Office of the City Manager INFORMATION CALENDAR March 20, 2012 To: From: Submitted by: Subject: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council Christine Daniel, Interim City Manager Wendy Cosin, Interim Director, Planning and Development Department LPC-NOD: 2626 Bancroft Way and 2625 Durant Avenue INTRODUCTION The attached Notice of Decision for a Landmark Designation is submitted to the Mayor and City Council pursuant to Berkeley Municipal Code (BMC) Section 3.24.160, which states that A copy of the Notice of Decision shall be filed with the City Clerk and the City Clerk shall present said copy to the City Council at its next regular meeting. (Ord. 4694-NS 4.1, 1974). CURRENT SITUATION AND ITS EFFECTS The Landmark Preservation Commission (LPC) has designated 2626 Bancroft Way and 2625 Durant Avenue, The University Art Museum (Woo Han Fai Hall) (also known as the Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive) a City of Berkeley Landmark. BACKGROUND On February 2, 2012, the Commission opened the public hearing for the proposed Landmark Designation of 2626 Bancroft Way and 2625 Durant Avenue, The University Art Museum (Woo Han Fai Hall). Prior to the hearing the Commission received correspondence from the UC Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive asking the Commission to refer to the building under its current name of Woo Hon Fai Hall, and to omit the designation of outdoor sculpture as part of the nomination. At the hearing Assistant Vice Chancellor Emily Marthinsen spoke on behalf of the campus, repeating the request from previous correspondence asking the Commission not to take the designation under consideration at this time in order to allow the University time to consider extensive life safety upgrades related to potential reuse. Historian Susan Dinkelspiel Cerny and original Museum Director Peter Selz spoke in favor of the designation, praising its extraordinary and exciting architecture, and comparing it to the Guggenheim Museums in New York City and Bilbao. 2180 Milvia Street, Berkeley, CA 94704 Tel: (510) 981-7000 TDD: (510) 981-6903 Fax: (510) 981-7099 E-Mail: manager@cityofberkeley.info Website: http://www.cityofberkeley.info/manager
LPC-NOD: 2626 Bancroft Way and 2625 Durant Avenue INFORMATION CALENDAR MARCH 20, 2012 The Commission then reviewed the Landmark Designation Report, and considered the designation. While one Commissioner stated that she was not in favor of the designation over the objections of the owner, other Commissioners noted that the designation would recognize the architecture while providing guidance for life safety upgrades. One Commissioner stated that while the Calder stabile was integral to the design of the building entrance, the Voulkos sculpture appeared less so. Staff had recommended identifying by location the shape, primary exterior facades, setting with original sculptures, and major interior atrium space, as features which should be preserved. The Commission referred to the current name along with the historic name of the building, in designating 2626 Bancroft Way and 2625 Durant Avenue, The University Art Museum (Woo Han Fai Hall) a City of Berkeley Landmark. The Commission approved the Draft NOD while: 1) finding that the designation is also consistent with the criterion usefulness as an educational force; and 2) identifying individual interior and exterior architectural elements with the omission of the Voulkos sculpture, as features which should be preserved, by a vote of 6-0-1-2 (Abstain: Ng; Absent: Winkel and Pietras). The NOD will be held and mailed on March 5, 2012 in order to provide Council an opportunity to review the decision pursuant to BMC 3.24.190. BMC Section 3.24.190 allows the Council to review any action of the Landmarks Preservation Commission in granting or denying an application for designation. In order for the Council to review the decision on its merits, the Council must appeal the Notice of Decision. To do so, a Council member must move this Information Item to Action and then move to set a public hearing to certify the decision. Such certification by the Council shall stay all proceedings in the same manner as the filing of a notice of appeal. Such action must be taken within 15 days after the mailing of the Notice of Decision, or by March 20, 2012. If the Council chooses to appeal the action of the Landmarks Preservation Commission, a public hearing will be set within 25 days pursuant to BMC Section 3.24.300. The Council must then rule on the designation within 30 days from the date that the public hearing is opened or the decision of the Landmarks Preservation Commission is automatically deemed affirmed. POSSIBLE FUTURE ACTION The Council could choose to appeal (certify) the decision of the Landmarks Preservation Commission, and set a public hearing at a later date. FISCAL IMPACTS OF POSSIBLE FUTURE ACTION Additional staff time would be required to prepare the necessary Council report and resolution. No appeal fee would be paid to cover the cost of this effort. Page 2
LPC-NOD: 2626 Bancroft Way and 2625 Durant Avenue INFORMATION CALENDAR MARCH 20, 2012 CONTACT PERSON Wendy Cosin, Interim Director, Planning and Development Department, 981-7402 Sally Zarnowitz, Secretary to the Landmarks Preservation Commission, 981-7429 Attachment: 1. 2626 Bancroft Way and 2625 Durant Avenue Landmark Designation NOD 2. Landmark Designation Report Page 3