HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 5b. Discussion Item: Historic Alley Plaque DesignCity of San Luis Obispo, Council Memorandum
City of San Luis Obispo
Cultural Heritage Committee
Staff Memo
DATE: November 2, 2021
TO: Chair and Committee Members
FROM: Brian Leveille, Senior Planner
SUBJECT: ITEM 5b - DISCUSSION ITEM: HISTORIC ALLEY PLAQUES
Please see the attached historic alley plaque specifications for discussion at the
November 8, 2021 CHC Special meeting. The plaque designs and content were prepared
by Pierre Rademaker and, although the three locations including Rose Alley, Bubble Gum
Alley, and Garden Alley are not designated as historic sites, the plaques identify the sites
and provide some historical background on these points of interest.
Attachment
A - Historic Alley Plaque Details
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Historic Alley Plaque Details
Scale: 1/2 size
ALL IDEAS, DESIGNS, ARRANGEMENTS, AND PLANS INDICATED OR
REPRESENTED BY THIS DRAWING ARE OWNED BY AND THE
PROPERTY OF PIERRE RADEMAKER DESIGN, AND WERE CREATED,
EVOLVED, AND DEVELOPED FOR USE ON AND IN CONNECTION WITH
THE SPECIFIED PROJECT. NONE OF SUCH IDEAS, DESIGNS,
ARRANGEMENTS OR PLANS SHALL BE USED BY OR DISCLOSED TO
ANY PERSON, FIRM OR CORPORATION FOR ANY PURPOSE WHATSO-
EVER WITHOUT THE WRITTEN PERMISSION OF PIERRE RADEMAKER
DESIGN. WRITTEN DIMENSIONS ON THESE DRAWINGS SHALL HAVE
PRECEDENCE OVER SCALED DIMENSIONS. CONTRACTORS SHALL
VERIFY AND BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL DIMENSIONS AND
CONDITIONS ON THE JOB, AND THIS OFFICE MUST BE NOTIFIED OF
ANY VARIATIONS FROM THE DIMENSIONS AND CONDITIONS SHOWN
BY THESE DRAWINGS. SHOP DETAILS MUST BE SUBMITTED TO THE
OFFICE FOR APPROVAL BEFORE PROCEEDING WITH FABRICATION.
Sign Details
PR/KT
PR
10-25-21
Historic Alley Plaques
SLO-2102
1 1
1041 CHORRO STREET, SUITE 230SAN LUIS OBISPO, CALIFORNIA 93401rademakerdesign.com
TELEPHONE: 805/544-7774
City of San Luis Obispo
990 Palm Street
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
12”
First mentioned by name in City documents in 1877, Rose Alley
was declared to be a public way and not private property as
claimed by adjacent property owners. The alley had long provided
access to San Luis Creek, allowing locals to drive their buggies
and wagons through it to water their horses. This likely explains
the lack of watering troughs in the vicinity of Monterey Street at
the time. Today it still poses a challenge to delivery truck drivers
negotiating the narrow passage.
Named, along with Garden Street, after the Mission Era garden
and vineyard that were once here, Garden Alley has served as a
vital service corridor for the businesses fronting on Higuera
Street since the 1870’s. By then, Higuera had become San Luis
Obispo’s second “Main Street” after bridges across the creek at
Chorro and Broad Streets allowed commerce to expand beyond
Monterey Street. Today the alley continues to perform its original
purpose while also creating a pleasant pedestrian passage.7 5/8”Although having existed as a narrow pathway since the 1800’s,
Gum Alley had no name until the mid 1970’s when local high school
students attempted to form a single row of gum wads (six per brick)
stretching from Higuera Street to Garden Alley. They achieved their
goal after several months and started back on the next row of bricks
at which point everyone got involved and it literally exploded into
what you see today. Where else can you be a little bit naughty and
leave your mark behind without getting in trouble.
1/4” thick Bronze Plaques with painted edges.
Raised copy.
Sand finish background with brushed face surface.
Inset Double Line Border
Color: Dark Oxide Satin Painted
Mount: Standard Blind Stud
Quantity: 1
Quantity: 2 Quantity: 2
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