The battle for the Presidio of San Francisco’s Main Post has been waging for just about two years now and it shows very little signs of letting up in the near future.
This highly contested debate and test of wills was brought about with the proposal of Gap founders Donald and Doris Fisher’s Contemporary Art Museum of The Presidio. From the day the plan was laid out to the public it has been met with criticism from neighboring communities, historical associations, and environmental groups. Praise for the museum has come from the San Francisco art community as well as San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom.
The battle here is not about money, the museum will be privately funded by the Fisher Family, but it is about whether we should preserve history. The Main Post of the Presidio is thought of as historically the most important part of the Presidio. It is the historical heart of the Presidio and is lined with buildings dating back to the 1800’s.
Criticizers of the museum believe that placing a modern museum and lodge in the Main Post reduced the historic luster that it has to offer. The modern museum will take away from the history of the Main Post that dates back to the 18th century when the Spanish military used to occupy it. Many feel like the building of the museum destroys the chance to preserve the Main Post.
With all the negativity and resentment for the museum it is sometimes hard to see what could be positive about this museum. If this museum is built, it will house one of the finest personal art collections in the world today. The museum will allow for more people, most importantly more students, to be introduced to art history. The museum also brings about a possibility of attracting more people to the Presidio.
When initially proposed the plans called for a 100,000 square foot museum to be erected at the head of the main post; as well as constructing a 125 room 95,000 square foot lodge. Those plans, as of December 5, have been scaled down to a 70,000 square foot museum with a 35,000 square foot building across from it; both buildings will be one-story tall with one story underground. The lodge has been trimmed down to 110 rooms and 80,000 square feet.
Do these changes mean anything though? Many of us will find out on December 9, when the Presidio Trust will explain the changes in an open board meeting. Much of the criticizers of the museum will also voice their likes and dislikes of the new museum before, during, and after the meeting.
http://www.presidio.gov/http://savethepresidio.org/
http://www.camptoday.org/
(Photo credit:Sfgate.com)
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