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Consideration of a Public Art Concept in Conjunction with a Development Project at 12712 Washington Blvd.
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Contact Person/Dept: B. Christine Byers
Phone Number: (310) 253-6003
Fiscal Impact: Yes [] No [X] General Fund: Yes [] No []
Public Hearing: [] Action Item: [X] Attachments: [X]
Public Notification: Meetings and Agendas - Cultural Affairs Commission (06/05/15); Property Owners, Occupants, and Businesses within 500’ Radius (to End of Block) (Sent via US Mail on 05/28/15).
Department Approval: Sol Blumenfeld (06/04/15); Martin R. Cole (06/05/15)
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RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends the Cultural Affairs Commission (“CAC”) approve an art concept by Mitra Forouzan as fulfilling the City’s Art in Public Places Program (“APPP”) requirement for the development project at 12712 Washington Boulevard.
BACKGROUND/DISCUSSION
Mr. Farrokh Keyvan of West Coast Property Management and Development (“the Applicant”) has been issued two Culver City Building Permits to date (Permit Nos. 85856 and 88267) for the construction of a new 4-story mixed use project on Washington Blvd. at Washington Place (just to the west of Wade Street). The ground floor is reserved for commercial use and the remaining floors will accommodate a total of five residential units (the 4th floor comprising one residential unit).
Pursuant to Culver City Municipal Code (“CCMC”) Section 15.06.120, new commercial development projects with a building valuation of $500,000 or more and residential projects with five or more units are subject to the City’s Art in Public Places Program (“APPP”) requirement. Further, CCMC Section 15.06.125 (B) states: “Multiple building permits issued within a three year period for a single project shall be considered in the aggregate in determining the APPP allocation.” The valuation as appears on these two permits totals $1,650,000 which translates into a 1% Art in Public Places Program minimum allocation of $16,500.
The Applicant received entitlements for this project prior to the adoption of the revised Art in Public Places Ordinance in March 2013. Therefore, per the CCMC, the Applicant has the option of commissioning original, site-specific artwork by a qualified artist even though the 1% APPP allocation is under $75,000.
Mitra Forouzan was selected by the Applicant to create an artwork concept for the project. Ms. Forouzan studied architecture and fine art at the University of Southern California, UC Irvine and Immaculate Heart College. A native of Iran, Ms. Forouzan chose a concept which references the ancient Persian tradition of decorative tile facades while creating a spare, mid-century design aesthetic that has come to be identified with Southern California. As summarized by the artist, “…. an eastern idea with a western outlook.”
Ms. Forouzan’s concept features various intersecting rectangular and triangular shapes with an approximately 3’ diameter wide sun at the top. The effect is subtly playful, with colors and shapes that reference the work of California designers Ray and Charles Eames, the painter Piet Mondrian, or the architect and designer Ettore Sottsass. The artwork is to be installed on the eastern end of the Washington Blvd. façade of the building with overall dimensions of 43’ high x 7’ wide. The tile will be surrounded by the same off-white stucco that will be applied to all solid wall sections of the Washington Blvd. elevation.
The Applicant’s representative and the artist met with staff and the CAC Public Art subcommittee (Vice Chair Koosed and Commissioner Williams) on May 21, 2015 to review the initial concept. Ms. Forouzan said that while the design and color palette would not change, depending on the final tile selection, there may be some slight adjustments to the color hues. Once the final tile selections have been made, the applicant and the artist will review these with staff and if necessary, with the CAC Public Art Subcommittee. The subcommittee inquired about lighting for the artwork which still needs to be addressed and will be subject to review by Planning staff.
The estimated budget for the artwork is $20,000 - $22,000. Currently, the estimated completion date for the development project is summer of 2016; the artwork would be installed on the façade approximately 4-6 months before then.
The artwork will be visible 24 hours/day, seven days per week to both pedestrian and vehicular traffic. Ceramic tile is a highly durable material and relatively maintenance free. The applicant intends to procure extra tiles in the unlikely event that replacements are needed.
The CAC Public Art subcommittee supported the concept as presented on May 21, 2015.
FISCAL ANALYSIS
The cost for design, fabrication and installation for this project is borne entirely by the Applicant. The responsibility and cost for future cleaning, maintenance and restoration of the artwork is the responsibility of the property owner pursuant to Section 15.06.150 of the CCMC.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Artwork proposal by Mitra Forouzan, including narrative description, artist resume, site plan and elevation drawings.
MOTION
That the Culver City Cultural Affairs Commission:
1. Approve the concept for an artwork by artist Mitra Forouzan as fulfilling Culver City’s Art in Public Places Program requirement in conjunction with a Development Project at 12712 Washington Boulevard.