Public Service Hospital Scenarios Whittled Down

By Carol Dimmick

Three developers proposing a variety of scenarios for rehabilitating the historic Public Service Hospital in the Presidio were selected as finalists in what promises to be the second largest project undertaken at the Presidio since the military's departure.

"We are very encouraged by the interest this project is drawing. Residential development is still very strong," said Craig Middleton, executive director of the Presidio Trust.

The Presidio Trust is responsible for operations at the national park.

The finalists, Avalon Bay Communities, Inc., Forest City Development and The John Stewart Company, were selected from a group of nine applicants that met the Trust's qualifications at a meeting of the board of directors on Aug. 26.

The final decision will come in two months after the three submit more detailed proposals.

The Public Service Hospital, originally built in 1875, is the largest historic building in the Presidio and sits north of the Richmond District at Lake Street and 15th Avenue. The hospital was rebuilt in a Georgian Revival style in the '30s. Two large, non-historic wings were added to the main building in 1952.

In order to qualify for consideration, the nine applicants had to agree to preserve the main building and pay a minimum of $1 million a year in ground lease fees. The Trust offered to allow the destruction of the two non-historic wings and the building of new replacement construction at an old missile site, located near the Presidio Golf Course on property known as the Battery Caufield.

The three finalists were selected on the basis of their previous experience in preservation projects, financial capability and track record in public outreach, according to Middleton.

The three wide-ranging proposals include 300 units of residential and senior housing, 292 units of senior/assisted housing with a mixture of market rate and affordable residential housing, and 391 units of studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom residential units with some office space and a multimode transit center. Two of the scenarios allow for retention of the non-historic wings of the hospital.

Several organizations have criticized the Trust in recent months for placing an emphasis on larger developments over preserving natural areas.

The Planning Association for the Richmond (PAR) sent a letter to the board of directors in early August stating the Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for the project encouraged "maximizing development and construction while shortchanging the project's stated goals of minimizing traffic, protecting natural resources and preserving historic resources."

Middleton said that PAR's comments are not an accurate characterization of the RFQs and said he has and will continue to work hard with the community to solve any concerns that arise over traffic, parking or preservation of natural areas.

Ron Miguel, president of PAR, declined to comment on the three finalists, saying PAR will meet with each of the developers before taking a stand.

Don Green, a member of the Sierra Club's Presidio Committee, said he was encouraged that the three finalists offered a variety of proposals, but was disappointed that the $1 million a year minimum fee was left intact, which he said encourages larger developments.

"I'm glad that among the winners there is one that involves no new construction," he said.