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 S.F. MUSEUM OF MODERN ART TAKES GIANT STEPS TOWARD EXPANSION
In July, The Board of Supervisors unanimously approved in concept a transaction between the Museum and the City which would pave the way for relocation of Fire House 1 and the expansion of the Museum. The deal won't be finally approved until certification of an environmental impact report, expected in fall of 2011. But it's a big step forward and a show of the City's enthusiasm. David Prowler is handling government and community relations for the Museum expansion.
And in September the Museum announced the architects who will be designing the expansion: Snøhetta, from Oslo and New York along with local partners EHDD. We'll be seeing designs sometime next year - and expect something great. Here's what the Wall Street Journal's Ada Louise Huxtable has to say about their work:
"What Snøhetta practices could be called the architecture of engagement, a building conceived as a social and environmental act instead of a static, formal object."
Read more about the project here.
888 BRANNAN STREET
Also by unanimous vote, the Board in September passed legislation clarifying the Eastern Neighborhoods Plan and how fees are assessed when formerly industrial uses convert to office or other higher employment uses. This clean up legislation will result in significant savings, enabling investment to bring this National Landmark-registered building back to life.
Says Steve Wong, Vice President of SKB, the building’s owner:
"David quickly arranged for us a seat at the table with City’s planners, providing us the opportunity to have these potentially restrictive zoning changes revisited, by giving us the opportunity to demonstrate the need and benefits of more flexible zoning. His insight into the process allowed our efforts to be directed in an efficient approach.”
SAN FRANCISCO STATE INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECT
Not many people get excited about sewer pipes and underground utilities. But in a city, if you don't have them you can't have much of a building. We take them for granted: the pipes that bring us water (and take it away) and the wires that bring us electricity and communications.
It's a complicated process, involving the Department of Public Works; Public Utilities Commission staff (and Commission); Planning Department; City committees with acronyms like CULCOP and TASC; City Attorney's Office; Department of Real Estate; a title company and an appraiser; two Board of Supervisor Committee hearings and four votes by the full Board of Supervisors.
To help navigate this process, SF State turned to Prowler, Inc. Says Wendy Bloom, Campus Planner:
"Thank you for leading us through an extraordinarily complex city approval process. Your understanding of the way the city works and you relationships with the many departments involved-PUC, Real Estate, Planning, City Attorney, etc.-focused our efforts and gave us visibility."
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