MEETING OF THE CIVIC DESIGN REVIEW MEETING
OF THE SAN FRANCISCO ARTS COMMISSION
Monday, September 21, 2020
2:30 p.m.
Remote Meeting via video and teleconferencing
 

Draft Minutes 

Commissioner Stryker called the meeting to order at 2:31 p.m.

1. Roll Call
   
   Commissioners Present
   Kimberlee Stryker, Chair
   Yakuh Askew
   Mary Jung
   Abby Sadin Schnair
   Debra Walker
   
   Commissioners Absent:
   Paul Woolford
   Dorka Keehn
2. Public Comment
   
   There was no public comment.
    
3. 900 Innes Avenue Park and India Basin Shoreline Park Project: Phase 2
   Charlene Angsuco and Omar Davis, Project Manager, SF Rec and Park
   Jensen Architects, Architect
   Gustafson Guthrie Nichol, Landscape Architect
   
   The project team shared the location of their project in the India Basin of San Francisco. They shared the extensive public engagement that that they had participated in since the start of the project, which included community events, meetings, and the formation of an Equitable Development Plan and Leadership Group. The team reiterated the comments made by the Committee at the project’s previous presentation to the Committee— to provide material choices and color for all architecture, show spot elevations on sections, and clarify location of railings. After addressing these comments, the team shared their design evolution since their schematic design presentation. The boatyard configuration was refined to further open up the natural shoreline experience and waterfront view. The Innes Edge structure was designed to frame the views into the park. Pier 2 was chosen as the art opportunity site for the San Francisco Arts Commission based on location and visibility. The Bay Trail was further defined from the Boatyard Plaza to increase pedestrian and cyclist safety. The Hunters Point entry was designed to create social spaces along the street. The boathouse deck was increased in size to provide staging grounds and an educational space. The floating dock was designed to be an outdoor classroom space as well as an active and passive recreation site. The project was divided into two Phases. The first will be 900 Innes, with an expected construction date of 2021 to 2022. The second will be India Basin Shoreline Park, with an expected construction date of 2023 to 2024, pending funding. The team shared the possible seating, planting palette, and material choice. Materials included restored wood, natural wood, composite shingles, insulated aluminum, perforated metal, aluminum frame, cement board, and concrete.
   
   The Commissioners commended the team for their detailed work, beautiful renderings, and inclusion of historic and modern sensibilities. The Commissioners shared concern regarding safety issues implied by the natural stone of the staircase. They asked about how the perforated screens will bode in year-round weather. They also asked about the possibility of introducing wildlife on the site due to the native planting. Commissioners also expressed concern regarding the nearby traffic and how it is being considered in relation to foot traffic. Commissioners inquired about the possibility of under-grounding utility lines.
   
   Public Comment:
   
   Erik Sepeda, a community organizer, spoke in support of the project. He believes that the designs reflect the community’s needs and will be a valuable asset to the existing community.
   
   Jill Fox submitted the following email statement:
   My name is Jill Fox. Since 1999 I have advocated for a waterfront park in my neighborhood. I have concerns with this 900 Innes design. Front porch: It seems naïve to believe a wide unsecure area will provide “quiet contemplation” but instead be an attractive nuisance. Consider security and noise not just pretty pictures. The dock mural: Because everyone above the park will see this mural (from existing homes uphill and new high rises) , it should not be a visual distraction from the beauty of the Bay, birds, light at different times of day, the play of the tides. I suggest making artful dock railings could be a beautiful thing. The utility poles: While not in the drawings, RPD is not planning to underground the utilities. These poles are dangerous and unsightly. Build Inc is undergrounding Innes from Griffith to Earl; RPD should underground along their property as well.
   
   Commissioner Jung, seconded by Commissioner Schnair moved to approve the motion, as presented.
   
   The motion unanimously carried by the following vote:
   Ayes: Askew, Jung, Schnair, Walker, Stryker
   
   Motion to approve Phase 2 of the 900 Innes Avenue Park and India Basin Shoreline Park Project with the strong recommendation from the Committee to integrate underground utility lines when it is financially feasible coupled with adjacent projects.
4. Richmond Playground Renovation Project: Phase 1 and 2
   Jan Eiesland, Project Designer, MIG
   Alex Schuknecht, Project Manager, SF Rec and Park
   Jan Eiesland, Landscape Architect, MIG
   
   The team introduced their project and noted that they are part of Let’s Play SF!, a campaign that supports the renovation of thirteen playgrounds across san Francisco. The campaign is a partnership between the SF Parks Alliance and San Francisco’s Rec and Park Department, with the goal of raising $13.2 Million in private funding. The project aims to renovate the children’s play area, add accessible entries at 18th Avenue and 19th Avenue, renovate the restrooms and improve accessibility features, and add new site amenities and landscaping. The area covers 11,500 square feet, including the accessibility improvements at sidewalks. The budget is $3,050,000 for the total project and $1,650,000 for construction. The team hopes that the project will be open to the public in late 2021 or early 2022. The team engaged with the community through online surveys and farmers market polling. The team shared preliminary site furnishings of benches and seating, water fountains, and bear canisters. They also shared a plant palette that consisted of a variety of native trees, shrubs, and low planting.
   
   The Commissioners commended the team for working within a small space. They requested that the team please include more detail and a 3D sketch. Commissioners also recommended that the team make the planting superb by including bigger and fewer plants, particularly Cersis.
   
   There was no public comment.
   
   Commissioner Schnair, seconded by Commissioner Askew moved to approve the motion, as presented.
   
   The motion unanimously carried by the following vote:
   Ayes: Askew, Jung, Schnair, Walker, Stryker
   
   Motion to approve Phase 1 and 2 of the Richmond Playground Renovation Project.
5. Portsmouth Square Improvement Project: Phase 1
   Michael Wang and Travis Theobold, Project Designer and Architect, MEI Partners/SWA Group Joint Venture
   Michael DeGregorio, Project Manager
   Travis Theobold, Landscape Architect, SWA Group
   
   The team shared that they have made numerous changes to their designs since their Conceptual and informal presentations. The focus of these changes revolved around the clubhouse. The team reconfigured the roof form, changed the fenestration of the elevator and mechanical structure, brought the boardform concrete to the plinth of the structure, and investigated using fritted glass to add privacy to the facility. The team compared the new plan to the previous plan, and showed that the new entrance leads directly to the project canopy. The new plan also shows that the roof of the clubhouse is slid to one side so that the elevator core is an exposed piece. The team also improved upon the companion seating by breaking each area into different zones of seating for a total of eighteen seating areas.
   
   Susan Pontious, the Director of the Public Art Program at the San Francisco Arts Commission, informed the Commissioners of the existing artworks and historic plaques at Portsmouth Square. She asked for the team to detail how they will relocate and store the existing artwork, as well as how they will address the existing plaques. In particular, she questioned whether the Robert Louis Stevenson sculpture should be moved along the line of plaques or if it would be more contextual in the playground area. She noted that the existing artwork is in dire need of maintenance which could be covered by the Art Enrichment funds.  The cost of relocating the artwork must be incorporated in the project budget and not the Art Enrichment funds.  
   
   The Commissioners commented that the new look is no longer resonant with the Chinatown community, and asked that the project include more cultural context. The Commissioners also shared concern regarding excessive light entering the Southern face of the clubhouse. The Commissioners suggested that the largeness of the stair leading to the upper terrace is too grand, and perhaps it could dissolve into the living room or have an eased edge. In terms of materiality, Commissioners noted that the board-form was too overplayed, and perhaps it could be a more textured material. Commissioners would like for the art relocation to feel specific to its site. They also wondered if seating could be made movable and thus more dynamic.
   
   Public Comment:
   
   Erika Gee, from the Chinatown Community Development Center and Parks and Rec in Chinatown, spoke in support of the project. She commented that the Civic Design Review Committee has greatly refined the community center. She said that there is a great need for this space in the Chinatown community, and she is grateful for the team’s close work with the community.
   
   Commissioner Schnair, seconded by Commissioner Walker moved to approve the motion, as presented.
   
   The motion unanimously carried by the following vote:
   Ayes: Askew, Jung, Schnair, Walker, Stryker
   
   Motion to approve Phase 1 of the Portsmouth Square Improvement Project with the following contingencies Motion to approve Phase 1 of the Portsmouth Square Improvement Project with the following contingencies 1) that there be a careful review of the permanent relocation of the existing artwork and plaques on the site 2) that the project include traditional Chinese qualities that connect the past and the present with some feng shui sensibilities and 3) that more color and life be introduced to the elevator entry and 4) that there be discussion on ways to incorporate public art into the project given budget limitations.
6. San Francisco New Public Trash Receptacles Project: Phase 1 and 2
   Tom Dair, Project Designer and Architect, Institute of Creative Integration
   Lisa Zhuo, Project Manager, SF Public Works
   
   The team shared that the project is a collaboration between SF Public Works and the Institute for Creative Integration. They detailed common problems with the existing trash receptacles, which include overflowing, incorrect use of recycling, and fickle locks. The team then presented three alternatives for the receptacles’ design. They are called “Salt and Pepper,” “Slim Silhouette,” and “Soft Square.” The team will disperse these throughout San Francisco to see which prototype is most effective.
   
   Commissioners asked whether other forms of recycling could be incorporated into the trash receptacles.
   
   There was no public comment.
   
   Commissioner Schnair, seconded by Commissioner Walker moved to approve the motion, as presented.
   
   The motion unanimously carried by the following vote:
   Ayes: Askew, Jung, Schnair, Walker, Stryker
   
   Motion to approve Phase 1 and 2 of the San Francisco New Public Trash Receptacles Project.
7. SFO Bus Maintenance Facility Project: Phase 3
   SFO PDC Architecture & Engineering, Project Designer
   Lynn Filar, Project Manager, PDC- Architecture
   Alice Lau, Architect, PDC- Architecture
   
   The team began by addressing the contingencies listed by the Committee after their Phase 2 presentation. These included more sculptural tree placement, less transparent garage door panels, and refined proportions of the south facade. The team then described their proposed plantings for the site landscape. These consist of bioswales, flow through planters, xeriscape, entry planters, and a landscape screen.
   
   The Commissioners commended the team’s design process, as well as their diligent presentations before the Committee.
   
   There was no public comment.
   
   Commissioner Schnair, seconded by Commissioner Askew moved to approve the motion, as presented.
   
   The motion unanimously carried by the following vote:
   Ayes: Askew, Jung, Schnair, Walker, Stryker
   
   Motion to approve Phase 3 of the SFO Bus Maintenance Facility Project.
8. Sunnydale HOPE SF Infrastructure Project: Phase 1, 2, and 3
   Ramie Dare, Project Manager, Mercy Housing
   Kari Tsubota, Architect, Merrill Morris LLP
   
   The team noted that this was their first presentation before the Civic Design Review Committee. They shared the existing site condition of a CMU block wall adjacent to the future Harmonia Street. Their design solution entailed providing a six foot tall fence on top of the block wall to provide privacy to the homeowners from Harmonia Street. This fence will also provide security to the homeowner by reducing the possibility of someone climbing into their yard. Their proposed fence will be made of corrugated steel. Its key elements include a solid horizontal ribbing that coordinates with architectural details, durable and low-maintenance steel, coordination with a switchgear screen, and color that matches the CMU block wall.
   
   Commissioner Askew, seconded by Commissioner Schnair moved to approve the motion, as presented.
   
   The motion unanimously carried by the following vote:
   Ayes: Askew, Jung, Schnair, Walker, Stryker
   
   Motion to approve Phase 1, 2, and 3 of the Sunnydale HOPE SF Infrastructure Project.
    
9. Visual Arts Committee Update
   
   There was no update, given that Commissioner Keehn was not present.
   
   There was no public comment.
10. Staff Report
    
    Commissioners thanked and commended Luna Izpisua Rodriguez, Program Associate of Civic Design at the San Francisco Arts Commission, for her work with the Committee. They welcomed Maysoun Wazwaz, Associate of Galleries at the San Francisco Arts Commission, into her new role as Civic Design Review Program Associate.
    
    Joanne Lee, Deputy Director of Programs at the San Francisco Arts Commission,  commented that there will be upcoming conversations regarding the agency’s administrate review and consolidated review capabilities, particularly to accommodate small projects more efficiently.
    
    There was no public comment.
     
11. New Business and Announcements
    
    There was no new business or announcements.
    
    There was no public comment.
     
12. Adjournment 
    
    There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 6:04 p.m.

posted 10/1 at 2:22 p.m. LIR

 

Archives Available
A recording of this meeting will be available online after the meeting at the following address: https://sfgov.org/arts/civic-design-review-committee-audio-archive

Language Accessibility

Translated written materials and interpretation services are available to you at no cost. For assistance, please notify Commission Secretary Alyssa Ventre, 415-252-2255, Alyssa.ventre@sfgov.org.

我們將為閣下提供免費的書面翻譯資料和口譯服務。如需協助，Commission Secretary Alyssa Ventre, 415-252-2255, Alyssa.ventre@sfgov.org

Materiales traducidos y servicios de interpretación están disponibles para usted de manera gratuita. Para asistencia, notifique a Commission Secretary Alyssa Ventre, 415-252-2255, Alyssa.ventre@sfgov.org