SR 06:079 - Laserfiche WebLink

institutional knowledge regarding the intent of the site design and related architecture as he was an integral part of the development of the Master Plan for the Downtown Parks and Trails System which begins to define the scope and intent of the adaptive re-use of the site. Staff believes that the photomontage accurately depicts the view from Main Street down the Division Street corridor, which creates a soft, transparent, inviting fa..ade to the Firehouse Arts Center and Lions Wayside Park. ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT This project is categorically exempt pursuant to the California Enviromnental Quality Act (CEQA), Section 15331, Class 31, Historical Resources Restoration /Rehabilitation, and Section 15332, Class 32, In-Fill Development Projects; therefore, no environmental document accompanies this report. FISCAL IMPACT The fiscal impact to the City will encompass the costs of the design of the Arts Center, the development of contract documents, the construction of the facility, and post construction maintenance. The City Council initially budgeted $6 million dollars in the Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) for this project. On March 7, 2006 the City Council approved a funding plan that anticipates full funding of $1 0,860,802 for the construction of the project through a combination of City funds and private fundraising. It is anticipated that the funding plan will be adopted by the City Council as a part of the FY 2006/2007 Mid-Term CIP. CONCLUSION Staff believes that the proposed building has been sensitively designed to renovate and rehabilitate an important historic structure. The proposed site plan meets the site constraints, and the building envelope and the program elements provide a simple style with sophisticated design features that will provide a unique and blended addition to the Downtown area. The project would provide a visual and pedestrian connection to the adjoining parks, along with the Downtown commercial center. The Firehouse Task Force, the Civic Arts Commission, and staff all support the basic design philosophy taken by ELS as the best solution to preserve and focus on the charming and unique architectural aspects of the historic Fire Station No.1. The consequent design actually reveals more of the physical Firehouse itself. The choices of exterior finishes, colors, and landscaping all complement and highlight the historic building, being mindful of the building's role in expanding the Downtown district and creating a sense of place in a street-side and park-side setting. The architecture for the Firehouse Arts Center project preserves and enhances an irreplaceable historic resource, integrates the structure and its addition into a new civic use, and SR 06:079 Page 16 of 17