Old Mint lease approved by Board of Supervisors

September 27th, 2006

The San Francisco Museum and Historical Society (SFMHS) is now well on its way to transforming the Old Mint, a national landmark, into an exciting new history museum for the City and Bay Area. Today the Board of Supervisors unanimously approved the DDA (Disposition and Development Agreement) and ground lease between the City and SFMHS after three years of planning and diligent teamwork.

The Old Mint Project is a collaborative effort spearheaded by SFMHS to restore and revitalize the Old Mint building and plaza, on Fifth and Mission Sts. It will be the home of a new 32,000 sq. ft. Museum of San Francisco and the Bay Area—serving as the first dedicated museum where native San Franciscans and newcomers, as well as visitors to the City, may learn how San Francisco came to be what it is today,

“This well-designed museum will add immeasurably to the fabric of San Francisco, stay true to the historical integrity of the building and blend 21st Century technology into its exhibits,” says SFMHS executive director Erik Christoffersen.

Plans for the Old Mint include creating a new location for the San Francisco Visitor Center, an American Money museum and a variety of retail spaces and restaurants that will face the new planned Mint Plaza on Jesse Street.

SFMHS has engaged the eminent San Francisco architectural firm of Patri Merker Architects and the internationally-renowned museum designer Christopher Chadbourne & Associates of Boston, MA, to collaborate on the design of the project. They have been working with a storyline committee, headed by Ira Michael Heyman, former Chancellor of UC Berkeley and former Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, to complete a master plan for the museum exhibits.

Approval of the 66-year lease with the City, which owns the Old Mint building, “also triggers $2.8 million funding in Prop. 40 funding awarded to SFMHS by the California Cultural and Historical Endowment, ” says Christoffersen.

“We have more than $40 million committed to the project and a series of initiatives are underway or will be launched this fall to secure the remaining funds over the next 18 months. We anticipate completion of the project by Spring of 2010.”

When completed the entire Old Mint will be open to the public for the first time. SFMHS will restore the building to its original 1874 state of glory. The 74,000 sq. ft. facility will help contribute to revitalization of the Mission Corridor—turning Jessie Street and the Mission Corridor into a year- round destination spot.

A vibrant new 18,000 sq. ft. public plaza between 5th and Mint Sts. will be lined with greenery and art and filled with pedestrian life. Closed to automobile traffic and redesigned to accommodate a wide range of uses, it will include art, theatre, live music, cafés and street fairs, while providing a green and clean refuge. Martin Building Company is partnering with the Mayor's Office, Supervisor Daly and the Planning Department to design and build the plaza.

The vision for the new museum is to enrich the public’s understanding and appreciation for the diverse cultural and historic fabric of the City. Through access to kinetic, interactive exhibits and programming that carefully utilizes intuitive technology and innovative design to encourage learning, the museum will be a vital educational resource to the community and visitors.

Part of the financing for this project is anticipated from a sellout of two commemorative coins —a $5 gold and a $1 silver — with images of the Old Mint on the “heads,” or obverse side. Surcharges stand to provide SFMHS with a total of $8.5 million, if there is a sellout.

It is the first time U.S. commemorative coins will be produced to raise funds to benefit a historic mint building. A total of 600,000 coins can be minted - 100,000 in gold and 500,000 in silver, to be struck at the new San Francisco Mint. The centennial coins, which commemorate the Old Mint’s critical role in the San Francisco earthquake and fire, went on sale on August 15 and are available only until early December of this year.

“Fifty percent of these coins have already been sold. We hope the residents of San Francisco will want to own these magnificent once-in-a-lifetime collectors items and support their City’s history simultaneously. They are a meaningful piece of San Francisco history for present and future generations,” says Christoffersen.

Presale prices ($33-$35 for the silver and $220-$230 for the gold) are in effect through October 17, after which the price will increase. They may be purchased at the US Mint web site www.usmint.gov or by calling 800/872-6468.

“We are grateful to the Board of Supervisors for their approval and support and are hopeful that all of our constituencies” adds Christoffersen, “including members, trustees, historians, artists, neighbors, leaders in San Francisco’s museum community and those committed to the revitalization of the Old Mint and Mission corridor, will participate in the soon to be launched capital campaign for the Old Mint project.”

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