3 ms·

Did I misunderstand, or was the argument in Chicago about replacing a parking lot? I mean, I see how it would change the lake's shoreline to have a big building

by tikhonj 10y ago

Did I misunderstand, or was the argument in Chicago about replacing a parking lot? I mean, I see how it would change the lake's shoreline to have a big building there, but it would be replacing a parking lot—pretty much the least valuable use of prime real estate short of warehouses or an industrial park. A bleak expanse full of cars is at least as much an eyesore as a blob of modern architecture. (And the renderings of the museum in the article actually look quite elegant in my eyes, but I'm not hostile to modern architecture in the first place...) More generally, we really waste a ton of great real estate on open-air parking lots, even in really expensive markets like SF. Multistory car parks are one thing, but there are single-story lots all over the place, like within a block of SF's piers. The fact that that's economical is either an indictment of local zoning ordinances or our unhealthy overdependence on cars. Or both! Anyhow, Treasure Island actually sounds like a wonderful location for the museum—and the neighborhood itself would benefit too. I rather hope that works out, and I'll probably visit it if it does, even though I'm not a particular fan of that strain of artwork.

rayiner 10y ago
It's the opportunity cost. That parking lot is going to go--the question is what's the best use of that (now) prime land? An ewok museum is not it. Far be it for me to tell someone what to do with his money, but I was just in Pittsburgh visiting the city's fantastic museums bankrolled by Carnegie money. Carnegie didn't build a museum in service of his own ego, he left something that could become a central part of the city's experience.
- ghaff 10y ago
  It's not an "ewok museum." I'll refrain from what I would normally append to that sentence given HN guidelines. You may not care much for American Illustrators but many do.
  - greedo 10y ago
    500K items from the Prequels? With that many Jar Jar mannequins, there won't be any room for ewoks!
    - deleted 10y ago
      [deleted]
  - Waterluvian 10y ago
    Very true. A Jar Jar museum!
  - Inconel 10y ago
    Count me among those that care very much for American Illustrators and would love to see the development of a world class museum devoted to their craft, but who also didn't care for the proposed locations in the Presidio and Chicago lakefront. I personally think the Expo Park location near USC would make sense.
redahs 10y ago
The issue is that he was trying to lock in a 99 year lease on lakefront land for only $10. If Chicago wants to incentivize high value property improvements and minimize flat \ single-story parking facilities, they would get rid of sales, earning, and real estate tax and charge a location-rate property tax on the unimproved value of land reassessed at a floating rate annually.
tptacek 10y ago
It's a parking lot now. But look at the architectural drawing: http://www.trbimg.com/img-576d64a5/turbine/ct-lucas-museum-mccormick-place-east-rendering-20160415/900/900x506 http://www.trbimg.com/img-576d64a5/turbine/ct-lucas-museum-m... That's some of the most valuable real estate in the country. It's directly on the lakefront, right behind the convention center, a short walk from Soldier Field, and from there the museum campuses.
- rrock 10y ago
  Actually, that was the second proposed site. The original proposal would have put it right next to Soldier Field, where it would form a wall blocking the lake. So you can see why the Friends of the Parks didn't want it there.
ghaff 10y ago
Yes. Treasure Island should be a non-controversial choice assuming Lucas can make it work. Of course, this being San Francisco, nothing is uncontroversial.
- Inconel 10y ago
  I also think the TI location would make sense, assuming transit can be properly planned. I haven't looked into it much but I believe I've read that the plan was to run increased ferry service to the museum. Does anyone know how viable this is? Also, I'm assuming sea level rise and soil liquefaction due to earthquakes are a major concern on TI. Are there plans to remedy these issues and can they be built/engineered around?

by tikhonj 10y ago

rayiner 10y ago

It's the opportunity cost. That parking lot is going to go--the question is what's the best use of that (now) prime land? An ewok museum is not it. Far be it for me to tell someone what to do with his money, but I was just in Pittsburgh visiting the city's fantastic museums bankrolled by Carnegie money. Carnegie didn't build a museum in service of his own ego, he left something that could become a central part of the city's experience.

ghaff 10y ago
It's not an "ewok museum." I'll refrain from what I would normally append to that sentence given HN guidelines. You may not care much for American Illustrators but many do.
- greedo 10y ago
  500K items from the Prequels? With that many Jar Jar mannequins, there won't be any room for ewoks!
  - deleted 10y ago
    [deleted]
- Waterluvian 10y ago
  Very true. A Jar Jar museum!
- Inconel 10y ago
  Count me among those that care very much for American Illustrators and would love to see the development of a world class museum devoted to their craft, but who also didn't care for the proposed locations in the Presidio and Chicago lakefront. I personally think the Expo Park location near USC would make sense.

redahs 10y ago

The issue is that he was trying to lock in a 99 year lease on lakefront land for only $10. If Chicago wants to incentivize high value property improvements and minimize flat \ single-story parking facilities, they would get rid of sales, earning, and real estate tax and charge a location-rate property tax on the unimproved value of land reassessed at a floating rate annually.

tptacek 10y ago

It's a parking lot now. But look at the architectural drawing: http://www.trbimg.com/img-576d64a5/turbine/ct-lucas-museum-mccormick-place-east-rendering-20160415/900/900x506 http://www.trbimg.com/img-576d64a5/turbine/ct-lucas-museum-m... That's some of the most valuable real estate in the country. It's directly on the lakefront, right behind the convention center, a short walk from Soldier Field, and from there the museum campuses.

rrock 10y ago
Actually, that was the second proposed site. The original proposal would have put it right next to Soldier Field, where it would form a wall blocking the lake. So you can see why the Friends of the Parks didn't want it there.

ghaff 10y ago

Yes. Treasure Island should be a non-controversial choice assuming Lucas can make it work. Of course, this being San Francisco, nothing is uncontroversial.

Inconel 10y ago
I also think the TI location would make sense, assuming transit can be properly planned. I haven't looked into it much but I believe I've read that the plan was to run increased ferry service to the museum. Does anyone know how viable this is? Also, I'm assuming sea level rise and soil liquefaction due to earthquakes are a major concern on TI. Are there plans to remedy these issues and can they be built/engineered around?