City of San Francisco and developer appear to have planned Vaillancourt Fountain demolition before proposal was made public

"Previously undisclosed public documents reveal the city of San Francisco may have misled the public about who ultimately bears responsibility for maintaining and repairing Armand Vaillancourt's namesake Brutalist sculpture and fountain in Embarcadero Plaza. In addition, new information reveals that city officials had been discussing a planned redevelopment of the plaza around a decade before such plans were made public in 2024."

"Documents reviewed by The Art Newspaper show 15 different instances between December 1978 and May 2025 in which San Francisco Recreation and Park Department (Rec) officials referred to property management company BXP (and its predecessor organisations) as being responsible for the maintenance of Vaillancourt fountain and/or Embarcadero Plaza. BXP officials were also found to have referred to their maintenance obligations in the same documents."

"The findings are significant because they support the claims of those seeking to preserve Vaillancourt Fountain, namely that Rec officials have not been completely transparent as to their intent, nor their legal responsibility towards the sculptural fountain and Embarcadero Plaza. Rec officials argue the fountain and plaza are too dilapidated to be preserved, though they have not addressed why BXP-which according to documents review by The Art Newspaper was responsible for at least some maintenance obligations for the last 45 years-let it deteriorate so severely."

Previously undisclosed public documents indicate San Francisco officials may have misstated which entity bears maintenance responsibility for the Vaillancourt Fountain and Embarcadero Plaza. New information shows city officials discussed a planned plaza redevelopment about a decade before public disclosure in 2024. Proposed plans appeared not to include preserving the Vaillancourt Fountain or Embarcadero Plaza. Records show 15 instances between December 1978 and May 2025 where Recreation and Park Department officials referred to property manager BXP and predecessors as responsible for maintenance. BXP also referenced maintenance obligations. Rec officials say the fountain and plaza are too dilapidated to preserve but have not explained BXP's long-term deterioration.

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