Introduction -- Development of The Presidio’s Main Post

Development of the Presidio’s Main Post has been in the news for several years. The week of June 10, 2008 several articles appeared in the Chronicle and there was an hour-long dialogue on KQED’sForum.

Main Post development began with the announcement that the Walt Disney family would be leasing and rehabilitating one of the historic brick Montgomery Street barracks to develop a Disney Museum. Then came a plan for the Parade Ground itself that would convert a vast, existing asphalted parking lot into a sloping grassy area that would host a multitude of outdoor activities and ceremonies. The Presidio Trust talks about the Main Parade Ground becoming the “hub” of the Presidio, attracting people day and night.

Next we were shown plans for a new 95,000 sq. ft. Lodge on Graham Street facing the Parade Ground.

In December 2007 along came plans for another new 100,000 sq. ft. building on the Main Parade Ground: an art museum to be known as the Contemporary Art Museum at the Presidio (CAMP), a permanent home for Don and Doris Fisher’s private art collection.

Additionally, a small theatre would be expanded.

There are arguments both for and against the new development plans proposed for this important location. Notably absent from the plans is how the design plans for each new component complement the historic importance of the location; the site is designated a Historic Landmark.

Also absent is how this tremendous influx of new activity will impact traffic and parking both within the Presidio and outside its gates.

PHRA maintains that the proposed Contemporary Art Museum does not need to be located inside the Presidio, particularly not at the head of the Main Parade Ground. The full array of public transit options and the possibility of developing new, or accessing existing off-street parking, is available at numerous locations in the City of San Francisco. In addition, the Presidio is surrounded on the south, west and east by residential neighborhoods whose streets are not equipped to handle up to 4,000 additional visitor trips per day (estimated daily usage at the proposed museum only). Offices and restaurants inside the Lombard Gate already impact adjacent neighborhoods with traffic back-ups and parking demand. The Lombard Gate is currently a bottleneck during peak hours.  Each of the Presidio gates is able to accommodate only one lane of traffic in each direction.

We believe that before any new structures are approved, two basic tests must be met:

1.     Will the historic significance of the Main Post be compromised architecturally by the size, color and design of the proposed new buildings, or by the level of activity that will be generated by the new uses?

2.     Will the projects cause significant negative impacts on the environment both inside and outside the Presidio, particularly with regard to traffic and parking congestion?

The burden of proof to assess the impact of new development on the Main Parade Ground is on the Presidio Trust. While both the proposed Inn and the Museum should be subject to equal scrutiny, it is the Museum that demands most of our attention because its approval seems to be on a fast track headed by Don Fisher, a founding member of the Presidio Trust as well as its former President, and his team.

It is not acceptable for the Presidio Trust to ignore the negative impacts on surrounding neighborhoods by a combination of the existing and proposed intense developments inside the Park. The Presidio Trust must interface with the City of San Francisco, CalTrans and community groups to resolve these problems. It cannot avoid these issues any longer.

The Pacific Heights Residents Association (PHRA) has been working with other neighborhood Associations through Neighborhood Associations for Presidio Planning (NAPP), a coalition of 11 neighborhoods located in the vicinity of the Presidio. Appropriate development on the Main Parade Ground is so important that we are reaching out to neighborhoods throughout the City to join us. The Presidio Trust has got to get it right.

To obtain copies to the SEIS (Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement) and a Draft of the Main Post Update of the PTMP (Presidio Trust Management Plan) pick up you own copies of the two documents at the Presidio Trust Headquarters, 34 Graham St. or on line at www.presidio.gov .

If you would like to work on PHRA’s response please e-mail PHRA at presidio@phra-sf.org or info@phra-sf.org or send your own comments to the Presidio Trust at mainpost@presidiotrust.gov or to Main Post, Attn. Compliance Manager, 34 Graham St., P,O, Box 29052, S.F. 94129. Comments are due on or before July 31, 2008, although PHRA and other associations have requested a 90 day extension.

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