HomeMy WebLinkAbout4/27/2020 Item 3, Gaither
From:Laura Gaither <
To:Advisory Bodies
Subject:CHC Communication
Attachments:04-27-20 Agenda Item 3 CHC San Luis.docx
Please see attached. Kind regards
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San Luis Obispo
California, USA
T: (001) 805 441 6178
1
April 27, 2020
RE: Agenda Item 3 CHC April 27 2020 Review of a historic significance
determination request to remove the property at 1156 Peach Street
Hello, I am an owner-occupier of a home in the Mill Street Historic District. I am
greatly concerned about losing an authentic historic property in the city of San Luis
Obispo at 1156 Peach Street (HIST-0036-2020) by its removal from the city’s
contributing historic properties list.
Does being a modestly executed vernacular style building make this house any less
contributing to its historic contribution to the narrative of San Luis Obispo’s early
formation? The story of a vernacular house is also the story of San Luis Obispo - so
few of its citizens would have had the means for an architect or builder, or afford
significant or distinctive features, or to even be a "person of note." Most homes are
ordinary places for ordinary people. By erasing these modest buildings we are
erasing the contributions of modest people - hard, working class folk whose unsung
participation in San Luis' formative period was still critical for the completion of
day-to-day economic activities.
In addition, the owner of the 1156 Peach states his intention to design a new
building that would display charm, harmony and sensitivity:
The new residence would be designed with a sensitivity to the neighborhood scale and
character while insuring that the structure is structurally sound, meets current code
and other functional requirements. The new residence is intended to provide the charm
and harmonious character currently appreciated in this district and would fully provide
its historic “contribution to the neighborhood”. (Historic Resource Evaluation
Conclusions, Packet Page 22).
May I demonstrate another new building in the area with a high density of historic
properties that has failed, unequivocally to be charming, in character, or sensitively
contribute to the architectural history of San Luis. I wish to state that I have grave
concerns that the city would remove 1156 Peach Street from the City’s Inventory of
Historic Resources without seeing what might replace the authenticity of an existing
historic home.
Figure 1 1041 Mill Street, San Luis Obispo
I’m not convinced that the gain of a new building will benefit the neighbourhood of
the loss of a historic property, regardless of its humble design. Kind regards,
Laura Gaither
805-441-6178