HomeMy WebLinkAbout5/8/2024 Item 5b, Sheppard
Colunga-Lopez, Andrea
Zack Sheppard <
To:Advisory Bodies
Subject:Comment for Item 5B on PCC agenda for 5/8/24
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Hello!
This is a public comment for the Wednesday 5/8/2024 meeting agenda item 5b NEIGHBORHOOD CAMPAIGN RECAP &
UPDATE
As the General Manager of SLO Food Co-op, I would like to request that the name of the proposed "LoBro" section of
the neighborhood that spans between South/Santa Barbara Streets and beyond Tank Farm, on the east side of Broad
Street where our store is located stay named "Little Italy" , changed to fuller 'Lower Broad', or another creative
approach instead.
Fully understanding that this is a simple abbreviation, I see the potential that this nomenclature could be interpreted as
'Bro', which has current cultural connotations, or even indirectly associated as 'Low-Brow'. Cultural diversity, equity, and
inclusion are core to the Co-op's values, and with this name being posted publicly, and have potential to become part of
our communal lexicon, I wanted to take a moment to share my voice to avoid these connotations in the Co-op's home
neighborhood, if possible.
The name "Little Italy" has quite a bit of history for this specific part of town and I think maintaining this connection
would keep to our past, while avoiding the potential for negative connotation of the proposed new name.
With respect I would like to offer a little history for Little Italy:
Located under the historical railroad district, the new worker housing for the Southern Pacific railroad shifted the city’s
growth towards the southeast of town in new subdivisions such as The Imperial Addition. The location was convenient
because of its proximity to the Southern Pacific roundhouse where steam engines were maintained and turned around
on the locomotive turntable for their journey back up the grade. Eventually, the neighborhood became known as “Little
Italy” due to the high percentage of Italian railroad workers living there. The neighborhoods surrounding the Southern
Pacific tracks continued to thrive through World War II when passenger rail traffic in San Luis Obispo reached record
numbers. However, after the war, the steam locomotives were gradually replaced by more efficient diesel engines that
required less maintenance, and most of the local railroad workers found themselves out of a job. Finally, in 1959, the
obsolete Southern Pacific roundhouse was demolished (overnight) by the Southern Pacific administration, much to the
chagrin of the city’s preservation community. The turntable remained until the early 1990’s when it also was removed
by the Southern Pacific without notice. As the railroad’s demand for workers diminished, the formerly thriving Imperial
Addition neighborhood gradually turned into an industrial and warehouse area. However, its location along the Broad
Street corridor connecting to the airport and new subdivisions to the south of the city make it a potential site for
revitalization and economic development.
Below is a photo of a typical railroad worker house on Victoria Street which is just 2 houses down from our store. The
house still stands after all this time and shows how history has been preserved in the neighborhood despite all the new
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apartment complexes that now surround us. By keeping the old name for this part of town, history can live on like this
house while allowing the area to grow into its full potential.
https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?referer=&httpsredir=1&article=1186&context=focus#:~:text=E
ventually%2C%20the%20neighborhood%20became%20known,Luis%20Obispo%20reached%20record%20numbers.
I fully appreciate the intention to keep the nomenclature for our communities current, interesting, and relevant. And
submit my opinion for reconsideration for this particular name, as it affects our identity for the future.
Thank you for the wonderful work you do!
Zack
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