Vista group seeks gateway art and arch at south Lincoln Street tunnel; police security concerns linger

The Arts, Historic Preservation and Philanthropy Committee heard Tuesday from the Vista Neighborhood Association and the Vista Guild about plans to install gateway public art at the south entrance of the Lincoln Street Tunnel and possible construction of an arch there.

Wall Rolleth, a representative of the Vista Neighborhood Association, said the group envisions "a three-block art walk between Lady and Taylor with one block of tunnel in the middle" and described the south tunnel entrance as a gateway into the Vista. Rolleth said the neighborhood has committed what he described as roughly $27,000 to the association's piece and that the broader corridor may see about $200,000 in public art over the next one to two years.

Committee members and staff pressed for more detail before commissioning a full design. A city public-safety staff member told the committee that Columbia Police Department Chief Holbrook has been involved in prior conversations and that the department is concerned about secure closures of the tunnel in an emergency. The staff member said, "one of the main reasons why ... we had the riots a couple years ago, and there is concern that if we do have some type of emergency, this tunnel ... runs towards police headquarters as well," and urged further discussion with the chief and engineering staff.

Committee members said they preferred an arch or other decorative gateway to the current chain-link fencing but acknowledged the security constraints. Committee member John McDowell (role on file with committee) said he would "much rather see an arch versus a chain link fence there." Emma, a Vista Guild participant, said an archway concept shown on the committee handout would cost about $30,000 and that adding automatic gates "would drastically increase the cost." Emma also said the neighborhood association does not expect to fund a security-grade gate and that the city would likely be asked to cover that expense.

Speakers noted the tunnel gates have been off since about 2017 after a prior renovation of the Lincoln Street Tunnel. Clark Ellifson, the local artist the neighborhood has approached, was described as able to work with existing fence framework or other infrastructure options. Committee members agreed the group should return with specific options after further discussions with police and city staff and before asking the artist to complete a detailed design.

The committee did not take formal action on the south-entrance gateway beyond asking staff and neighborhood representatives to develop security and design options. The committee chair said staff should coordinate with Chief Holbrook and bring options and potential next steps to a future meeting.

The committee approved the meeting minutes from Aug. 5, 2025, and earlier in the meeting approved adding the Lincoln Tunnel North mural item to the agenda; those administrative votes were recorded without opposition.