HomeMy WebLinkAbout8.1 Bay West Development's Dublin Apts Public Art Proposal ITEM NO: 8.1
STAFF REPORT
HERITAGE & CULTURAL ARTS COMMISSION
DATE: May 12, 2016
TO: Honorable Chair and Commissioners
FROM: Tegan McLane, Cultural Arts & Heritage Manager
SUBJECT: Bay West Development’s Dublin Apartments Public Art Proposal By: Tegan McLane, Cultural Arts & Heritage Manager
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
The Commission will consider a proposal by Bay West Development to install a public art wall at the corner
of Dublin Boulevard and Golden Gate Drive, to satisfy the Public Art requirement for its Dublin Apartments
mixed-use residential complex.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
None.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends the Commission recommend City Council approval of the proposed public art for Bay
West’s Dublin Apartments project.
DESCRIPTION:
Bay West Development is developing a five-story mixed-use residential project, 7544 Dublin Boulevard,
located at the southeast corner of the intersection of Dublin Boulevard and Golden Gate Drive in Downtown
Dublin. The project will have apartments on the upper four stories, with 17,000 square feet of retail space on
the ground floor (Attachment 1, Bay West Site Plan).
As part of their Site Development Review approval by the City Council, the Developer opted to install public
art versus paying the in-lieu fee. Per the Public Art Master Plan, all private developers are required to meet
with the Heritage and Cultural Arts Commission for review of the proposed artwork. Upon recommendation
by the Heritage and Cultural Arts Commission, the developer is also required to seek final approval of the
proposed artwork by the City Council.
2 of 2
Artist Selection Process
The Public Art Master Plan encourages private developers to follow an artist selection process consistent with
the City’s policies for selection of artists and artworks. Bay West followed a process similar to the City’s
process of selecting from a shortlist of prequalified public artists. Based on interviews and reviews of short-
listed artists’ past work, Bay West selected artist Deirdre Murphy for the project (Attachment 2, Bay West
Artist Statement, Resume and Renderings).
Ms. Murphy is a professor of art at the University of Pennsylvania, who frequently explores the connections
between migratory bird pathways and star constellations. She was commissioned to create a piece based on
the Orange Crowned Warbler, a small songbird that migrates through the Dublin area each spring and
autumn using stellar navigation and taking refuge in shrubs and low trees. The proposed piece is an art wall –
approximately the height of the birds’ habitat – made from two panels of powder-coated steel. Life-size
warblers, digitally printed in aluminum, will be mounted on both sides of the wall. The wall, situated near the
Dublin Blvd./Golden Gate Drive corner, is expected to provide a screen between traffic and an outdoor
plaza that would likely be used for seating for future tenants. The artwork will be visible to both passersby
and users of the outdoor plaza area.
Staff Review
Preliminary designs were reviewed internally by the Assistant City Manager (Interim Parks and Community
Services Director) and the Heritage and Cultural Arts Manager, along with Staff from Community
Development and Police Services. Wall height was a concern but for different reasons. From an artistic
standpoint, the scale of the artwork is not substantial in relation to the building size; and conversely, too tall
of a wall structure may pose public safety concerns at night or ongoing visibility issues.
Because any increase in wall height to address scale issues would also increase public safety concerns,
Staff encouraged the developer to keep the wall at 5’5”, but consider adding other public art elements within
the project as funds allow. The parking garage entrance area was identified as a possible location for
additional public art. To mitigate any safety concerns, Staff directed the developer to further explain its
lighting plan and ensure that the plaza behind the art wall will be well lit. This requirement could be
incorporated into the Public Art Installation and Maintenance Agreement.
Community Outreach
In addition to including City Staff in the review and critique of the artwork, as specified in the Public Art
Master Plan, Bay West also performed outreach to the Dublin community. Bay West hosted an open house
on February 10 for the public to meet Ms. Murphy, inspect preliminary designs and offer comments and
concerns. Bay West mailed 811 postcard invitations to owners and occupants within a 300’ radius, including
Eden Housing, developer of the adjacent affordable housing development Dublin Family Apartments. The
outreach meeting was also publicized through social media and the City website’s newsflash feature.
Unfortunately, the evening was very stormy, and attendance was poor. However, feedback from those who
saw the artist’s presentation was positive (Attachment 3, Bay West Public Art Comment Cards).
NOTICING REQUIREMENTS/PUBLIC OUTREACH:
None.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Bay West Site Plan
2. Bay West Artist Statement, Resume, Renderings
3. Bay West Public Art Comment Cards