L'Italo-Americano

THURSDAY, MAY 22, 2014 www.italoamericano.com L'Italo-Americano 5 North Beach Celebrates In May, Twice The New North Beach Library On May 10th, 2014, San Franciscans turned out in num- bers for the opening of the new North Beach Library. Crowds gathered at 850 Columbus Avenue under bright, sunny skies eager to experience their new public space. The sounds of Mal Sharpe and his jazz band mixed nicely with rumblings from Mason Street cable cars passing nearby. The community celebration and ribbon cutting included remarks from Mayor Ed Lee, Supervisor David Chiu and City Librarian Luis Herrera. Designed by the firm Leddy Maytum Stacy Architects, the new library offers 8,500 square feet, within a two-story build- ing, including a community room with after-hours access for neighborhood meetings. The structure is 60 percent larger than previous with separate rooms for adults, children and teenagers. Of particular note are the strategically placed win- dows, generous in size, allowing in plenty of light. However, these are not ordinary windows. They are portals framing fasci- nating views of San Francisco; Coit Tower, the spires of Saints Peter and Paul Church, and glimpses of the bay, an extra bonus for patrons to enjoy. The new library replaced the previous fifty-five year old structure and is actually the third for the North Beach dis- trict. The first, located at 1191 Powell Street, was built in 1921 by architect G. Albert Lansburgh and was one of the City's eight Carnegie libraries. It was originally named the North Beach Branch but was renamed the Chinatown Branch in 1958 to more accurately reflect the community served. In 1959 a new North Beach Branch was built at 2000 Mason Street, adjacent to Joe DiMaggio Playground. The North Beach library is the last of 24 city branches built or renovated with the bond funds approved by voters under the Branch Library Improvement Program. Funding was secured from voter approved Proposition D in November 2007. As we can see from these pho- tographs, the interior is airy and modern. It feels optimistic, like a clean, fresh breeze blowing in through the Golden Gate, some- thing our great City by the Bay appreciates and understands quite well. San Francisco Public Library – North Beach Branch 850 Columbus Avenue Phone: (415) 355-5626 Website: http://sfpl.org/ index.php?pg=0100001401 Soaring ceilings and a modern, fresh interior welcome patrons. Photo by Catherine Accardi CATHERINE ACCARDI The Slender Column Called Coit Tower Has Reopened Coit Tower, a North Beach landmark, reopened on May 14, 2014 after being closed to the public for six months of exten- sive renovation and restoration work. The ceremonial festivities began at 11:00 amidst an enthu- siastic crowd of admirers and dignitaries. The ribbon cutting and ceremony was well attended and included remarks by city officials and families of the Coit Tower artists, Coit Tower advo- cates and fans. The comprehensive, $1.7 mil- lion project included interior and exterior repairs, plumbing and mechanical system upgrades, new accessibility and education signage, and a full restoration of the murals, which had suffered water-damage from a leaking roof. In 2012, the people of San Francisco took a monumental step to protect the city landmark Coit Tower and its beloved New Deal-era fresco murals. It was in June of 2012 that San Francisco voters approved a ballot measure that required The City to take action to protect Coit Tower and its famous fresco murals from falling into further decay and disarray. Designed by the firm of Arthur Brown, Jr., architect of San Francisco's City Hall, the ele- gant iconic landmark is named for Lillie Hitchcock Coit, a wealthy patron of the City's fire- fighters. Coit died in 1929, leaving a bequest "for the pur- pose of adding to the beauty of the city I have always loved." It was with that bequest that Coit Tower was realized. The May 2014 reopening was a bit different than the initial grand opening back in the Fall of 1934. That occasion was delayed due to the perception, at the time, that some of the paint- ings portrayed controversial political items. Clifford Wight's mural contained a hammer and sickle, which was later removed. Throughout 1934, twenty-five men and women worked for months to cover 3,691 square feet of the interior walls of Coit Tower with the first public works of art funded under the New Deal. The vintage elevator within the fluted tower transports visitors to the top where they are greeted by 360 degree views. Fog and bay breezes never fail to delight tourists and residents alike as they gaze West past the Golden Gate, East to Mount Diablo, North to the Marin headlands, and South over the consummate urban fabric that is San Francisco. Coit Tower One Telegraph Hill Boulevard Phone: (415) 249-0995 Website: http://sfrecpark.org/ destination/telegraph-hill-pio- neer-park/coit-tower/ Catherine Accardi is a native San Franciscan, historian and local author of two books, "San Francisco's North Beach & Telegraph Hill" and "Images of America-San Francisco Landmarks". She can be con- tacted via email at caacat@com- cast.net. CATHERINE ACCARDI Coit Tower on May 14, 2014. Photo by Catherine Accardi

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