Commission faces hard work on Shain Park
Ain't email great?Subject : Shain decisions
Date : Thu, 26 Jul 2007 18:50:00 -0400
From : Clinton Baller [cmballer@visa-master.com]
To : Tom Markus [Tmarkus@ci.birmingham.mi.us]
Cc : [cjlongeaia@ameritech.net]
Tom,
The city faces some important decisions on the design of Shain Park. Among them:
* Whether the bandstand should be permanent or temporary.
* If permanent, how big will it be, and will it be necessary to build a 14-foot wall to obstruct sound?
* Will restrooms be included in the design?
* What will the fountain look like? How will it ultimately be designed?
* Where will exhaust fans go, and how loud will they be?
* Will the decision on placement of the ramp be reconsidered, and if so, will any sort of pedestrian study be undertaken or taken into account?
* Will Merrill Street remain open a portion of the time, or will it be permanently closed.
* Will a skating rink or other wintertime activity be included?
* What will come of the "parent play area" that is proposed?
We are curious about how these issues will be resolved. The concept design submitted by Albert Kahn is a good start, but we are nearing the point at which the designers at Kahn who put pencil to paper will require that major decisions be made, and will need significant day-to-day input.
We believe good design results from the synergy between designer and client, and that both must be highly skilled. The role and importance of the client cannot be underestimated.
As members of the public with a keen interest in the Shain design, we are eager to meet the Kahn design team, curious about how the major decisions will be made, curious about how the design process will unfold, and hopeful that those who ultimately represent Birmingham bring the necessary skills to their role.
Clint Baller
Chris Longe
Subject : Re: Shain decisions
Date : Tue, 31 Jul 2007 11:02:00 -0400
From : "Tom Markus" [Tmarkus@ci.birmingham.mi.us]
To : Clinton Baller [cmballer@visa-master.com]
Cc : Dianne McKeon [DJMcKeon@aol.com]; tim currier [tcurrier@beierhowlett.com]; Bob Fox [Bfox@ci.birmingham.mi.us]; Bruce Johnson [Bjohnson@ci.birmingham.mi.us]; Bill McElhone [BMcElhone@ci.birmingham.mi.us]; Christian Wuerth [Cwuerth@ci.birmingham.mi.us]; Dennis Dembiec [Ddembiec@ci.birmingham.mi.us]; Dan Schulte [Dschulte@ci.birmingham.mi.us]; Jana Ecker [Jecker@ci.birmingham.mi.us]; John Heiney [Jheiney@ci.birmingham.mi.us]; Janet Laing [Jlaing@ci.birmingham.mi.us]; Judy Rumps [jrumps@ci.birmingham.mi.us]; Joe Valentine [Jvalentine@ci.birmingham.mi.us]; Lauren Wood [Lwood@ci.birmingham.mi.us]; Mark Gerber [Mgerber@ci.birmingham.mi.us]; Nancy Weiss [Nweiss@ci.birmingham.mi.us]; Richard Patterson [Rpatterson@ci.birmingham.mi.us]; Sharon Ostin [Sostin@ci.birmingham.mi.us]; Tim Wangler [twangler@ci.birmingham.mi.us]; Tom McDaniel [mcdaniel_tom@hotmail.com]; Rackeline Hoff [rackyhoff@hotmail.com]; Scott Moore [sdm984@hotmail.com]; Don Carney [doncarney@sbcglobal.net]; Scott Moore [sdm984@sbcglobal.net]; stuart sherman [stuart.sherman@sbcglobal.net]; Don Carney [doncarney@unalink.com]; Julie Plotnik [julie@victoryhomeloans.com]
Generally, I would say all of your questions should receive additional attention and resolution by the commission prior to going out to bid. Some of the items may be bid as alternates or we may even consider phasing in order to spread the costs so that the economic impact of these issues can be more fully understood before we totally commit to undertaking some of these items.
1. Bandstand could be bid either way so we know the economic impact. Additionally, we should probably plan it either way so we can make an informed decision based on cost, aesthetics, functionality, etc.
2. Same as one. Based on the current level of use it would seem we could get by with something less permanent but we should design for a temporary facility as an alternate. Some may argue that if you build they will come, and others will say maybe we don't want more activity. Again some policy type issues which will require resolution by the commission.
3. Restrooms should be included as a design alternative so we can at least evaluate the cost. I, for one, believe this item can be handled at least for events with portable facilities or the use of available public facilities such as the city hall or library without additional capital cost, but added operation/maintenance cost due to extended hours. I don't think we need to build them at this time. Again this matter should be discussed by the commission when this matter returns to them for direction.
4. The architects will need to provide designs for the fountain, and the commission will need to make a decision so as to include in the bid document. As this is a public process, you should have plenty of time to express your personal views.
5. As you know, the location of the fans may be determined based on other design criteria, which should be transparent, and the sound can be spec'd so you should know from the design spec what the sound will be.
6. The location of the ramp is a commission decision. It is up to the commission to determine if they will revisit this issue. The police department is looking into the possibility of a pedestrian study. So far, I understand ped studies are not very common as to methodology or practice, but they are checking to see what if anything can be done.
7. Again a commission decision based on the multiple opinions they will likely receive from you and the hundreds of other interested parties who will express their views.
8. Skating could be included as an alternate, and if considered may be more conducive to a phased program likely due to cost concerns. Just another commission determination.
9. The parent play area is subject to the same review by the commission as all other areas and will be included, not included or modified based on a myriad of commission determinations prior to bid and maybe after depending on cost considerations.
Due to the noticing problem the plan and historic review boards have reheard this matter and will be forwarding their recommendations to the commission, which will then rehear the Shain Park issue, at which time you can express your views and opinions prior to the commission taking any further action. I know you are both concerned about design as well as a myriad of other variables that go into decisions as complex as this one, including cost, functionality, safety, impact on the citizens, residents and businesses, etc. Ultimately our elected representatives -- the commission -- has the responsibility to decide what is in the best interest of the whole community. Our commission will make those determinations as soon as they are comfortable with the amount of information, the public input and their own reconciliation process with what they think is the right decision.
Wow, that is a lot of uncertainty for a project which is supposed to break ground this fall(?) And this checklist is probably the tip of the iceberg.
I will suggest (again) that we offer an international design competition for a permanent bandstand/pavilion. This will be the critical focal point for the southern block of the park and hopefully its identifying signature. Design competitions can generate many creative and interesting ideas, create publicity for the project and allow lesser known designers the opportunity to gain exposure--often all at modest cost to the hosting organization.
Parameters should include that the structure be conducive to performances as well as possibly rented for other events, parties, weddings, etc. These additional uses probably make on site restrooms a prerequisite. A permanent foundation with temporary platform could be our continuing norm during development. Administration of the competition will buy some time for this aspect of the project.
For examples of design competitions, go to:
http://www.thearchitectureroom.comPosted by on 07/31 at 09:53 AMIn the normal process of design.....yes, it IS a process....these kinds of questions are asked BEFORE a designer puts pencil to paper. This is called “programming”, something we never do in any of our projects. Some really basic questions were not asked but instead we just jumped to a conclusion and now are going to try to make the answers to the questions fit the design scheme we have committed to. Ultimately, it will all come down to compromise and a political decision designed to mollify some faction or another making noise in some public hearing.
The list of undetermined “issues”, as you describe them is nothing less than a report card on how flawed the entire process has been. This is basic, freshman year stuff, but our brilliant politicians don’t get it or worse, think they’ve actually made an informed design decision.What a sad state of affairs and what a golden opportunity wasted!
Posted by on 08/01 at 06:42 AMIt appears from Tom Markus’ response to your questions about unresolved design items that he personally is somewhat less than enthusiastic about how this thing is going. It also appears as though the ultimate decision about these things are to be left to our clueless Commission who surely will come to some watered down “compromise”....read politically acceptable...solution, one surely intended to please as many people as possible and offend no one. I suspect there will be some horsetrading going on, you know, “I’ll support moving the ramp if you support building toilet rooms”, etc.
Compromise is not the same as concensus, though our Commission fails to understand the difference. Reaching some kind of temporary political agreement is not the same as having everyone agree what is to be accomplished, i.e., goals, before you start making design decisions.
This thing has been a disaster from the beginning and nothing I’ve seen in the last few months leads me to believe the resulting “design” will be anything else but a huge mistake.
Look, if this bunch wants their names on a plaque why don’t we all chip in and erect one that says “In August 2007 the Birmingham City Commission decided NOT to build a $15 million dollar boondoggle on this site. The citizens of Birmingham are grateful for their foresight”Posted by on 08/02 at 01:06 PMWell take a page out of the Booth Park plan, where the kids are made to learn patience, and wait till they go home to use the bathrooms.
I mean why add bathrooms for Shain Park when you have the library, the Community House and of course that lovely hotel, the Townsend, all with very nice bathrooms awaiting patrons of Shain Park.
Hey, good training for the kids surely should be applicable to the adults too, eh?
Posted by on 08/10 at 06:18 AM
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