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Commission approves solar streetlights for Memorial Park; funded by Neighborhood Improvement Program
Summary
The commission approved new solar-powered park fixtures for Memorial Park in Manhattan Heights after staff presented revised historic-looking solar luminaires. The project is funded through the Neighborhood Improvement Program and staff said increased costs were covered from program savings; nonworking fixtures will be removed and replaced.
City staff from the CID and Historic Preservation Office presented a revised lighting product for Memorial Park in the Manhattan Heights neighborhood and the Historic Landmark Commission approved installation of the new fixtures.
Yvette Hernandez of the Community Improvement Division said solar power was necessary to avoid interfering with park irrigation and that vendors were asked to provide fixtures with a more historic appearance than earlier overhead-panel proposals. She described the selected fixture as a 25-foot pole with a wrapped, low-profile solar array at the top so that the visible element is the pole and luminaire rather than an extended modern panel.
Hernandez said project costs increased during product selection but that the Neighborhood Improvement Program (NIP) would cover the additional expense: "The cost did increase, but ... we have realized some cost savings. We did check with community development ... and we're able to cover that increase," she said. Staff also confirmed nonworking lights in the park will be removed and replaced with the new fixtures; functioning existing lights will remain.
Staff recommended approval based on the city's design guidelines and the Secretary of the Interior's Standards, emphasizing compatibility with historic character and dark-sky requirements. Commissioners voted to accept staff's recommendation.
The project covers pedestrian and roadway lighting in the park area and the staff presentation included daytime and nighttime mockups, fixture heights, and location pins for the proposed placements.
