QUARTERLY MEETING

August 14, 2007 | West Coast Office, Garden Conservancy, San Francisco

Minutes:

1. INTRODUCTIONS AND WELCOME

   After introductions, the meeting started with a talk by Michael Crowe, retired NPS. Michael provided handouts and reviewed the components of the national landmarks program. He explained the difference between designations of landmark status vs. the Register of Historic Places and the National Register Programs. He talked about relevant legislation and other organizations engaged in historic property designations. The talk was tape-recorded. If you would like to receive a written transcript please contact Chris Pattillo at pattillo AT PGAdesign DOT com

   Michael reminded us the State Historic Preservation Office has several bulletins available that provide how-to guidance on applying for landmarks status.

2. KAISER ROOF GARDEN

   Marlea Graham reported on a brief interview she had with John Staley of Osmundson and Staley. John Staley had primary responsibility for overseeing the construction of the garden. He confirmed some of the information previously obtained. Marlea plans to schedule a follow up interview and will also interview Deborah Lindsey who was the head gardener at the roof garden for several years. Volunteer, Barbara Newcomb is doing a search for permits for the garden construction. Another avenue of pursuit is the Oakland Tribune "morgue" of newspaper clippings.

   Cathy Garrett reported that PGA has made modest progress on the drawings since our last HALS meeting. Her contact with Paul Dolinsky has led to our securing a commitment to have our three sites photographed to HALS standards. Photographer, Brian Grogan has finished shooting Piedmont Avenue and has done reconnaissance at the Kaiser Roof Garden, which he will shoot next time he is in the Bay Area. It was noted that the requirement for archival photography has been dropped. Digital photos will now be accepted.

3. OLOMPALI STATE PARK

   Diane Einstein gave an update on the progress made to restore the Mary Burdell Garden at Olompali State Park. The PGAdesign team, led by Cathy Garrett, and including HALS member Carol Rowland Nawi, and Potomac Waterworks is well underway on the research and documentation to restore 4.5 acres of the site. The Olompali People and the team recently received archival photographs of the site from State Parks. Period plans showing the site in 1874 and 1911, and the existing conditions plans have been completed. The team is now working on the rehabilitation plan. Carol's historic context research will contribute to the HALS documentation.

   Diane noted that the existing adobe structure on the site is a key component of their National Register recognition.

4. PIEDMONT WAY

   Since our May meeting Friends of Piedmont Way have succeeded in winning a $75,000 grant to prepare contract documents to rehabilitate Piedmont Way. In July, they received an additional $75,000 to pay for a community replanting scheduled for spring 2008. Friends is coordinating this student effort.

   The rehabilitation plan has been completed and was approved unanimously by the Berkeley Landmarks Board. Michael Crowe met with Fredrica and other neighbors to discuss their goal of gaining landmark status. Cathy distributed copies of a promotional piece for the project. Check out piedmontway.org for visuals and more specifics.

   A tour of the site is planned for October 13th. Contact Fredrica for details at Fredrica DOT drotos AT sbcglobal DOT net

5. WEB PAGE COMMITTEE

   Steve sent a written report that he will be teaching at UC Berkeley this fall and will have better access to identifying a student web helper. The web page committee met in June and outlined resources for each page. His goal for September is to produce draft text ready for our review at our November meeting.

   ASLA's LAND Online reported in May that The Cultural Landscape Foundation (TCLF) is planning an online database of cultural landscapes that will be launched next year. This will be a national database of landscapes from the early 1830s through the 1970s. "Users will be able to search the database in many ways, including by typology, designer, and geographic area. Users will also be able to submit information about landscapes in their area and download high-resolution imagery about individual landscapes for free." Here's the link for more info: http://host.asla.org/land/archive/2007/0522/birnbaum.html

   Steve welcomes your input and help. Contact him at canciansteve AT hotmail DOT com

6. NEXT STEPS AND VISIBILITY

   The chair reported that she is talking with HALS member Lucy Lawliss, NPS, regarding participating on the HALS education session at the annual ASLA convention. Lucy has offered to host one of our future meetings at one of the Rosie the Riveter National Park sites in Richmond.

   Chris talked briefly about next steps noting that the 3 sites we are currently working on are all well on the way. We need to start thinking about what's next and identifying champions to lead those efforts. Collaborating with existing organizations or friends groups has proven a good strategy. Members should be aware of such opportunities and introduce them to the group.

   Members who are under contract to document historic sites should consider using that as a starting point for doing HALS documentation.

   Cathy noted that while Level I Documentation (thorough) of sites is the desired ultimate goal, the priority is to produce multiple submittals. Paul Dolinsky, NPS wants to identify significant numbers of cultural landscapes, worthy of HALS documentation, to demonstrate to legislators (amongst other things) the need for funding.

   Using students to research and fill out HALS information inventory forms (Level III Documentation) is an excellent and easy way to make progress. Here is the link to ASLA's HALS site: http://host.asla.org/groups/hppigroup/documents.htm
   From here choose Documents and scroll down to HALS Site Information Form, and you will see the simple 3-page form and 1 page of instructions. Note: the Statement of Significance is the most important section. Information is entered online and e-mailed directly to NPS. Check it out. Fill out a form for a site you are interested in. Send it to NPS and cc me at pattillo AT PGAdesign DOT com. I'll add your contributions to those we submitted previously.

   This could be a great class project for university students. Tom Brown suggested approaching faculty in landscape architecture, history and library science (information technology) departments.

   We talked briefly about writing an article about our activities and distributing it to other preservation groups for publication in their newsletters. This would be a good way to promote HALS and potentially attract new members for our chapter. Marlea offered to write an article.

   Finally, seize every opportunity to promote HALS. Don't forget, few have even heard of HALS. Whenever you find yourself in a position to mention HALS take advantage. The program needs visibility and that is our most important responsibility right now. We are the advocates for HALS.

7. NEXT MEETING

   Our next HALS meeting date is set for November13, 2007 4:00 PM at a TBD location. Please make a note on your calendar.