When
were the steps built?
In 1926.
Whose
property are the steps on?
The steps are on City
property. City permits are required to decorate the steps,
and the project has been carefully designed to meet City
regulations.
How
was the mosaic installed?
The mosaic was created
in 163 separate panels by the artists, working together with
project volunteers. High-fire outdoor tile was used. The
panels were laid out on mesh backing, then applied to the
risers by a professional tilesetter, according to
the highest industry standards. Finally, the tilesetter
grouted the mosaic and paved the treads with ADA-compliant tile.
How
many neighbors were involved in the project?
The project has had 60-70
supporters, most of whom live in Golden Gate Heights. Over
300 neighbors have participated in the creation of the
panels.
Could
the project cause potential increases in traffic?
This
is really a local neighborhood effort, intended for the
benefit of ourselves and our families, and we would like to
keep it that way. Certainly none of us want to see tour
buses, for example, idling at the foot of the steps.
So, we’ve asked the Department of Parking and Traffic to
prohibit the presence of tour buses at the site, a measure
which has been done successfully in other San Francisco
neighborhoods. There may also be a slight increase in car
traffic, but this is expected to decrease after the first
month or two after construction, as most people will be
unaware of the presence of the decorated steps unless they
hear about it by word of mouth.
How can we make sure the
decorated steps don't attract delinquent activity and/or
spray painting?
We have spoken with an
officer of the San Francisco Police who deals primarily with
juvenile delinquency and who has lived in the neighborhood
for 18 years. He asked about the design for the steps and
said that it was “highly unlikely” that the decoration of
the steps would attract any sort of juvenile delinquent
activity. He said that people who do go to the top of the
hill to "hang out" go there because it is far away and dark,
not right in the middle of the neighborhood - where the
steps are.
We’ve also spoken with
Precita Eyes Murals center in the Mission District. They
have seen very few cases of damage to the murals.
Will
the steps be maintained once they are decorated?
We have planned very
carefully for the maintenance of the steps, however,
professional standards, methods and materials have been
employed during the installation of the mosaic, minimizing
the need for subsequent maintenance.
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