San Francisco begins $4 million Vaillancourt Fountain removal
San Francisco crews began work Monday on the vaillancourt fountain in Embarcadero Plaza, starting the process to take apart the 1971 sculpture and move it into storage. The city says the removal and storage will cost $4 million and take several months.
The San Francisco Recreation and Park Department said this week is focused on preparation, including removing grout between arm joints and labeling pieces so the fountain could potentially be reassembled later. Tamara Barak Aparton said, “There's also, like a lot of old structures, asbestos and lead, and it's become kind of an attractive nuisance, so having it in storage will be significantly safer than having it out in a public square,”
Embarcadero Plaza work
The fountain, created by sculptor Armand Vaillancourt, has drawn sustained dispute for years. A preservationist group sued to keep it in place, while the city has said deterioration left it structurally unstable and corroded and that it contains asbestos and lead.
San Francisco resident Alec Bash said, “It had been a wonderful site-specific art installation” and added, “Now it's sort of out of place, out of context, out of time.”
Friends of the Plaza appeal
Last week, Friends of the Plaza filed an appeal of the preliminary injunction denial and sought a stay and writ of supersedeas to stop physical disassembly, demolition, or removal while the case proceeds. The group’s attorney said emergency exemption from CEQA requires more than deteriorated condition and is limited to a “sudden, unexpected occurrence” requiring “immediate action” with no time for CEQA review.
The same attorney said, “Those are not present here.”
Bono and the fountain
The fountain’s history also includes U2's Bono, who spray-painted graffiti on it during a free concert in 1987 and was cited. San Francisco resident Alec Bash said the structure had become an eyesore, while Mike Stephens, who owns Mike's Barbershop, said, “I remember skateboarding here in the '90s, this whole plaza,” and, “To me, that fountain, it's kind of a little ugly, but it has an iconic memory.”
Nigel Kennedy, who works at Pro Style Barber Shop, said, “I'm a little sad to see it go,” and added, “I think they are pushing some things through to make this all happen. But I'm also open to new opportunities. I'm a business owner here, so it might bring new business for me.”
