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Resident urges commission to review Public Works plan for Japantown "Osaka Way" plazas and Ruth Asawa fountains
Summary
A Japantown resident asked the commission to place Public Works' proposed plaza changes on an agenda, expressing concern the proposed benches and planters would obscure and irreparably alter public art by Ruth Asawa.
Masako Takahashi, a longtime Japantown resident and member of the Takahashi family, addressed the Historic Preservation Commission during general public comment on May 21 to urge review of a proposed Public Works project affecting Osaka Way (sometimes called Buchanan Mall) and the block-long Ruth Asawa fountain installation.
"This is what it looks like today with a Ruth Asawa fountain in the foreground... If they put in these benches, as you can see, it will irreparably alter the design," Takahashi said, showing photographs and asking the commission to place the project on its agenda so the commission could consider the potential impacts.
Takashi said the fountains "haven't been working for decades" and that the Public Works plan appeared to remove existing fountain elements rather than repair and reassemble them. "Please fix the fountains and then put it back together," she said.
Commissioner Baldauff asked staff about the permitting status and whether jackhammers or construction were imminent. Elizabeth Gordon of the Planning Department responded that the project is currently in the historic-resource review process and that staff are reviewing the planters and benches as potential impacts under the department's Part 1 (character-defining features) and Part 2 (impacts) evaluation. "Staff says that we're looking into that right now," Gordon said, and noted that long-range planning staff and Rich Sucre are aware of the concerns.
Takahashi told the commission she believed permits were "okayed" but staff clarified that permits as understood by the public were not yet issued and that construction was not imminent. Commissioner Baldauff asked staff to follow up on the permitting timeline; staff said they would inform the commission and brief Rich Sucre as appropriate.
Takahashi asked the commission to "please put this on your agenda" so the commission could consider preservation implications. The commission placed the matter under "department matters" for follow-up; staff indicated they would continue review and communicate with the commission and affected community members.
