SAN FRANCISCO FRONTIERS - April 23, 1998

1800 MARKET: IT'S A BIRD, IT'S A PLANE, IT'S A LANDMARK!

by Tim Kingston

After months of wrangling, discussions and outright wrestling, the Friends of 1800 Market and the Community Center Project (CCP) are on the same page, said Tim Kelley of Friends of 1800 Market. Both the CCP and the Friends of 1800 have ratified an agreement that calls for a new design for the community center, which includes the adaptive reuse of the Fallon Building. The CCP board voted to approve the plan April 8, and the Friends of 1800 ratified the agreement April 13.

Not only is the Fallon Building ­ the focus of all the controversy ­ going to be saved, but those who wanted it saved are going to be in on the new design, Kelley said. Friends of 1800 and the Architectural Advisory Committee of the Landmarks Board will participate in developing a new design that will incorporate the Fallon Building into the CCP. The goal is for that design to be submitted to the Landmarks Board in June so the building can be granted landmark status.

"It is a good solution for everybody," Kelley said. "It is a genuinely good idea and the best thing for the Fallon Building and the best thing for the community center. It is what we wanted, but I would not want to be triumphant here. It is truly a win-win situation."

Brenda Barnette, president of the CCP board, did not return calls for comment on the new status of the Fallon Building.