THE DAILY KERNEL

After viewing this post, TDK Reader DP makes a request:

The proposed parking near the archeological site of El Presidio de San Francisco is a severe negative impact on the special nature of the historic site.

Are you able to describe this aspect in more detail?

Yes, I think I can describe what people may be upset about. The archeological site of El Presidio de San Francisco is the seminal archeological feature of the Presidio historical period beginning in 1776, and a key feature of the National Historic Landmark District. Page 35 of the Main Post SEIS envisions a restored El Presidio site as a major historical element of the main parade ground and, I believe rightly, a major visitor attraction.

Unfortunately, other leased buildings crowd this particular site. My understanding is that Building 39 is leased to a tenant for at least another 30 years and their lease agreement includes parking within a certain distance of the building.

How does this parking impact the El Presidio site? Two proposed future parking areas for this building are shown on Page 27 of the Main Post SEIS. Page 95 of the document shows a table indicating that there will be 75 parking spaces at the El Presidio site for Alternatives 2 (the Trust preferred alternative) and 2A. 

The figures on Page 35 and Page 27 are not at the same scale. It is a little difficult to make out how the parking translates from Page 27 onto Page 35, but here’s a go at it. Parking is allocated directly adjacent to the most archeologically sensitive site on the Presidio and ironically, it’s not even for visitors to the site! (Maybe, they can squeeze in.) The parking area largely eliminates the intimate plaza, and brings noise and traffic almost on top of a culturally precious area. Clearly, reality is not quite the vision depicted on Page 35.

The Trust says they would prefer not to have the parking in that spot, but that their hands are tied. (I thought they were in charge.) They will try to get rid of the parking in 30 years, or so. Maybe.

Parking rules!

–Doug Kern

Tags: Conflict, History, New Construction by Doug
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This comment from TDK reader WH on being informed by history so that we make better choices for the future:

As a person who spent several years in the world of museum management, I applaud your vision of a Presidio where the programs relate to the world and world issues. The Presidio Historical Association introduced a proposal for a “History Center at the Golden Gate” located on the Presidio that would weave themes of cultural changes, economic uniqueness of the West of Sierras region to the rest of the U.S., American role on the Pacific Rim, and environmental consequences into a story of the Golden Gate and the Presidio. It would be a history of our remarkable region of the world and the many ties the Presidio has with that history. For example, did you know how rich wildlife was when the first Europeans arrived? The first white man in a canoe paddling up the Sacramento River had to post an Indian on the bow with a stick to beat a path through rafts of water fowl, for example. Did you know that America’s first reach for empire in Asia was based at the Presidio in the Spanish American War to seize the Philippines, our first permanent presence in the Asia/Pacific region, and our first overseas “counterinsurgency’ war against residents of a land who resisted our permanent occupation?

There are lessons in Presidio history and in the retelling of that history that can inform our thinking about future decisions for our nation.

–Doug Kern

Tags: History by Doug
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I wanted to clarify a point made on my Presidio History post. I noted that in 1906, Funston took command of the city. I did understand that martial law was not declared and that the things he did at that time, the city did ask him to do. I have modified my post to now read “1906 Funston, in command of the Presidio, provides leadership when 1906 earthquake hits.”

I am happy to make this clarification and appreciate the comment.

–Doug Kern

Tags: History by Doug
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On Monday I outlined the Presidio’s history and its relationship to national and world events. There is an arc of history here, a trajectory, that we need to consider as we select projects to undertake. The point is to suggest that the Presidio has always been a place where people have responded to the major issues of the day. The future will be no different. Due to its location and relative spaciousness it is well-suited to respond to future needs. What will those future needs be? Here are some thoughts.

• Emergency response. Disaster relief. The Presidio has already served this role during the 1906 earthquake and fire. I’m sure it will in the future. We could actually plan for such contingencies and make the Presidio ready to respond in case of a major emergency.
• Food supplies. The Presidio once contained victory gardens to supply those on site. Could we imagine the Presidio offering demonstration gardens to show people how to live sustainably in San Francisco? Could we imagine farmer’s markets to bring people together, share ideas, provide needed food from area local farmers. The farmer’s market at the Ferry Building brings 10-15,000 people on a Saturday. Clearly, there is demand.
• Parking and transportation. Shouldn’t we be working on these problems at the Presidio rather adding to them? Can we imagine pilot projects of all kinds that would showcase new ideas and test them? Instead of designing for an influx of cars and parking areas, shouldn’t we be thinking of new ways of getting around?
• Energy. Peak oil. We use, as a country, roughly 21 million barrels of oil per day, approximately 25% of world production or 85 million barrels per day. That means, the United States uses around 7.7 billion barrels of oil per year. We hear a lot about drilling in ANWR. That site could provide, by some estimates, as much as 10 billion barrels of oil. Wow. An entire year and a half of oil. Oil prices are going out of sight and will continue to go out of sight because we will soon not have access to easy and cheap energy. We have, by some estimates, reached Peak Oil. Shouldn’t we pay attention to energy use, particularly at this national park? Shouldn’t we examine the use of alternative energy here?

These are some of the major issues of our day. There are other pressing problems…un-ending wars, water quality and supply, health care, poverty. In the context of these major issues and how the Presidio has responded in the past, how does installing a contemporary art museum fit in that picture?

Tags: Conflict, History by Doug
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In bullet* form:

• Pre 1776         Ohlone stewardship of Presidio
• 1776-1792     Spanish occupation, 1st European settlement site within San Francisco
• 1792-1845     Spanish/Mexican occupation. The colony took on a more permanent character by 1812. With Mexico declaring independence from Spain in 1821 Presidio became a Mexican colony. All later development based on the grid established by the 1812 quadrangle.
• 1846-1860     Army claims California for United States, takes possession of Presidio.
• 1849               Gold discovered.
• 1861-1870     Presidio secures California and gold shipments for United States.
• 1870-1891     Post Civil War, Army expands Presidio to be a more imposing presence.
• 1891-1908     Presidio becomes nationally prominent military base.
• 1898               Spanish American war. Presidio is command center for the Pacific Theater.
• 1898               First general hospital established (Letterman)
• 1902               African American units of US Army stationed at the Presidio to patrol California’s national parks before the establishment of the National Park Service.
• 1906               Funston, in command of the Presidio, provides leadership when 1906 earthquake hits. Presidio is a refugee center after the 1906 earthquake.   
• 1914-1918     World War I Command center for US Army in the Pacific during World War I.
• 1915               Symbolizing San Francisco’s rebirth after the earthquake, Presidio is part of the Panama-Pacific International Exposition
• 1921-1940     Peace and restoration. Army became smaller, post active for training. Doyle Drive constructed to connect with Golden Gate Bridge.
• 1941-1945     World War II.  Command for Pacific Theater. Major construction period.
• 1945-1989     Cold War. Korean War. Vietnam. Main Post was the command for Sixth Army. 
• 1995               Presidio becomes a national park, at that time thought to be dedicated to addressing the world’s most critical environmental, social and cultural challenges.
• 1996               Presidio Trust Act
• 2005               Lucas Digital Arts Center opens.
• 2008               Trust proposes Contemporary Modern Art Museum be built at the head of the main parade ground.

Tags: History, New Construction by Doug
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