The Presidio Trust legislation: preservation or privatization?

Abstract

This analysis of the Presidio Trust legislation places the recent developments on the Presidio in the context of a century and a half of environmental planning. By first exploring the Presidio's history, and then tracing the more recent legislative background to the Presidio Trust, the author establishes a clear frame through which to explore the current challenges that face the Presidio Trust. This paper argues that history, legislative intent, and specific legal precedent will protect the Presidio from being "sold off," despite growing local concerns that the Presidio Trust's mandate to become financially self-sufficient within 15 years may drive the public's interests from the park.