After an hour-long discussion on Thursday, the planning commission unanimously voted to recommend that the assembly bring an internationally recognized architectural firm to Haines for design of the Portage Cove Trail.
The firm, James Corner Field Operations, is responsible for New York City’s High Line green space, Seattle’s Waterfront Park, as well as parks in South Korea, China and the Netherlands.
If approved by the assembly, the firm would be paid with an $86,106 grant from the National Endowment for the Arts, secured by the Alaska Arts Confluence in June 2017.
One commissioner and staff voiced concerns that the proposed consultation duplicates the work done by Corvus Design in 2016, when the landscape architecture firm was contracted by the borough to execute conceptual designs for the trail from Picture Point to Portage Cove campground.
“Can you tell me how this work from this other firm is going to match with that or add to it?” planning commission chair Rob Goldberg asked creative director at Alaska Arts Confluence Carol Tuynman, who spearheaded the project to bring James Corner Field Operations to Haines. “What are we going to get that we haven’t already paid for? I would hate to see the money used to duplicate something that we’ve already paid for and are actually implementing,” Goldberg said.
Goldberg wondered if the money could be appropriated for trail construction instead, but Tuynman said that the grant must specifically be used for design.
In December, the borough assembly adopted a resolution to pay proHNS $57,000 of commercial passenger vessel tax funds to execute portions of the Portage Cove Trail designs.
Tuynman said that the Corvus Design was an “off-the-shelf” design non-specific to Haines, and envisions the work of James Corner Field Operations to build off the former work, with a mission to incorporate local artists. The Confluence has worked to form a collaborative effort with local stakeholders by conducting individual interviews with waterfront property owners, the Chilkoot Indian Association, Haines Senior Village residents and more.
Tuynman said that Corner Field Operations would work in partnership with proHNS and dovetail off the Corvus design.
“It’s true that proHNS will engineer the trail, but it’s important to have things like the viewscapes and …areas for people to have amenities like benches,” she said. “That is something that comes from an architecture firm. It’s another step that makes the project have more depth and continuity for the whole trail that comes from an architectural firm with experience,” Tuynman said.
Borough manager Debra Schnabel said that the borough was in a difficult situation because “we really have two projects that are on parallel tracks.”
According to Schnabel, the borough signed off supporting the James Corner Field Operations project last year. In the meantime, they decided to move forward with the Portage Cove Trail design after public input from the harbor project called the walkability of the waterfront into question.
Despite doubt from staff, commissioners voted unanimously to recommend the assembly approve engagement with James Corner Field Operations.
“Since there is money available to improve on Corvus’ design I would vote in favor,” Commissioner Sylvia Heinz said.
Commissioner Lee Heinmiller said that using a well-recognized national firm has future potential for attracting further funding from sources whose attention may be captured by the James Corner Field Operations name.
Haines locals Brian Staurseth, Brenda Josephson and CIA member James Hart also spoke at the meeting in favor of approving the new design firm. The assembly will consider the planning commission’s recommendation at the Feb. 12 meeting.