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Home My WebLink AboutR21090A - Phase II Eric Johnson Gardens at Entrada del Paseo Solicit Bids PALM DESERT REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY STAFF REPORT SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION REQUEST: APPROVE GABION WALL CONCEPT AND AGAVE SHADE STRUCTURE FOR PHASE TWO OF THE ERIC JOHNSON GARDENS AT ENTRADA DEL PASEO AND AUTHORIZE SOLICITATION OF BIDS SUBMITTED BY: LAURI AYLAIAN, REDEVELOPMENT MANAGER DATE: 24 MARCH 2005 This report supplements the staff report dated 24 February 2005. It provides supplemental information regarding the wall concept and the proposed agave shade structure for Entrada del Paseo. AGAVE SHADE STRUCTURE The proposed agave shade structure shown below was presented to the Art in Public Places Commission on Wednesday, 16 March 2005. The commissioners enthusiastically endorsed the design, saying that they found it “graceful, organic, lovely,” and “a nice addition to the gardens”. They liked the light green colour of the shade cloth and the use of corroded steel for the structure. However, they cautioned that provision should be made to prevent rust on the steel from discolouring the shade cloth and any people or items beneath the structure when it rains. Staff Report Supplement Gabion Walls and Agave Shade Structure Eric Johnson Gardens at Entrada del Paseo Page 2 of 4 24 March 2005 CANYON WALL CONCEPT In response to concerns and opinions expressed by the Agency Board at the 24 February 2005 meeting, the gabion wall concept was revised to eliminate decorative steel and hardware from the wall details. Plant materials were also added at ledges on the face of the walls. An alternative wall was also designed, using natural boulders instead of the gabion baskets. Renderings simulating the two alternatives are presented on the following page. An additional drawing shows the plan view of the proposed gabion wall, which has natural boulders interspersed in several sections of the canyon. Staff will be available at the 24 March 2005 Agency Board meeting two answer questions about the two wall concepts. The Agency Board will be asked to provide direction regarding which of the two wall types to use at the Eric Johnson Gardens, or whether both types can be used in creating the canyon feature. If the latter is preferred, staff will request direction regarding the relative percentages of the two wall types to be used. Submitted by: Lauri Aylaian Redevelopment Manager C:\\Users\\nmartin\\AppData\\Local\\Temp\\6551 (2)_989583\\6551 (2).doc Staff Report Supplement Gabion Walls and Agave Shade Structure Eric Johnson Gardens at Entrada del Paseo Page 3 of 4 24 March 2005 Modified Gabion Wall Concept (decorative steel and hardware has been eliminated) Natural Boulder Concept C:\\Users\\nmartin\\AppData\\Local\\Temp\\6551 (2)_989583\\6551 (2).doc Staff Report Supplement Gabion Walls and Agave Shade Structure Eric Johnson Gardens at Entrada del Paseo Page 4 of 4 24 March 2005 Highway 111 Natural Boulders Water Feature (existing) Gabion Walls Cuistot “Memory Lane” Plan View of Canyon at Eric Johnson Gardens (as proposed with gabion walls) C:\\Users\\nmartin\\AppData\\Local\\Temp\\6551 (2)_989583\\6551 (2).doc PALM DESERT REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY STAFF REPORT REQUEST: APPROVE GABION WALL CONCEPT AND AGAVE SHADE STRUCTURE FOR PHASE TWO OF THE ERIC JOHNSON GARDENS AT ENTRADA DEL PASEO AND AUTHORIZE SOLICITATION OF BIDS SUBMITTED BY: LAURI AYLAIAN, REDEVELOPMENT MANAGER DATE: 24 FEBRUARY 2005 Recommendation: That the Agency Board review alternative concepts for phase two of the Eric Johnson Gardens at Entrada del Paseo and, by Minute Motion: 1. approve the design of a gabion “canyon” wall and an agave shade structure, and 2. authorize the City Clerk to call for bids for construction of phase two of the Eric Johnson Gardens. Discussion: The conceptual design for phase two of the Eric Johnson Gardens at Entrada del Paseo was reviewed and approved by the Entrada del Paseo Steering Committee on 12 May 2004 and by the Landscape Beautification Committee on 7 July 2004. The design included a type of gabion basket wall that will be new to the Coachella Valley. The final project design was recently brought before the Landscape Beautification Committee for review. At that meeting several members thought that it would be appropriate for the entire Agency Board to review the concept of the gabion walls. They also suggested that the proposed shade structure, whose structural elements resemble an agave, be given consideration at the same time. This report is made in response to the Landscape Beautification Committee request. Gabion Wall: The proposed wall is a modified gabion wall that was intended by the designers to create an artistic interpretation of canyon walls. It is formed of rock cobble held by wire mesh and reinforcing steel, and has vertical stone slabs that represent the rugged edges and ridges of the canyon walls. The cobble that forms the “canyon” walls would be 4” to 8” in size, and lightly stained with permeon to have a varnished appearance. Because the fundamental components of gabion walls are relatively inexpensive, the stylized canyon walls were proposed as a creative and cost-effective way of building a canyon for visitors to the garden to experience. Staff Report Gabion Walls and Agave Shade Structure Eric Johnson Gardens at Entrada del Paseo Page 2 of 2 24 February 2005 For comparison purposes, the following table summarizes the cost and schedule implications of the gabion wall and of two alternatives: natural boulders and GFRC. Gabion Wall WALL TYPE Natural Boulders GFRC Panels (as designed) deduct $5,000 to COST $95,000 - $105,000 add $75,000 $10,000 TIME no additional time add six weeks add six weeks Shade Structure: The proposed shade structure is situated such that it overlooks the canyon feature. It is intended to provide a gathering place and a shaded vantage point from which the gardens can be viewed. The non-traditional design has steel structural members that mimic the lines of an agave plant. Fabric shades spiral around the center of the structure. The cost of the shade structure is estimated to be $50,000 to $60,000. For comparison purposes, the palapa recently built in the Baja California Park on Fred Waring Drive cost approximately $55,000. A graphic presentation of phase two of the Eric Johnson Gardens, including the gabion wall and the agave shade structure, will be made at the 24 February 2005 Agency Board meeting. Submitted by: Department Head: Lauri Aylaian Dave Yrigoyen Redevelopment Manager Director of Redevelopment/Housing mh Approval: Justin McCarthy, ACM Redevelopment Carlos L. Ortega, Executive Director C:\\Users\\nmartin\\AppData\\Local\\Temp\\6550 (2)_989580\\6550 (2).doc