SF: Presidio Archives
WWI Bomb found in Presidio
From the Ministry of Irony: a World War I mortar shell was found in the Presidio yesterday and then "rendered safe" by the bomb squad. And only on the day we were raising our eyebrows at Lennar's suburban minefield home development in Florida. [Mercury News]
Presidio Nabe Groups Buy Time
Wondering if the Presidio Trust Presidio Nabe Groups really do require more consideration— the group has requested 150 days for public review of its Environmental Impact Statement on proposed Presidio prejects, up from 45— or they're buying time because public support isn't as strong as they'd like it to be? Quoth the PHA: "The length, complexity and controversial nature of the Presidio Trust’s Environmental Impact Statement require far more than the legal minimum of 45 days for the public to study and adequately comment upon it." Fine then. [PHA press release]
Forum: SF Sounds Off on Presidio Dev
A couple choice quotes from yesterday's KQED episode of Forum, discussing CAMP and the overall development of the Presidio. Pro museum: "I often feel that historic architecture is highlighted by juxtaposition with new modern designs...It is in many ways worse to build new buildings that try to look like older ones. In doing this, the line between the truly historic architecture and new development is blurred, giving less significance to both." And the anti-museum perspective (which unfortunately seems to be the majority of the program's listeners): "The Fisher Museum is one man's personal modern art collection. As such, it's totally unsuitable to the Presidio. What indication is there that the public even wants this lump of white stucco and sheetrock? It's the height of arrogance— a form of tyranny over the people of the city and their collective past for him to jam this architecture expression of his ego down the throat of San Franciscans."
· KQED Forum [website]
· Presidio Throwdown on KQED [Curbed SF]
CAMP Protesters Take it to Traffic Court
On June 3rd, the Board of Supervisors is expected to pass vote on a resolution to establish the Presidio Neighborhood Work Group, an official "watch dog" coalition of smaller nabe groups to "oversee nabe projects" in the Presidio (Read: to rail against Don Fisher's Contemporary Art Museum of the Presidio.) In recent months, both the National Parks Service and the National Trust For Historic Preservation have sounded the alarm over feared "adverse effects" of the project. Next issue on the list: traffic. Today, Supe Michele Alito-Pier introduced a resolution demanding that the San Francisco Transportation Work Group analyze the impact "huge increases" of visitors to the Presidio might have on traffic and public transit if CAMP were to be built. Makes sense, we guess, given the hoopla in Golden Gate park, but still ... feels like a good and proper broadsiding to us.
· CAMP Protesters Will. Not. Stop. [Curbed SF]
· Trouble in CAMP Land: "Adverse Effects" Feared [Curbed SF]
· Shocker: Don Fisher Wins CAMP Go-Ahead [Curbed SF]
· CAMP revealed: Fisher Delivers Design [Curbed SF]
Poll: No CAMP in the Presidio? If Not There, Then Where?
The Presidio Historical Association has it in for CAMP— and now the National Parks Service does, too, having issued an official declaration that if built, CAMP would have "adverse effects" on the Presidio. Following yesterday's post on the subject, some Curbed SFians dared suggest that Fisher's pet project should move elsewhere; several even presented ideas as to where, exactly, CAMP should camp out. Here we have their schemes, verbatim. Disagree? To the Comments!
Trouble in CAMP Land: "Adverse Effects" Feared
As if the Presidio Historical Association was going to give up this early in the game. In a damning memo to the Presidio Trust, the National Parks Service dissed on CAMP and the hotel and movie complex proposed for the site, stating that their construction would have an "adverse effect" on the Main Post. (Though such effects aren't outlined specifically, not-so-surprisingly.) The letter suggested that Fisher and his CAMP camp find another site to build on “so that it does not dominate the historic setting.” The published assessment of the Presidio's "cultural landscape" also claims that the building's size exceeds the limits established by an environmental impact review by over 100,000 square feet. Not to be spared, Gluckman Mayner's plans were sent to Hades as the NPS implored the Trust (not the architects— no second chances here, gentlemen) to reconsider the size and design of the building in order to render it "compatible with the character and cultural landscape of the Main Post NHL and consistent with the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards." The tedium, oh how it pains us so.
· Gluckman Mayner Refines "Stupid Boxes" for CAMP Design [Curbed SF]
· Underdog Presidio Preservationists Make Bid for Endangered List
· The Old School Despises CAMP Design, Lacks Fear [Curbed SF]
· Balls to Bowling: Another Presidio Protest [Curbed SF]
· Don Fisher Wins Camp Go Ahead [Curbed SF]
Why Stop at CAMP?: Cinephiles Demand New Presdido Theatre
As the San Francisco International Film Fest approaches and cinephiles brush up on obscure Fassbinder references, the festival's organizing group is making news for another reason. Much to the chagrin of preservationists still busy fighting Don Fisher's pet museum, CAMP, the San Francisco Film Society has recently presented a plan calling for the renovation of the 1939 Presidio Theatre — which just happens to sit right across the street from CAMP's planned home. The design calls for doubling the size of the existing 100,000 square foot structure in order to turn it into a venue that shows limited-release films — like the recent Sundance Kabuki only with less Robert Redford. Because it is an already-existing building, the Presidio Theatre renovation would likely have to follow incredibly aggressive and non-imaginative design guidelines. One would think that would appease historians. One would be wrong. Problem: the urbanization of the Presidio. If any changes are going to made to the theater, they're still a long way off. The current proposal is only speculative— just a little something to keep people pissed off.
· Proposal for Presidio movie theater has historians up in arms [Examiner]
· Gluckman Mayner Refines "Stupid Boxes" for CAMP Design [Curbed SF]
[image via flickr user 2composer]
Almost Famous at 3965 Washington Street
3965 Washington Street, why must you be such a clod, a bore— why must you drop so many names? Why can't we compliment your garden without hearing about Thomas Church, and his degree from Harvard and his fabulous work on the U.C. Berkeley campus? Man was a landscape architect, not David Bowie. And sure, 3965 Washington Street— sure, your facade is fine enough. The sun room? We don't mind it. But we would feel that way even if Gardner A. Dailey hadn't designed it. Everyone loves a little regional architecture here and there, but really 3965 Washington Street, you are pushing our limits. So excuse us now while we go (pretend to) contemplate spending $3,995,000 to remain in your company.
· 3965 Washington Street [MLS]
On The Market: PoMo for the Money in Presidio Heights
If you've got $3.6 million dollars burning a hole in your pocket (and who doesn't these days?) and 4 kids tired of sharing rooms, you might want to take a look at 3647 Washington Street. Built in 1903, the 5 bedroom/4.5 bath shingled home was designed by architect Ernest Coxhead, whose style has been derided as "insane" and "fairy magic", perhaps do due to his tendency to to mix historical styles— the results seem at times strikingly contemporary (see the larger stair landing-cum- library, built-in cabinetry, and walk-out garden). How Postmodern— before there was a modern to be post!
· 3647 Washington St [MLS]
Gluckman Mayner Refines "Stupid Boxes" for CAMP Design
Since architecture firm Gluckman Mayner first debuted the renderings, CAMP, Gap founder Donald Fisher's pet museum project, has stirred controversy (yes, controversy) here in San Francisco. Some are opposed to replacing the existing bowling alley with a billionaire's art collection, while others are insulted by the stark structure, while even those who support the modern museum eloquently refer to the design as "boring" or a collection of "stupid boxes." "We aren't getting our message out right, and part of the issue is the images," said architect Richard Gluckman, who spent this past week here in the city. "People complain the building looks cold and white and stark. In those images, it does." Gluckman assures that certain design nuances weren't visible in previous renderings, and promises that new drawings showing off some of the inevitable design "tweaks" will be revealed next month, hopefully communicating the idea of the building a little better. Will the naysayers convert? Are we in San Francisco?
· Architect waxes poetic with Presidio museum [SF Gate]
· The Old School Despises CAMP Design, Lacks Fear [Curbed SF]
· Balls to Bowling: Another Presidio Protest [Curbed SF]
· Don Fisher Wins Camp Go Ahead [Curbed SF]
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