room, a weight room , computer lab, a full kitchen and administrative offices.
Commissioner Meyer opened the floor to public comment.
Commissioner Meyer closed the floor to public comment.
Jill Manton, Program Director Public Art, explained to the commissioners that the mural on the auditorium would be lost. The murals on the northern and west facades of the gymnasium could be partially preserved. The mural on the western end would lose a significant amount due to the retrofitting of the gym structure.
Ms. Manton stated that the original proposal called for a freestanding wall at the eastern end of the park that would have a replica of the mural on the auditorium. This proposal was rejected based on the extremem cost to construct the wall. Dewey Crumpler, artist, and author of the mural spoke at a community meeting and stated that it did not make sense to save only a portion of the mural because they all worked together to tell a story. Ms. Manton stated that they had in hand a report from a conservator regarding the murals on the gymnasium, however staff and the DPW team had not had a chance to review the findings in detail before the meeting.
Commissioner Freebairn-Smith asked if there was community support for this project. He also asked about the status of the plaza between the Opera House and the recreation center.
Mr. Mebratu stated that the project was presented at a community meeting earlier this month and was received well.
Mr. Newirth stated that he had information that suggested that the plaza designed created by Koa Pickering, a former Landscape Architect with DPE, would be carried out at the site. Mr. Pickerings design relates directly with the MUNI connections plaza across the street from the recreation center. The project was reviewed by the Civic Design Committee and approved.
Commissioner Stauffacher-Solomon stated that the design was fine.
Motion to approve Joseph Lee Recreation Center—Phase 1:
Motion: Przyblyski
Second:Stauffacher Solomon
Vote: The motion was unanimously approved
- United Nations Plaza-Site Furnishings and Structures— Phase 1 and 2
Ms. Gonchar stated that this project has been continued to the May Civic Design Meeting.
- New Business
None.
- Adjournment: 6:00 p.m.
Revision Date 04/26/05
