Money Can't Buy You Love, But It'll Buy a Museum

The fight over the Presidio may come down to fisticuffs: Gap founder Don Fisher is trying to build a museum near the main post of the Presidio, while many San Franciscans aren't too happy about that. According to the Chron, besides the museum, a "119-room hotel, which also will include meeting space, a restaurant and a bar, expansion of the old Army movie theater [into]... two new theaters, a bar and lobby; and the creation of a heritage center." Add to that the "new Walt Disney Family Museum, which is expected to open next year." (Uhh. When was the "Walt Disney Family Museum" approved? How did we miss that?)

Although the Presidio Trust and park officials support the plan, the Presidio Historical Association is opposing the plan. Problems include traffic problems for the Presidio/Cow Hollow and not preserving the "feel" of the Presidio (read: the museum will totally bulldoze through anything Presidio-like). The whole thing gets all Dynasty-ish though, since those opposed to the plan believe Fisher will easily get the museum approved since he "once served on the trust's board and has the ear of nearly every powerful person in the city."

Alternative sites for the museum have been proposed since (from what we've heard) Fisher's art collection is quite swell; Fisher, however, insists that the Presidio main post is the only site for his museum. Well then!

Those concerned about the total overhaul of the Presidio can still have their voice heard until July and leave an all-powerful comment at SFGate or with us. So: you want this museum or what? What we'd really like to see is a Gap store added in there somewhere. Or a Banana Republic.

Photo by Peter Kaminski.