Uncategorized
01.28.18 - ISSUE #19 – SPRING 2018
- Author: davidprowler
- Categories: Uncategorized
PROWLER NEWS — Winter 2018
For almost 20 years, Prowler, Inc has been helping developers, landowners, non-profits, and public agencies address project management, development, and planning challenges.
IN THIS ISSUE: Neighborhood victory @ Planning Commission ◾ Zen-Inspired Senior Living ◾ Blog ◾ Stanford Course ◾ Planning Commission Centennial ◾ San Francisco’s “Best Non-Profit”
1965 MARKET STREET
On behalf of the property owner, Keller Grover Properties, David Prowler led the effort to design and win approval of a 96-home mixed-use project at the corner of Market Street and Duboce Avenue – a site the local area plan calls the Gateway to Upper Market. It’s an important and tricky site, with new construction above and alongside a historic 1926 former funeral home. The Planning Commission unanimously approved the project on January 18.
It’s a great project, featuring adaptive re-use of a historic building, affordable housing, and a sensitive design. The existing building will be preserved and the additions were designed to respect and complement the historic features. Of the 96 new condo units, 14 will be permanently affordable. On the team besides Prowler: David Baker Architects, Steve Vettel of Farella Braun + Martel, and Charles Chase of Architectural Resources Group.
Says client Eric Grover: “We were so fortunate to be introduced to David Prowler who then put together this terrific team of architects and lawyers.”
The project earned widespread support, with endorsements from the Eureka Valley Neighborhood Association, the Mission Dolores Neighborhood Association, Castro Merchants, the Castro Community Benefits District Board, and the San Francisco Housing Action Coalition.
“David employed his impressive management skills, political contacts and community outreach experience to gain entitlements for a unique project on a challenging site, garnering near unanimous support for the project from community and government stakeholders”
—Steve Vettel, land use lawyer, Farella Braun + Martel
For more information, visit SocketSite.com.
A NEW MODEL OF SENIOR HOUSING
Aging is a big challenge. Doing so in a real community can be helpful and soon there will be a senior community, up in Healdsburg, where the spiritual tools of Zen Buddhism will be available for a broader population. For the past five years David Prowler managed the San Francisco Zen Center’s participation in pre-development activities. The Zen Center has now entered into a partnership with the Quaker-based Kendal Corporation, another non-profit, to co-sponsor, operate, finance and build the community.
The project will be the first of its kind, offering a meditation hall and classes, with food inspired by Zen Center’s Greens Restaurant. 20 retired Zen teachers will be in residence, among 220 independent living units, 30 assisted living units, and memory care for 24. The site is about a mile and a half north of Healdsburg Town Square. The design, by Mithun and HKIT Architects, will meet the highest standards for sustainability.
“David has been instrumental in working with the Zen Center and Kendal in the early stages of the project in Healdsburg. His development experience, instincts and communications skills have helped to bring this community vision to life.”
—Steve Bailey, SVP The Kendal Corporation
For more information, please go here.
FROM GOLD RUSH TO GOOGLE BUS
David Prowler has for some years been guest lecturer in the Urban Studies Program at Stanford University, most recently in a course called From Gold Rush to Google Bus. Prowler’s lectures cover the time from the ‘70s to this morning’s headlines. Michael Kahan, Co-Director of the Urban Studies Program says, “My Urban Studies students at Stanford always learn a great deal from David’s guest lectures. He had a front-row seat to so many of the city’s historic events over the last 40 years, and he’s great at depicting the personalities and conflicts that he witnessed firsthand. But more than just “war stories,” he brings a well informed historical perspective that enriches their understanding of San Francisco’s recent past, as well as its present.”
BLOG
David Prowler puts his thoughts on urbanism and design on his blog, at www.davidprowler.wordpress.com. The latest post is called The Persistence of the Past, and it’s about how today’s planning gridlock is explained by events of 30 years ago. John King of the SF Chronicle called the post “terrific” and J.K. Dineen, also of the Chronicle, deemed it “wonderful”.
Previous posts concerned Japan, surrealist architecture, what street grids tell us about cities, and hostile modern design. Also: the latest on mastodons South of Market, memories of Harvey Milk, Zen billboards, and lucky addresses.
WHO ARE THESE PEOPLE?
Behold current and past members of the San Francisco Planning Commission, gathered for a reception at City Hall to celebrate the Department’s 100th birthday. David Prowler (top row, right) served on the Commission in the early 1990s.
As part of the celebration, Planning staff produced a history of city planning in San Francisco, a handsome paperback with some interesting insights. You can download a copy here.
BEST NON-PROFIT IN SAN FRANCISCO
According to the recent Bay Guardian Readers Poll, that’s Creativity Explored, where art changes lives. It is an art workshop and gallery for artists with developmental disabilities. David is President of the Board.
Here is a piece by CE artist Lance Rivers:
You could buy this watercolor here, or license art, or just learn more about CE at CreativityExplored.org.
Contact.