San Francisco Arts Commission votes to dismantle Vaillancourt Fountain

"In an eight-to-five vote on Monday (3 November), the San Francisco Arts Commission (SFAC) voted to disassemble Armand Vaillancourt's namesake fountain. Two days prior, the San Francisco Chronicle that San Francisco Recreation and Park Department (RPD) officials stated the fountain posed an "an immediate and serious hazard" and would propose dismantling the monumental fountain and storing it for up to three years, at a cost of $4.4m."

"SFAC's decision comes just days after the San Francisco Planning Department , which was built by Vaillancourt as the main attraction of Embarcadero Plaza in 1971, was a under the National Register of Historic Places. Many members of the public who spoke at Monday's SFAC meeting supported preserving the monument and keeping it in the plaza. Those who supported its removal often voiced concerns over public safety and health risks."

The San Francisco Arts Commission voted eight-to-five to disassemble Armand Vaillancourt's fountain at Embarcadero Plaza. Recreation and Park Department officials described the fountain as an "immediate and serious hazard" and proposed dismantling it and storing it for up to three years at an estimated $4.4 million, about $2 million more than a demolition estimate. Public testimony was divided between preserving the monument and removing it over safety and health concerns. RPD's project manager framed dismantling as necessary to protect the public. A commissioned report found traces of lead and asbestos and noted structural or code deficiencies; an architecture firm report suggested remediation instead.

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