From Presidio Historical Association
January 28, 2009
Critics of Gap founder Donald Fisher’s plans to build a large, contemporary art museum on the Main Post of the Presidio applauded the San Francisco Board of Supervisor’s 9-2 vote last night approving a Resolution urging Fisher to locate the museum within the City limits rather than in the Presidio, a historic national park.
The Resolution, sponsored by San Francisco Supervisor Michela Alioto-Pier, states that “…the Fisher Art collection would be a valuable public addition to the civic well-being of San Francisco,” and urges the city government to “work with the Fisher family to evaluate alternative locations for the museum within the City.”
“The Presidio Historical Association fully supports Mr. Fisher’s art museum being located in the City of San Francisco, and would work with the City to make that happen,” said Gary Widman, the group’s President. “Placing the museum in the City removes the threat to the Presidio’s historic integrity.”
The Historical Association has strongly opposed building the art museum on the Presidio’s historic Main Post. The Presidio was founded as a military garrison by Spanish explorers in 1786. It is home to one the the largest military cemeteries in the country, and is a designated National Historic Landmark district within the Golden Gate National Recreation Area (GGNRA).
Neighborhood groups who oppose placing the museum in the Presidio, charging it will overwhelm public transit and create traffic and parking burdens, praised the Supervisors’ action.
Margot Parke of the Pacific Heights Residents Association, said, “We applaud Sup. Alioto-Pier’s Resolution to locate the Fisher museum in the City, where it can be easily accessed by public transit. We strongly support this suggestion.”
The Marina Community Association has also expressed their support for locating the museum within San Francisco city limits.
David Bancroft, a founder of the advocacy group Save The Presidio, said his organization also welcomed the Board of Supervisors’ resolution. “We ask the City to quickly form a task force to identify first-class sites for the Fisher art museum, sites within the City limits that are free of the design constraints required to build on the Presidio,” said Bancroft. “We look forward to working together to cut through red tape, expediting the construction of this facility within the City of San Francisco,” he said.
The Hunger Site
January 29, 2009 at 1:09 pm
This resolution was a positive PR move to counter Mr. Fisher who has been attempting to use mainstream media to paint opponents of his Presidio art museum in a negative light. These groups have made it clear that they support this project so long as it is outside of the Presidio.