Austin Klar explains why San Francisco fenced off the Van Cort Fountain on the Embarcadero. The 700-ton, 50-year-old structure is corroding, contains asbestos, and poses seismic risks. Restoration costs $10 million upfront plus $100k yearly, making the city weigh preservation against demolition.
— you can probably say goodbye to one of the most polarizing structures in all of San Francisco. The Van Cort Fountain on the Embarcadero is being fenced off indefinitely to public access because it's been deemed hazardous and a public safety risk. A report issued by architecture firm Page and Turnbull found the half-century-old, over-700-ton structure is corroding and deteriorating and contains toxic materials including asbestos. They also deemed it a seismic risk, and it needs to either be repaired or taken down. Apparently, fully restoring the structure is expected to cost around $10 million and $100 grand a year of ongoing maintenance costs, so it might not really be feasible to restore it. These findings come at the same time that the city is considering proposals for a $30+ million renovation to the Embarcadero Plaza. What do you think? Should we keep the fountain or take it down? Let me know in the comments.
