architect. i mean an architect not somebody who says, i'm a designer i went to architecture school that's not an architect. an architect is a licensed architect. i do not mean an engineer. we have a lot of engineers that are very good at fixing engineering issues. architects can bring things to a project you can't imagine if we simply did this we can open space or meet your needs. it's false economy to do a remodel from a kitchen remodel or anything without getting an architect on board. that's my position. harvey is an architect what do you think? may be you don't take that strong of a position. >> i may have to recuse myself. the one comment i want to make is that i am shocked at how little attention most people give to the question of choosing an architect because it's just like choosing a dentist or an automechanic or any of the other people who do things in your life that turn out to be important. they are not all the same attorneys are not all the same. and the only way you can find out if

in addition to the architect. you have another set of eyes. >> most contractors don't like it if the homeowner is there for the inspection but it's a good idea. to walk through and see what the comments are. usually it's 9 and 12 in the morning or 1 and 3:30 in the afternoon. it's not a set time but it's a good time to be there. if your architect doesn't offer ca, there are instead of house inspectors i would look under construction management. there are construction managers that work with the owners to go over the invoices from the contra contractor. >> that's appropriate for major projec projects. >> they are set up terror major projects over a million dollars. >> a lot of contractors tell you once the job's done they don't need the -- you may say to the architect, do we need to keep paying the architect and the contractor says no , i have plans i can do it. the architect's participation in the renovation doing construction administration is priceless. all these things will come at you and you can bounce it off

bad architect you are stuck. it's there in your face. >> or good architecture. >> yes. >> the fairmont. wow. it has got flags and you don't think of gas station. >> this is a very lively pedestrian space and most are coming into a very dreary parking lot into a 1950's edition of the tower. it just enlivens nob hill and it's just exciting. >> this is the only door i have entered the fairmont by. >> when i take my kids for the years that we go to the theater or the movies and hotels in san francisco, i force them to go through main entrance. they often try to direct you, like when you leave the theater, they want you to take the side entrance from at&t theater to go out. no, no. we're going to go out the way the building was designed to experience entering and exiting the building. it is an experience. it's four-stories high. >> four-stories high in mayan influenced architect, which is very unusual. >> and it continues above the entrance. >> the whole building is decorated in mayan motif. >> i have to vote of the t

it is up to the architect. we were generous enough to make four broader ideas. there -- they were basically points of guidance and a request for creative thinking. the commission has the ability to deny the project. or send it back home. and i am open minded about it. but if it is being sent home, and it comes back, it better be different and better be more responsive to their requests we're making and there'll be no further design guidance other than what we have all expressed. there are guidelines within the areas that have plenty of examples of how to do it. this is not a green field design. this is designing within context. commissioner wu: i wanted to add on to commissioner sugaya's comment. if we do to to continue this and have it come back, i would be very disheartened to see the bedroom on the first -- the ground floor diminished in size to the extent that the first unit is unlivable. i understand that diminishing of the deck for the extension would mean that the to come back to just show that would really be a problem. i hope to see something that is mu

the problem is i sent an e-mail to the architect eight days ago and i got a response yesterday. >> thank you. i appreciate your comments. the way i'm seeing it is with short of the commission redesigning the entire addition, or the real objection especially from one set of d.r. requesters is the presence of the extension of the bedroom where it's visible there and it would be nicer if it were less visible. that's what i'm hearing. obviously, it can't be any smaller. commissioner wu talked about you have to have a decent size unit and this is a very nice, smaller unit with a bedroom, dining area, kitchen, bath that fits in well with that. but you do need that rear extension. so project sponsor, i don't know if you're amenable to changes that were spoken about, perhaps if there's a chance bringing that down a little bit, maybe a few feet lower to make the unit less visible from the adjacent property. i'm just asking if that's a possibility here. sounds like a is solution. what -- >> bringing less -- >> the bedroom portion of the addition, you would end up probably with a ramp or some stair

. >> i suggest an architect. these are people who are trained to look at the appearance and make decisions. but i have seen it to great advantage, especially in the older buildings, victorian and edwardian period >> i agree with you to go with a professional. but is there a particular group? another list in the yellow pages and all that. for the exterior, you talk about the curb appeal, something like windows. where do i find a list of these people, without having to trouble a realtor who is maybe just interested in selling it? >> i think in that, just to address if different ways, you might want to get a couple different opinions. it does not take long. you might want to get an opinion from a realtor, even though they may just be interested in selling it. that may be true or may not be true. a 50 minute opinion might be worth it and help round out your decision from your next professional, who might be the architect, as warren suggested, especially now, because architects are out looking for work. they are happy

i have pier waller and -- our three architects. steve is available as well. >> can we get the screen up? >> this is coming right now. >> i would like to thank kenner yand warren and we will give you a brief walk through this project. this has been a collaborative process. a lot of thanks to the community and staff for their efforts. i will try to manage my left hand in sequencing these slides. those familiar with this parcel, on the side of the formal freeway ramp, this is that the frontage octavia boulevard. with these residential buildings that step down the slope with larger elements, and these wonderful al -- at least. it is very characteristic of this part of the city. this occupies half of the former freeway area, relatively shallow at 120 feet deep. this drops about 30 feet from laguna, down to octavia. bordered on the north by hickory street, which will be restored as part of the project. the base allow the ball high as 50 feet. we have a little bit extra octavia, stepping down to 40 feet on history. -- hickory. the massing

>> we thought that kahn was one of the late 20th century architects, of all of the architects was an his most important museums we've got in the world today, the kimball, which you know. >> rose: fort worth. >> and the center in new haven. and so kahn had really been the student of paul craig who was the designer of the original marion building and had a lot to do with the parkway. so we thought that somehow or other kahn should somehow be in our heart and soul as we moved forward. i think rather than try to copy kahn we really tried to absorb it. >> rose: capture the spirit. >> i think the building is... our building feels very solid and quite massive and i think in many ways kahn's buildings also feel very solid. they're heavy buildings on the ground and they're trying to make a building that has no particular sense of a place in time and therefore maybe finds its place throughout times. >> light was a terribly important issue with kahn, too. he's trying to make sure the solid block is bathed in light, it comes to life by being reflected off a surface and we'll see that in the buil

a home owned by a renowned bay area architect is at the center of a demolition debate. owners are asking to tear it down. happening now, jana katsuyama is live in belvedere to explain tonight's controversial vote. >> reporter: gasia, the fate of this house hangs with the belvedere planning commission. looking at the one story house at 12 crest drive, its beauty is definitely in the eye of the beholder. it was built in 1951 by prominent bay area architect clairence mayhu, and sold for $50 million last year. the new owners want to tear it down and rebuild on the property with its spectacular sweeping views of the golden gate bridge and richardson bay. >> this is the last mayhu house we know of in belvedere. >> reporter: he says demolition would be a disaster. he says mayhu's house and others nearby are being torn down one by one, being replaced by modernized structures, a loss of a unique bay area tradition. >> it's our home-grown style of architecture that developed in the '50s, and they need to be saved or we'll lose them for our generation and all future generations. >

latrobe went on to act as an engineer, traditional architect and landscape architect for sights in maryland, virginia, pennsylvania, ohio can be kentucky and louisiana. he aided in the building of the first catholic church in america. next one. the baltimore basilica. took almost 20 years to construct. and the decatur house. also adina in ohio. his final destination ended up being farther, farther south in new orleans where he designed the city's water works. ironically he died of yellow fever, the very disease he was trying to prevent from spreading by the way of engineering pursuits with that water works system. there's a lot of history left up to interpretation, obviously. especially the madison and latrobe relationship which seems to have been pretty copacetic for the majority of the time. latrobe was well known whether he thought that it was gossip or not for being a loud mouth and very opinionated. people didn't appreciate it very much, especially at a time when manners were very well appreciated. and since most of his structures are actually in ruins now, they don't exist anymore, in

he went beside the boundaries of being an architect and an emergency. they dated march 17th, 1809 and reflect the additions to the duties from being just the surveyor of public buildings. he was mrs. madison's retriever. a bit of an exaggeration, but he searched high and low up and down the eastern seaboard for guitars, furniture, rugs, carriages, books, candlestick, snuffers and lace and even -- one more slide. keep going. even wallpaper. one more slide. this is a very famous depiction actually of the boston museum of fine arts, the tea party. later in date than what we are looking at with the madisons, but it explains what you would have seen in a very elegant entertainment situation of the time period. one of the things that he picked up was mrs. madison's iconic turbin. it was a younger look, but she pulled it off quite well. in addition, he picked up her wigs. in one sense, he picked that was a little too small. not sure if that means something if he thought she had a big head or didn't measure it correctly. in march he wrote to mrs. madison to con

the neighbor's lawyer contacted my are contested -- my architect. these white walls were built to give the neighbors more light than air. this made the project more difficult. we told people where we were willing to cross the windows in an effort to provide a confession to the neighbors. they never responded to our offer, again. this same month, the day requested access to our rules. in neighborly fashion, we granted full access. two years into the process, they are now appealing kafka we are a family trying to build family oriented units, making extreme concessions for our neighbor's benefit if, only to feel trampled on. thank you very much. i am all done. >> thank you. do you have any questions? >> can you explain what you do it is the concessions -- concessions you gave? i agree keepnot think i have a d understanding of what the concessions were. >> we do not pretend week believe we could build to this. i'm showing you the envelops so you can understand we are not building to that. neighbors grow around terms like we are massing of properties. th

my name is johnny moss and i'm an architect -- jenny moss and i'm an architect in downtown san francisco. i am pleased to be here on behalf of the many individuals who have worked effortlessly for years to support the thoughtful development of the waterfront communities. without provocation, i am in favor of the project and encourage your unanimous support. ere is no doubt this project represents sound planning principles, historic sensitivity, acknowledgment of open space requirements and connect to be with neighborhoods and the other parts of the city. at the end of the day, this project supports what many cities search for, particularly san francisco, a template for creation of extraordinary experiences at the waterfront tempered by thoughtful guidelines regarding site design, building massing, and pedestrian access. to be sure, a tennis club and asphalt parking lot surrounded by green netting do not belong on san francisco's beautiful embarcadero. residents and visitors alike deserve the opportunity to find new and repurchased uses for the fabric. the waters that badge needs to conti

he is one of the original planners and architects. we are going to talk about the path of burning man, the future as well. before we jump into the question that had to do with what is going on, tell us about your new headquarters and how that came to be

we have been working with the architects, landscape architects for quite some time. you have raised a number of concerns and comments about what has been proposed. i am happy to report we have made serious progress. they have been working in close collaboration with the department to make sure your concerns have been addressed. what i have for you today are the presentations by peter walker, the landscape architect, and by fred clark who will present the proposals for the ground plane of the district, if you will. the ensemble of buildings that is greeted by the transit tower, terminal, and mission square plaza. i would also point out, and i am here with the developer on this. i would point out this is the same team that did proposed five years ago for the competition, so the tame -- same team has been working on this project from the early stages. with that, i will turn it over to peter walker who will start the presentation. >> good morning, commissioners. i am peter walker, the landscape architect. we are delighted to be here, because we have been working on the p

i am the project architect representing the project sponsor and the property owner, mr. dan kennedy who regretfully could not be here today. thank you for the opportunity to address you. dan kennedy is a long-time resident and small business owner in san francisco whose intention is to build a modest two-story structure which can suitablely house a small automobile repair garage on the vacant dore street lot where there are already a number of such repair shops. as a businessman, dan kennedy who is in his 80's, takes a long-term view of things. he is not interested in making a quick buck by developing and selling this building, but rather intends to leave his properties to his children. as stated in my d.r. response, this project after undergoing all normal neighborhood notification processes was previously approved by both the planning and building departments under permit application 2007-1206-9799 and a valid building permit was subsequently issued in 2008. unfortunately, due to the economic downturn, mr. dan kennedy was unable to proceed with construction in a timely

burell's brief was drafted -- drafted by the architect. he says the decking does present if you and obstruction problem but he concludes this is the city and it is dense, tough luck. no one should expect any privacy or views in san francisco. he also makes a couple of other arguments. first he states the proposed decking system is consistent with the maryland lab -- mira loma neverland standards. this demonstrates quite the opposite. there is a letter that was offered by the mira loma improvement club, signed by the president of that organization, cassaundra davis. i believe that is in your packet. i want to draw your attention to language in that letter, suggesting that the board of permit appeals consider the modification of the building permit to eliminate or at least to minimize the proposed second floor that is the upper deck that looks into the bayview window of dr. maxon's home while allowing the first floor or lower deck to be constructed. mr. zapone is therefore wrong about the compliance of this design with the neighborhood stand

. >> both of these technologies encourage architects to build taller buildings. engineering and materials science provided a higher quality of steel to build with, and having passenger elevators meant it was the necessary anymore to climb a long flight of stairs to get to the top of the building. the elevator made the upper floors of the building more attractive than they were before. >> here we were at the historic st. francis hotel, which was actually a representation of the evolution of elevators. can you tell us more about san francisco history here at the st. francis? >> sure. st. francis demonstrates well the evolution of elevated technology. and substantially damaged the 1906 earthquake and rebuilt in 1907 or 1908, and extend it again in 1913. then a new tower was added in 1932, so there is all sorts of elevator technology you can see at the st. francis that very much represents the building history of san francisco. >> i understand there is a really old elevator still operating here. >> that is right, the elevator installed in the 1913 expansion. we can g

when you hear about the architects or developers talking about this, and the good architecture materials to not pencil out, i hope that you keep this as a point of reference. the parcel -- as you know -- these are currently -- there may be a transition where -- if they are developed quickly, it will be a viable but if there is an interim, with the form can continue some level -- we appreciate this. >> i am julia sullivan. thank you for the opportunity to speak. a couple of months ago we reviewed this project in detail and give this project our strong support. we like the mixed use of the project, along with the rich designs, and the architecture firms. this is a proposal that will improve and of all the neighborhood and strengthen the sense of place, including the new st. hickory, where none currently exists. we recognize that the parking is an important consideration, in this neighborhood. we support how the project sponsors have capped the parking ratio. and, also, there is the strong commitment to bicycling and car sharing. and with regard to the housing affordability, among many oth

not even talking about using three architects. i think it is a wonderful example of how to really create tively use the freeway. all of the legal foundations in place for labor, for affordable housing, etc., i am comfortable with and i greatly appreciate mr. lee being a strong supporter. in the end, i believe the position the department takes is a correct one. however, market octavia -- having said that, i am very comfortable st. exceptional designed -- seeing exceptional designs. how we measure height and how we look at hickory alley, whatever. fees are being used for infrastructure improvements, the extension and the completion is in the spirit of using the money. it would -- it is perfectly justified. it is not just a self-serving thing. together with the idea of potentially having an agreement for hickory, at an innovative way which reinforces our market octavia it is developing. i think market octavia is one of the most exciting neighborhoods that is happening and i am really happy that we are -- we continue to support innova

he is the architect. i saw him -- he said this is so stupid. never get the permit to build the new building. [unintelligible] thank you. >> good evening. i am honored to address year. i watch you on tv and commissioner fung, you are in favor. i do not always agree but i love hearing how you and tie the together. unti -- untie the pieces and put them back together. before i bid on the house and while it was in escrow i did a lot of research about the property next door because -- i will show you a picture. what i saw -- that is what i saw when i came to the property. it was not until the came back the second time that i noticed this fire and i was scared to walk in your bid -- the yard because it was full of construction debris and trash and had been that way for a long time. i had a friend with me was brave enough to walk over and he could barely read that it said 2005 on it. i thought, ok. that is years ago. a lot has happened since then. i called dbi and must be a black hole between the agencies or something because i spoke to in specter -- i

commissioner wu: for the project architect, i have a comment and question. so, in the materials that we were given, there is some depiction of the proposed building within the context, but i think it would be even more helpful for the hearing in a couple of weeks to have more of the view of the context of the building. i see on clay street, you have a couple of buildings. on larkin, there is very few. i am interested to see how i fit in with the buildings that are across the street or a larger view than just a couple of buildings. i do have one question about unit size. i noticed that most of the units in the design are anywhere between 800 and 1,200 feet. i wanted to know the rationale for the top unit which looks like it has increased up to 4,000 feet. >> that is part of the developer's program to have a single large unit on the top floor, and that is what we designed. commissioner wu: thank you. i also will reserve most comments until the 20th. >> thank you for your suggestion. commissioner borden: what is your plans for on-site housing, bmr units on or o