Preservation
Transbay Terminal Farewell
July 28. 2010
H. Lynn Harrison
Preservation Director
ART DECO SOCIETY of CALIFORNIA
(This letter was a response to an article by Carl Nolte of the San Francisco Chronicle)
 One of San Francisco’s architectural treasures is sliding into dust and there are those who seem to see this as progress. Carl Nolte’s Chronicle Article of July 25. 2010 exemplifies this attitude. Mr. Nolte goes on at length to describe an outmoded old train station ...”a civic disgrace... dark. gloomy ...empty”...which in his opinion should obviously be razed and replaced by “high-rise gleaming condo towers.”
Fortunately for Paris and the rest of the world, the outmoded, dark old train station at Gare O’Orsay didn’t suffer the same fate. It is ironic that at this very moment, San Francisco is host to Impressionist masterpieces currently on loan from the D’Orsay. which is being renovated yet again.
The impression that Tim Pflueger’s Transbay Terminal was an architectural failure and that “even the historians will be glad when the terminal is history” is the same kind of thinking that has lost for this city many other architectural treasures. For the record the Transbay Terminal was and still is a beautiful building, modern and classic at the same time, powerful, graceful and a fitting visual addition to any city. It’s sleekness, its strength, its elegance of proportions, all make this an architectural master work, exemplary of the best of its era on a world stage.
Good architecture is as rare as good architects. Sadly I see no current threat to unseating the lasting genius of Tim Pflueger in this town. Most of what passes for “highrise gleaming condo towers” could benefit enomously from the grace and urbane sophistication of a Pflueger.
It seems particularly short-sighted to reference the Ferry Building as still functioning beautifully; now restored, bristling with life. Many San Franciscans with longer memories know it was not always so. I remember the Ferry Building when it was one of the seediest spots in town, butchered, unkempt and not filled with well heeled patrons buying precious gourmet cheeses. But none of these unsavory attributes related in ‘anyway to its architectural merits. I’m grateful the Ferry Building persevered and is glorious again. I easily envision the same splendor in a restored version of Pflueger’s Transbay Terminal. How sad to know that this will never happen.
One could ask what do we. as San Franciscans owe to our city. What do we owe to history? We owe the best we can produce. The Transbay Terminal was a product of our best. It was beautiful. I fear we will not see its equal in replacement. It will be missed.
The Richmond Plunge reopens after 9 years
June Albonico first swam in the Richmond Plunge 78 years ago, when she was 5 years old. Saturday, she was the first one in the massive pool, which reopened after a nine-year closure that many feared would be permanent.
"It's like coming home," read more, with photos, at SF Gate
Save Berkeley Iceland!
Berkeley Iceland is once again in need of our community. The Berkeley City Council is being forced by the current owners, East Bay Iceland (EBI), to review and possibly overturn the Berkeley Landmark designation made by the Landmark Preservation Commission in 2007. As settlement to a suit filed by EBI in October 2009, the Landmark designation will be on the agenda of the City Council meeting on 19 January 2010. Our community needs to make our voice heard in support of Berkeley Iceland.
http://www.saveberkeleyiceland.org
New England Telephone Headquarters
- PRESERVATION ALERT -
New England Telephone Headquarters
Boston Landmarks Commission Meeting
Tuesday, November 10, 2009 - 5:30pm
What:
The Boston Redevelopment Authority (BRA) is reviewing a proposal from the developer Commonwealth Ventures to make design modifications to the 1947 Art Deco skyscraper at 185 Franklin Street, originally he headquarters of the New England Telephone & Telegraph Company, and more recently owned by the Verizon Corporation.
If you have seen the news coverage in the Boston Globe and Boston Herald, you are aware that Verizon removed the historic, WPA-style mural "New England Telephone Men and Women at Work" from the lobby, and announced that it was considering donating the mural to a museum in Rhode Island.
The Art Deco Society of Boston launched a public awareness campaign to protest the mural's removal. Along with the Boston Preservation Alliance, ADSB is in discussion with the new owners of the building to restore the mural to the building.
While the developer has proposed some acceptable and interesting design changes in keeping with the original Art Deco building, the Boston Preservation Alliance with the support of ADSB has filed a petition with the Boston Landmarks Commission to protect this magnificent Art Deco skyscraper by giving it landmark status. Landmarking will not protect the mural or require the developer to reinstall the mural, but it will provide for a measure of protection for any alterations to the building's exteriors.
When - Where:
Boston Landmarks Commission Meeting
Tuesday, November 10 - 5:30pm
Boston City Hall, Room 900 (9th Floor)
Note: At this hour, the public must enter Boston City Hall from the rear entrance, across from the Faneuil Hall Marketplace.
How to help:
Attend the public meeting of the Boston Landmarks Commission and voice your comments about the significance of the building as well as the mural.
Please call Tony at 617-363-0405 if you can be there.
Information:
For more information, please contact the Art Deco Society of Boston at 617-363-0405 or email: artdecoboston@aol.com
Our Mission
The Art Deco Society of California endevours to educate and inform the public about the preservation of Art Deco structures in Northern California and around the world. We research and document buildings and artifacts worthy of preservation and provide advice and assistance to Art Deco conservation efforts statewide.
We keep the community informed of preservation issues through various media, lectures and programs.
On this page, our preservation home, we hope to bring you news and alerts relating to preservation issues.
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