HomeMy WebLinkAbout9/25/2023 Item 4b, Cooper
Allan Cooper <
To:Advisory Bodies; CityClerk
Subject:Letter To The Cultural Heritage Committee
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Dear City Clerk -
Would you kindly forward the letter below to the Cultural Heritage Committee?
This letter pertains to their September 25, 2023 review of a project proposed
to be located at 1601 Osos Street. I would also like this letter to be placed in
the City's Correspondence File. Thank you!
-Allan Cooper
To: San Luis Obispo Cultural Heritage Committee
Re: September 25, 2023 Review of Public Hearing Item 4B
Construction of Two New Residential Buildings Located at 1601 Osos Street
From: Allan Cooper, San Luis Obispo
Date: September 23, 2023
Honorable Chair Crotser and Committee Members -
My primary concern is the three-story-high residential block proposed to be located on the corner
of Osos & Islay Street. This building will replace the one-story-high Faces A La Mode Salon & Spa
building and will tower over all of the neighboring one-story-high properties. With the exception of
the Park Hotel and the Railroad Square Building, all of this district is either one or two stories in
height.
Aside from its massing, this building will detract from the District’s historic architectural
character. This building design contradicts a number of guidelines specific to the Railroad
Historic District. To begin with "The lower building level (ground floor) massing should be
horizontal with equal or lesser volume on upper levels". This building is also devoid of the
following: "Some carved shapes used for rafter tiles, brackets, roof eave bracing and roof gutters".
This building fails to address an additional three guidelines: 1.“Deep roof overhangs are
common, particularly for commercial buildings, at ground floor level” 2.“Windows are often
grouped in multiples of two or three, side by side.”and 3.“Raised foundations, covered front
porches, and recessed front entries are common residential architectural features.”Finally the
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Islay Street elevation desperately needs more study as it is nearly featureless and devoid of interest.
Thank you!
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