Issue 188, Summer 2009 - Telegraph Hill Dwellers

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What’s Special about Appleton?by Sue CauthenEfforts to enthrone the Appleton & Wolfardlibraries in the pantheon of architectural treasureshas unified the preservation and goodgovernment communities across San Francisco.At least two of these libraries, including theNorth Beach branch, are candidates for the wreckingball. Readying the heavy equipment is San FranciscoPublic Library (SFPL), which wants to replace themwith large new structures. And therein lies the rub.Opponents range from Telegraph Hill Dwellersto the Sunset neighborhood group, with SF Tomorrowand the Coalition for San Francisco Neighborhoodsthrown in for good measure. Friends of the Libraryand the Friends of Joe DiMaggio Playground havehoisted their banner on the other side.Like many land use sorties, the Save theAppletons effort has bounced from the Board ofAppeals to the Historic Preservation Commission tothe Board of Supervisors.The famed architects Appleton & Wolfarddesigned the North Beach library and seven others,beginning in the mid-1950s. Consideredprime examples of the modern movement in architecture,the Appletons have recently been laudedby Architectural Heritage, Docomomo and thePreservation Consortium, to cite a few.With their spacious interiors, ample use of naturallight, beamed ceilings, handsome gables and overhangs,walls of windows and comfortable seating, theAppletons reflect the first stirrings of the egalitariantrend to build warm and welcoming libraries whoseform embraces their function.The respected architectural historians Carey& Company has found the graceful North Beachlibrary to be eligible for both the National Registerof Historic Places and the California Register ofHistoric Resources.This followed the Planning Department’s de factodesignation of the Appleton & Wolfard–designedlibrary as a “historic resource,” triggering the Careyanalysis and a full-blown environmental impact report(EIR). And scarcely had the EIR study begun whenthe National Trust for Historic Preservation signed onin favor of restoration and expansion of the library.A decade ago, the voters passed a $106 milliongeneral obligation bond to fund modernizationof 24 branch libraries. North Beach was due fora $3.5 million makeover and a moderate expansion,beginning around 2003. Ditto for the sevenother Appleton libraries (Marina, Excelsior, WesternAddition, Parkside, Ortega, Merced and EurekaValley.). In fact, an Architectural Heritage article atthe time applauded the library’s plan to retain andenhance the Appleton libraries, all of which weredeemed historically significant.They still are, according to the new HistoricPreservation Commission, which intends to considera proposal to designate the group a “non-linear, multipropertyhistoric district.” Sources say the plan includesa look at landmarking the North Beach library.Source of the brouhaha is the bond program tomodernize the branch library system. This includesmaking them ADA-accessible and seismically soundand code compliant, with state-of-the-art computercapacity.Back in 2003, SFPL put the North Beach projectcontinued on page 2726 Issue #188 • Summer 2009
What’s Special About Appleton? continued from page 26on hold because of the battle over condos or open spaceon the Triangle. As a result, North Beach went to theend of the line. Meanwhile, SFPL had racked up a deficitof nearly $50 million. But the library got permissionto issue revenue bonds again to finish the job.The present plan calls for tear-down of NorthBeach branch and two other historic libraries (Ortegaand Bayview) and erection of massive structurescosting as much as $1100 per square foot. At over$900/square foot ($1300 if you add the money paidto buy the Triangle via eminent domain) the proposedNorth Beach library is a two-story buildingthat rises to 30 feet at the midpoint of a lot with anupward slope of 13 feet.Opponents say the structure blocks views andsightlines from Columbus and Fisherman’s Wharf, andis so large it extends 24 feet into Mason Street, overwhelmingits surroundings with a look that is incompatiblewith the neighborhood. Proponents point to theviews from the second story and the new park land tobe gained, plus the cutting edge amenities.Compare the SFPL plan with the sensitive andelegant restoration and expansion of the Marina library,another Appleton located in a playground. SFPL didthe work for under $4 million (or $500 a square foot).Significantly, SF Weekly dubbed the Marina library“the best ‘new’ branch in San Francisco.”Currently, there is considerable community pushbackover the planned demolitions and the makeoverof Merced branch. Folks who think North Beachwrote the book when it comes to land use skirmishesshould take a look at preservation efforts at two Westof Twin Peaks’ Appletons: Merced and Ortega.Demolition plans for the latter sparked a packedBoard of Appeals hearing, which ended in a 3-2 votefor tear-down.Merced library neighborhood leader AaronGoodman is poised to appeal to the Board ofSupervisors to overturn the exemption from environmentalanalysis. He says the SFPL update affectsthe integrity of the Appleton design by placing alarge “box’ in the courtyard entrance. Goodman isalso concerned that the lack of notice circumventedadequate discourse.He joins the preservation community in assertingthat plans for North Beach, Ortega and Mercedlibraries were made “without reference to the significanceof Appleton & Wolfard’s body of work.”They say adaptive reuse of historic buildings ischeaper, quicker and greener and argue that irreversibleactions like demolition should be the result of anopen and deliberate process.Perhaps the ultimate irony reverts to NorthBeach. Neither city librarian Luis Herrera nor hispredecessor wanted a library on the Triangle. Wrongshape, tiny lot and even murmurs of bad feng shui.Susan Hildreth called a halt to Mason Street’s closureplans for that reason, while Herrera also favoredanother site. In fact, a Sunshine request revealed thathe wrote colleagues that “a two-story library on theTriangle won’t work.”sem.a.phoreDefinition: To convey information using visual signals, such as flags, lights and mechanical arms.In the 19th century, Telegraph Hill was a lookout spot. A man stood at the top and watched for ships arrivingthrough the Golden Gate. He used semaphore signals to spell out ships’ names to the people below who werewaiting for goods and mail. Neighbors who formed Telegraph Hill Dwellers in 1954 named their newsletterto salute this early use of the Hill.Issue #188 • Summer 2009 2 7
Page 2 and 3: p. 36p. 23p. 27THE SEMAPHORE # 188
Page 4 and 5: PRESIDENT’S CORNERwhere demolitio
Page 6 and 7: North Beach Saloon Culture continue
Page 8 and 9: FROM THE DESK OFSupervisor CHIUAs b
Page 10 and 11: a d v e r t i s e m e n t 10 Issue
Page 12 and 13: North Beach Vacancies cont’d from
Page 14 and 15: Murals of North Beach continued fro
Page 16 and 17: Murals of North Beach continued fro
Page 18 and 19: NORTH BEACH UNIQUEby Art PetersonMo
Page 20 and 21: North Beach Unique continued from p
Page 22 and 23: Restaurant ReviewNOT JUST A CHOPHOU
Page 24 and 25: Art & Culture Salon CelebratesHisto
Page 28 and 29: PARKS, TREES, & BIRDS REPORTCoit To
Page 30 and 31: PARKING & TRAFFIC REPORTby Gail and
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Page 34 and 35: ART & CULTURE REPORTby Julie Jaycox
Page 36 and 37: DEPRESSiON ERA GARDEN RAISESCROPS A
Page 38 and 39: THE ALFA NOSEBy Kathleen CannonSpid
Page 40: Telegraph Hill DwellersP. O. Bo x 3

Issue 188, Summer 2009 - Telegraph Hill Dwellers

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