HomeMy WebLinkAbout12/18/2007, COMM - Dee • Ca wi e�C.
Betsy Bertrando
267 Foothill Boulevard
San Luis Obispo,CA 93405
/yJsF ND�UIL LE
January 5, 2008 /Z�GGc-
To Mayor Romero and Council Members Brown, Carter, Mulholland and Settle
I am resubmitting my letter of December 17 that unbeknownst to me was not received in time
for the December 18, 2007 City Council meeting that I also attended. As included in this packet,
the email was answered as "unable to open'and returned to me at 5:27 pm the same evening as
the council meeting. Had I know earlier in the day,I would have hand delivered my letter to the
council.
Sincere ,
etsy Bertrando
Page 1 of 1
betsy
From: Council, SloCity[slocitycouncil@slocity.org]
Sent: Tuesday, December18, 2007 5:27 PM
To: betsy
Subject: RE: Copeland Chinatown Project
Mrs. Bertrando,
Unfortunately, we are not able to open the letter you have sent to the City Council. Is there a way you
can either send it in a different format(we use Word here at the City)or fax it to us at 781-7109?
I'm sorry for the inconvenience. We had our IT staff try and open it and they were not successful either.
Barbara Ehrbar
City of San Luis Obispo
78107114
To: Mayor Dave Romero, Vice Mayor Christine Mulholland,and Council Members Paul Brown, Andrew
Carter,and Allen Settle
Attached are my comments regarding the above named project please give them your full consideration.
Thank you,
Betsy Bertrando
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1/5/2008
C.
Betsy Bertrando
267 Foothill Boulevard
San Luis Obispo, CA 93405
December 17, 2007
To Mayor Romero and Council Members Brown, Carter,Mulholland and Settle
Allowing the most important comer in the heart of the Downtown Historical District to
accommodate a structure serving a transient population does not serve the community. In the
rush to demolish the earliest non adobe historic structures in our community,certain
considerations have not been fully addressed nor undergone the public review process. A
detailed rehabilitation feasibility analysis on the Blackstone Hotel and Sauer Bakery needs to be
presented for public comment prior to any final decision regarding the historic properties. We
already know the floors are crooked and there is no ADA access. These are after all old
buildings.
1. True cost of demolition as opposed to restoration costs-
This should include both the additional cost of considerable archaeological excavations
and the loss of eventual Mills Act tax benefits as part of the true costs of demolition.
The cost of recording the various stages of construction,photography, etc. as required by
the Secretary of State Standards prior to, and during the demolition process of historic
properties was not addressed. These HABS/HAERS requirements are extensive and
costly. They are produced in such detail that the building recorded could be
reconstructed from the document.
2. If the findings are applied only to costs of restoration versus economic benefits of new
construction,then new construction may outweigh all other considerations. This rational
will be used to demolish all of the historic properties within the Downtown Historic
District and it will be based on faulty data.
And in addition:
3. Removing the two buildings will effectively remove the Muzio building from the Master List
and perhaps the contributing list as well,as it is no longer supported within an historic
context. It is also impacted by the addition of the stairs covering both sides as well as
first floor of the building in the rear. Plans also include adding an additional upper floor
with a setback.
This proposed large development with impacts to the oldest and most historic commercial block
adjacent to the mission will forever change the downtown historic district and will set a
precedent for significant change within our unique cultural environment. The large scale of the
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project will overwhelm the other historic structures such as the Sinsheimer Building and the
Mission. It also provides no real amenities for the public on what is currently public property.
There was no opportunity for the public to express what they would have preferred for their
property when this project was first discussed with the Copeland's behind closed doors.
Currently there are twelve pending or approved projects within the City of San Luis Obispo(see
EIR for Chinatown Vol 1, pgs 5-2 and 5-3). Of the twelve projects, eight require demolition
and one a structure relocation. Within some of the projects several historic structures are to be
demolished not just eight. Please bean advocate for the earliest buildings in the Downtown
Historic District and start with this project.
"The city wants to work with its citizens to promote the preservation of historic and
architecturally important buildings and sites. The preservation of historic buildings and
sites maintains our community's heritage and offers specific economic benefits to the
owners of these properties." (The City of San Luis Obispo Historical Preservation Program
Guidelines 2007:1)
The above are your words and it is, after all, the city and community's property.
Sincer�el �
Bens rtiando Y