HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-26-2013 pc brodieRECEIVE )
Goodwin,Heather
JAN 2 8 201 3
Lichtig, Katie
SLO CITY CL 1J ..
Monday, January 28, 2013 11 :03 A M
To :
'Allan Cooper'; Carpenter, Dan ; Marx, Jan ; Carter, Andrew ; Ashbaugh, John ; Smith, Kathy;
Johnson, Derek ; Davidson, Dou g
Cc :
Grimes, Maeve; Goodwin, Heather
/
Subject:
RE : Budget Workshop
COUNCIL MEETING : °~ ~`(U3
ITEMNO .: 6060 c/hir
Allan and David —
I have forwarded to the City Clerk so she can add to the public record .
Katie E . Lichti g
City Manage r
City of San Luis Obispo, C A
990 Palm Stree t
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401-324 9
805-781-711 4
www .slocity .org
From :Allan Cooper fmailto :allanc000eOgmail .com l
Sent :Saturday, January 26, 2013 6 :05 P M
Carpenter, Dan ; Marx, Jan ; Carter, Andrew ; Ashbaugh, John ; Smith, Kathy ; Lichtig, Katie ; Johnson, Derek; Davidson ,
Dear Mayor and Council Members -
I wanted to make a statement at the workshop held on Saturday, January 26, 2013 but decided I would be too
rushed to make my point . SLO, especially Downtown, has many very special visual qualities including it s
architecture and varied shops . But one of these qualities one may have difficulty quantifying in monetary terms .
I am specifically refer r ing to the natural view shed in combination with the urban forest which is visible from
many locations within our Downtown core . This feature is very important to preserve and enhance in order t o
maintain the unique feel of San Luis Obispo . The phrase "open space" is used mostly in generic terms withou t
reference to how it enhances the feel of being Downtown . But understanding this issue could or should play a
large part when considering development plans within the Downtown Core (Kevin Lynch and Gorden Culle n
are two authors who have written eloquently about this important subject). I suggest that studies or mini -
workshops be organized to document these visual qualities which we are in danger of losing .
In addition to these unique view shed characteristics, the historical development of short blocks and concentric
(as opposed to linear) growth of retail has contributed to more dense shopping patterns creating more magnets
for pedestrian shoppers . Continuous shop window frontage has played an important part in pulling the shopper s
down both main streets and side streets . Continuity of shop window frontage is crucial . However, over time ,
the City has allowed the development of non-retail shop frontage which jeopardizes the retail viability o f
2wntown . Examples include the blank shop frontage flanking the Apple Store along Mono Street, the lack o f
dow displays provided by Ross For Less, the new Chamber of Commerce location on a key corner, an d
Brous groupings along Higuera, Broad, Chorro, Osos and Mono Streets of restaurants and bars, etc .
jest:Budget Workshop
t
The future of a rich and vital retail district Downtown is jeopardized by not having in place guidelines that
emphasize and give priority to shop front windows . There are innovative solutions for shop front magnets tha t
s
quandered even though the street layout has such promise . Please give very serious consideration to thes e
s at this point in time as Downtown is currently losing its ability to compete with outlying retail and office
elopment .
Sincerely, David Brodi e
•
•
2