Chairing the Friends: A landmark transformed.
Graphic Design: Dana Glenn
“I had the good fortune to work with Stacy Garfinkel on the restoration project of Sunnyside Conservatory. She led our disparate team of neighbors and volunteers through the maze of politics, strife and inertia that is public works. Stacy worked tirelessly and graciously through an arduous process and with difficult obstacles. It is to her credit that this project got built—a remarkable accomplishment.”
My longtime labor of love.
As the founding Co-Chair of the Friends of Sunnyside Conservatory (1999-2013), I led an advocacy group that achieved the award-winning restoration of a historic 100+ year-old San Francisco conservatory and garden ($4.2 million budget) in conjunction with San Francisco Recreation and Park Department and Department of Public Works. I was instrumental in all phases of the project.
Onto the Radar: This phase included grassroots organizing, historical research, fundraising, finding pro-bono graphic design services for identity and publicity materials, and curating an art series.
Building a Resilient Coalition: I worked diligently to bring together multiple city officials, departments, pro-bono professionals, and volunteers. I actively participated in the landscape and architectural design process and handled communications, presenting at several neighborhood and City Hall hearings.
Recognition: I cut the ribbon with Mayor Gavin Newsom and addressed the Grand Re-Opening that received prominent local press coverage (12/2009). The Conservatory was awarded the 2009 Project of the Year by the American Public Works Association for Historic Restorations (under $5 million) in the Northern California Region. The Friends of Sunnyside Conservatory (and the re-design of the Conservatory) were one of four civic ventures awarded a coveted 2011 Beautification Award by San Francisco Beautiful.
A Conservatory Transformed: With the restoration accomplished, our attention turned to programming our new public event space. Once we discovered the wonderful acoustic in our octagon, we launched our Live @ the Conservatory concert series. I also owned the strategy, content, and art direction for the new website, built in-house: sunnysideconservatory.org. I stepped down as Co-Chair after 14 years in May 2013 and remain active with the Friends, managing the website, and launching 5 x 5, our 2014-15 series of 5 signature events to mark our 5th anniversary of the restored Conservatory.
Project: City + County of SF Recreation and Park Department Capital Improvements Division, and Department of Public Works. Funded by General Fund Supplemental Appropriation and Neighborhood Parks Bond. Contractor: BCCI.
Design: CCSF Department of Public Works Bureau of Architecture and Bureau of Engineering Landscape Architecture, Mechanical and Electrical Sections. Project Manager: Paulina Araica, San Francisco RPD. Architect: Andrew Maloney, Bureau of Architecture. Landscape Architect: Edward Chin, DPW. Pro-Bono Landscape Architect: Vera Gates, Arterra, San Francisco. Consultant/Palm Specialist: Kenneth Allen. Jason Dewees from Flora Grubb Gardens. Public Art Component, “Sunnyside Menagerie,” artist-team Wowhaus. Public Art Competition under San Francisco Arts Commission, Judy Moran, Senior Project Manager. Back Gate Design and Fabrication, neighbor Mary Revelli (1-Off designs), funded by San Francisco Beautiful. Friends of Sunnyside Conservatory Co-chairs (1999-2013) Arnold Levine and Stacy Garfinkel. Photography: Bill Wilson, billwilsonphotos.com.