SR 05:241 - Laserfiche WebLink

Constraints, Opportunities, and Assumptions The Task Force began its work by discussing some of the constraints and opportunities inherent in the project. Certain assumptions were developed out of those discussions: Finances - It is understood that total City funds available for the project are $6 million, of which approximately $750,000 has been allocated for design services. Any additional costs associated with desired amenities would need to be covered by private funding efforts, or the project scope reduced. Members of the Firehouse Fundraising Committee and the newly formed Pleasanton Cultural Arts Foundation have concurred with this assumption, and are undertaking an ambitious fundraising campaign on behalf of the project. The Task Force has chosen to pursue a modest design, which would seek to produce a reasonably priced facility and still meet the needs of the community for the foreseeable future. Site Constraints - The site is severely constrained by the Alameda County Transportation corridor. The Task Force and consultants made the conscious decision to design the building to occupy only the existing City-owned footprint. The actual facility and its programming will not be dependent upon the acquisition of additional property; however, acquisition of the corridor, subsequent renovation of Lions Wayside Park, and enhancement of access to Main Street could create a truly wonderful recreation, aesthetic and cultural resource for the Downtown Area. Parking - The constrained and triangular shape of the project site makes it impossible to accommodate the facility and a sufficient number of parking spaces to adequately support the envisioned program and activities. The Task Force made the conscious decision to seek other alternatives to the parking needs of the facility, i.e. transportation corridor (as suggested in both the Downtown Specific Plan and Downtown Parks and Trails Master Plan). Adaptive Reuse of the Historical Firehouse - A major focus of the Task Force has been the preservation of the Historic 1929 Firehouse structure, and to visually highlight and give focus to its architecture, color palette, and materials. Subsequent additions to the facility built in the 1960's and 1970's would be removed, and new amenities constructed that specifically accommodate the new activities planned for the Center. All exterior construction materials would be designed to complement and actually provide more visual focus to the original historical Firehouse. The Task Force also recommended that the consultants develop an attractive exterior treatment for the side of the building facing Lions Wayside Park. The result is a curving wood exterior, which complements the natural setting and gradually reduces in height to expose even more of the old Firehouse and its decorative roof treatments. The Task Force also chose to provide innovative display opportunities for Fire Department related memorabilia and artifacts, placing them throughout the center. This would allow the building to carry the Firehouse theme in all areas of the facility, not relegating artifacts to a static, unchanging comer. The Task Force envisioned an ever-changing display of Firehouse materials and memorabilia that will surprise and delight returning visitors to the center. SR 05:241 Page 4