At little over a year after NEMA swung open its doors next to Twitter, the 754-unit luxury project is now 97% occupied. The latest addition to the property is an expansive art installation at the corner of 10th and Market, called Promised Land. Crescent Heights principal Bruce Menin (here at the big opening in late 2013) tells us Market Street has little in the way of green space, and Crescent felt strongly that a landscape art installation would soften the street and provide needed relief to the hardscape. NEMA’s art project breathes life into a bustling city intersection, he says.
The corner includes granite pathways that lead into the space, as well as the large-scale stone sculptures, vibrant planted flowers and bonsai trees. Those flowers will be replaced with vegetables, which could be used by the incoming restaurant going into the ground floor. Bruce says he isn't sure if the restaurant would deem it appropriate, but he likes the idea.
On Sunday, a festive unveiling featured artists and performances including a Klezmer quintet. Bruce says the installation’s theme of Northern California flora and fauna is part of the authentic “Made in San Francisco” inspiration that fueled NEMA’s creation. We broke the news last year about Crescent taking over the Honda dealership at Market and South Van Ness. Bruce gave us a quick update on the future apartments: "We are working on these plans now; rest assured we will incorporate a public art project as embracing and transformational as NEMA’s."
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