HomeMy WebLinkAbout8/18/2020 Item 16, Ford
From:Marshall Ford <
To:E-mail Council Website
Subject:Public Comment - Item 16
Hello,
I grew up in Cayucos and consider San Luis Obispo my home town. I am a resident of San Luis Obispo county and
currently work in the city of San Luis Obispo after spending the last 13 years in Los Angeles, Chicago, Boston, and New
York.
I am strongly in favor of the project listed on this week's agenda at 1144 Chorro. After witnessing cities of similar size as
San Luis Obispo across America suffocating new development in town centers, and subsequently losing the life of their
central cultural cores to areas of town more willing to adapt (typically suburbs and forgotten derelict districts), I strongly
believe that projects providing a mix of uses with a forward thinking design and organization are the key to enabling
downtown San Luis Obispo to restore and increase its vibrancy.
Unlike some other new and controversial projects which turn their backs on street level engagement and the potential
of living space downtown, this project goes above and beyond with its considerations for street life and its purposeful
attempt to grow the permanent community of residents in Downtown San Luis Obispo.
Instead of a strictly commercial focused project (like many others in the nearby area) aimed at people passing through
San Luis Obispo, this project is embedded in the heart of the community and simultaneously fulfills the desperate pleas
expressed by almost every politician in the state and county for more housing.
Furthermore, the time and effort the developer and local architect have spent in order to produce a product that truly
speaks to the life of downtown San Luis Obispo, while enduring SLO's unusually long maze of detailed scrutiny from
numerous councils and committees, indicates even more that the ambition of the builder is strongly rooted in building
this community.
I am strongly in favor of this project and I believe that without moving forward with projects like this, downtown San
Luis Obispo loses rare opportunities to truly progress in a city built on progress.
Thank you.
Marshall Ford
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