Modern art infiltrates Presidio
This is what happens when you privatize a public asset. It's hard to imagine that the spirit of the Presidio Trust Act would have allowed for this kind of new construction in a National Park, where the emphasis is supposed to be the preservation of the natural environment and historic uses of the 1,491 acres. Where does contemporary art owned by Gap founder Don Fisher fit into that mandate?
This new structure, to house Fisher's private art collection, is slated for the Main Post, the historic parade ground of the old army base, where several stately brick buildings now sit empty. The Trust Act, under section104(c) does state that new construction in the park should be "limited to replacement of existing structures of similar size in existing areas of development." Nothing on shoebox aesthetics there, and this new museum doesn't offer a way to rehabilitate the aging structures that would surround it, which is part of the Trust's Management Plan.
A meeting will be held tonight, 6:30 at the Officer's Club in the Presidio, to discuss the Fishers' proposal and a competing plan for a history museum from the Presidio Historical Association. At least their proposal actually has something to do with the park.
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Comments (2)
Hmmm... My bullshit detector is going off. Is the Guardian opposing this because it's Don Fisher that is donating the art or because they really give a shit about the Presidio Trust?
Posted by Shane | December 3, 2007 09:11 PM
Writers at the SFBG seem to only complain about how the park is being defiled. Perhaps it would be better to let us know if it is possible to create legislation allowing The City to take back the park?
Posted by expatriate | December 4, 2007 02:41 AM