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HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-06-2015 B1 Lopes 2Subject: FW: Save Our Downtown Comments on Delisting 742 Marsh Street COUNCIL MEETING:_ ITEM NO.- '&_L_ From: James Lopes [ma i Ito: jameslopegd)charter.net] Sent: Tuesday, January 06, 2015 10:24 AM To: Ashbaugh, John; Carpenter, Dan; Christianson, Carlyn; Codron, Michael; Dietrick, Christine; Lichtig, Katie; Marx, Jan; Mejia, Anthony; Rivoire, Dan; Cohen, Rachel Subject: Save Our Downtown Comments on Delisting 742 Marsh Street JAN 0 6 2015 Save Our Downtown January 6, 2015 TO: Mayor Marx and Council Members: Members of Save Our Downtown met yesterday and confirmed that the building at 742 Marsh Street should continue as a Contributing Historic Resource. We wish to repeat the following points to encourage you to deny the proposed delisting: 1. The current architecture (not the proposed wood boards) is not what existed when the building was listed in 1987. Neither you or the Cultural Heritage Commission have been shown the design which supported the listing in 1987. We don't know how close the existing design is to the qualifying design. 2. The existing design is the third remodel which previous City staff approved apparently without knowledge of its Contributing Historic status. Or, these remodels were approved with staffs interpretation that they were consistent with the qualifications for this status. Was the building found to be consistent with the evaluation criteria in Section 14 -01 -070 of the Historic Preservation Ordinance with each of these remodels? No. 3. The existing design does meet the description in Section 14 -01 -050 B of the Historic Preservation Ordinance. The building is at least 50 years old. It has an attained historic and architectural character, in its modern interpretation of classical stylistic elements (see our December 31, 2014 letter). And, it contributes to the historic character of the surrounding blocks of Marsh Street. Nearby buildings are also stucco on brick with 1930 - 1960's designs. 4. The design also fits most of the evaluation criteria of Section 14 -01 -070, to a degree at least equal to arguments against its listing. The architecture embodies the type of construction of the 1930- 1960's era of construction; it represents the influences of Modernism within this pre- 1960's setting, with distinct, elegant stylistic references to classical styles (see our December 31, 2014 letter). The design expresses a unity within the facade, while it establishes a rhythm conducive to pedestrian shopping, as encouraged in the Community Design Guidelines. It abstracts the traditional column and lintel forms of the older architecture on Higuera Street, reflecting that vernacular. The combining of textural elements (reliefs, recesses and awnings) conveys an attractive aesthetic appeal. This is not the time to judge this building with the criteria for a new historic listing; it has been allowed multiple departures from the criteria, and it is doubtful that any building would meet all of the criteria anyway; they are elective as in a menu. It is time to retain the Contributing Historic Resource listing, because the building is a resource, which unfortunately has been allowed to deteriorate. It is time to encourage the owner to restore the building to at least its 1987 condition or better, with a remodel that exemplifies the evaluation criteria. Thank you for considering the comments of Save Our Downtown. Sincerely, James Lopes James Lopes 1336 Sweet Bay Lane San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 Ph. 805 - 781 -8960