At its meeting on March 29, the Planning Commission unanimously approved a design review permit for an innovative and climate-resilient arts complex at 265 Gate 5 Road in the Marinship.

When complete, the new 10,000 square-foot building will offer art studios, gathering spaces, and indoor and outdoor exhibition areas. Art studios will be available in a range of sizes, with rental rates that are expected to be comparable to the Industrial Center Building (ICB) at 480 Gate 5 Road.

Keeping the name Marinship Studios, the new building will replace a cluster of existing buildings that currently support 12 studios and two live-work residences. The property is owned by Max Houtzager, who sees Marinship Studios as carrying on the Gate 5 tradition of artists, philosophers, writers, and poets that dates back to the 1950s.

Because the new building will be situated in an area susceptible to sea level rise, the project architects at the firm EYRC have included a variety of mitigation features, including water-sealed lower walls and 12-foot ceilings on the ground floor to allow the entire floor to be raised if it becomes necessary.

The project also includes the regrading of the 31,000 square-foot site to improve drainage and rain gardens to treat and discharge storm water collected on site.

Before approval, the project was subject to careful review by City staff, the Planning Commission, and the Sea Level Rise Task Force to ensure that its construction and usage would be consistent with the General Plan, the Municipal Code, and the sea level rise risk analysis and decision framework developed by the California Ocean Protection Council.

Brandon Phipps, the City's Director of Community and Economic Development, applauds the project for being "innovative, visionary, and complementary of the Marinship's history as a hub for artists and maritime industries." He believes it will provide a useful example to future developers interested in the area.

Councilmember Janelle Kellman, who also serves on the Sea Level Rise Task Force, adds, "I hope this project will make a powerful statement to the community about our collective ability to be creative and forward-thinking when it comes to climate planning and resilience."

Any questions about the project at 265 Gate 5 Road may be directed to bphipps@sausalito.gov or (415) 289-4142.