REPORT TO ARTS COMMISSION
SUBJECT
Title
Approve Art in Private Development Project - Starwood Capital Group/Treehouse Hotel (1100 Mathilda Avenue)
Report
BACKGROUND
The City’s Art in Private Development Ordinance (Sunnyvale Municipal Code (SMC) Chapter 19.52) requires public art at Starwood Capital Group’s Treehouse Hotel project at 1100 Mathilda Ave. This project was permitted prior to the adoption of the Master Plan for Public Art in 2020 and is therefore subject to a minimum requirement of 1% of the project’s construction valuation or $108,750.
The procedure established for reviewing the artwork is:
1) Review the artist’s background, including their experience and ability to design, fabricate and install large-scale artwork(s).
2) Review the artwork to determine whether the nature and style of the artwork is appropriate for the site.
3) Determine whether the proposed artwork is appropriate in scale for the overall development.
4) Review the location of the artwork for accessibility to the public.
5) Review the maintenance and durability of the artwork.
The purpose of this report is to request the Arts Commission review and approve the proposed artwork. Under the Art in Private Development Ordinance, the Arts Commission is authorized to make a final determination of the proposed artwork and the City Council is not scheduled to consider this item.
EXISTING POLICY
Sunnyvale Municipal Code 19.52 - Art in Private Development
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
A Mitigated Negative Declaration (MND) was prepared and approved by the planning commission in 2019 (RTC for the underlying project, 1100 N. Mathilda Avenue - 1 Hotel Project (1 Hotel Project) in 2019 (18-1054). An addendum to the MND was prepared and approved in 2021 for a reduced scale project. Consistent with SMC Chapter 19.52 (Art in Private Development), art was a required component of the 2019 project and the 2021 modifications and was included as a condition of project approval. The proposed artwork is a moderately sized sculpture that raises no concerns about new or different environmental impacts.
DISCUSSION
Project Location: The project is located at 1100 Mathilda Ave. in north Sunnyvale (Attachment 1). The site is situated at the corner of Mathilda Avenue, Moffett Park Drive and Bordeaux Drive, parallel to Highway 237.
Project Description: This project includes redevelopment and new construction on the former 173-room Sheraton Hotel site, which will become the new home of Treehouse Sunnyvale, a 254-room hotel, with an event barn, pool and restaurant (Attachment 2).
The Treehouse Hotel is described as an eco-conscious, natural design that will “deliver hospitality experiences rooted in wellness, conscious living and a commitment to sustainability.”
Artwork Location: The proposed artwork location is along Bordeaux Drive adjacent to the vehicular entrance (Attachment 2). This location affords site lines for visitors, as well as vehicles traveling along Bordeaux Drive.
Initially, the developers intended to locate the artwork along Mathilda Avenue, however, several factors limited visibility and access to the artwork at that location (Attachment 3):
• Pedestrian traffic is light along that frontage
• No direct path for hotel guests to access the art
• No stopped traffic waiting for traffic light along that side of Mathilda
• Light poles, utility boxes and stop lights in the view corridor
• Trees and landscaping interfere and obscure visibility
• The subtle earthtone coloring of the structure would not stand out in the location
Due to these factors, the developer has opted to locate the artwork along the frontage that is considered “less busy.” The proposed location is across the street to Google’s campus where there is a higher level of bicycle and pedestrian traffic near the sculpture, as well as other public art along the same frontage.
Selected Artist: The selected artist for this project is Monterey interdisciplinary artist, musician, educator and producer Jayson Fann (Attachment 4). Mr. Fann is well known for his architectural sculptures called Spirit Nests. His nests have been commissioned throughout the United States, including: Aspen Snowmass, Aspen, CO; Basalt Public Library, Colorado; Treebones Eco Resort and Hotel, Big Sur, CA; National Institute for Health, Bethesda, MD; Salinas Public Library, Salinas, CA; Post Ranch Inn, Big Sur, CA and Kansas City Zoo, Kansas City, MO to name a few.
More artist information and images of his artwork can be found on the internet by searching Jayson Fann.
Artwork Proposal: The artist specializes in creating site-specific, architectural sculptures called Spirit Nests. “These nests are inspired by the complex rhythms of nature, interconnected ecosystems and the movements of rivers and watersheds that shape the land, carving valleys and creating habitats, while bringing life and nourishment to nature.”
For the Sunnyvale Treehouse project, the artist has designed a 8-foot by 8-foot square structure that stands 15-feet tall. It will be built with sustainably sourced Eucalyptus limbs and branches of varying diameters (Attachment 5). The branches will be woven amongst each other and bolted together in overlapping layers of vertical, arcing and horizontal connection points. Other woods such as Acacia and Madrone may also be incorporated.
The structure will stand on four pillars wrapped in the wood branches that support a layered metal roof. Each pillar is 2-feet square at ground level and widens as it nears the roof. The doorway between each pillar is approximately 4 -feet wide. The façade of the structure will feature a signature spiral design at the roof line and surrounding the structure at ground level will be wood stumps of varying sizes that create seating.
Lighting Plan: The sculpture will be lit on all four sides using two 120V landscaping lights on each side, with four lights positioned on the façade of the nest (Attachment 6). The lighting plan and engineering drawings will be reviewed through the Department of Public Works as part of the installation permit process. This review will include a review of all dark skies and bird safety policies to ensure the lighting is compliant.
Maintenance: Maintenance for the structure is very minimal. The structure will be naturally cleaned by rainwater, and dirt and bird deposits can be rinsed with a hose and scrubbed with a soft brush. A yearly wood staining treatment will also help with the longevity of the artwork.
Eucalyptus wood is very durable and naturally weather resistant. The structure will be engineered to be strong and withstand the elements just as a Eucalyptus tree. The artist also notes that his Spirit Nests installed in Big Sur and Aspen have endured much harsher elements than Sunnyvale experiences and have been in place 30+ years with no major issues or repairs. Additionally, the artist is local and has committed to doing repairs when necessary.
Ultimately, for any work of art installed through the Art in Private Development requirement, the property owner is responsible for maintaining the installed artwork. If the artwork falls into disrepair, property owners can remove the art with Arts Commission approval, but the artwork is subject to replacement, or an in-lieu fee will be required.
Art Bond: The City has collected a security in the form of a bond to guarantee installation of the art. The bond will be held until completion of the public art requirement, consistent with SMC Chapter 19.52 (Art in Private Development). The requirement will be deemed complete when the following conditions are met:
1. The art is installed;
2. A plaque identifying the artwork and artist is installed;
3. Lighting for the artwork is installed;
4. The artwork, and the property owner’s obligation to maintain the artwork, is registered with the County of Santa Clara; and
5. The required 1% expenditure is verified.
FISCAL IMPACT
If the artwork is approved, the developer will be responsible for all costs associated with the artwork, including but not limited to: design, fabrication, installation and ongoing maintenance. There is no fiscal impact on the City’s operating budget other than incidental staff time to monitor the project, which is budgeted in the Art in Private Development Program.
The developer anticipates the budget for this artwork will be equal to or greater than the 1% requirement; if it is not, the developer will be required to contribute the difference to the City’s Public Art Fund. The developer is required to provide documentation to substantiate all art expenditures.
PUBLIC CONTACT
Public contact was made through posting of the Arts Commission agenda on the City’s official-notice bulletin board, on the City’s website, and the availability of the agenda and report in the Office of the City Clerk.
ALTERNATIVES
1. Approve Art in Private Development Project - Starwood Capital Group/Treehouse Hotel (1100 Mathilda Avenue).
2. Do not recommend approval of the artwork as it is proposed.
RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
Alternative 1: Approve Art in Private Development Project - Starwood Capital Group/Treehouse Hotel (1100 Mathilda Avenue).
Staff concludes that the artwork is consistent with the criteria for Art in Private Development requirements.
Staff
Prepared by: Kristin Dance, Recreation Services Coordinator II
Reviewed by: Trenton Hill, Recreation Services Manager
Reviewed by: Damon Sparacino, Superintendent of Recreation Services
Reviewed by: Michelle Perera, Director of Department of Library and Recreation Services
ATTACHMENTS
1. Vicinity Map
2. Site Map and Project Renderings
3. Rendering of Mathilda Frontage
4. Artist’s Resume and Past Drawings
5. Artist’s Rendering of Proposed Spirit Nest
6. Lighting Plan