HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-26-2016 CHC Correspondence - Item 1 (Pinard)Lomeli, Monique
Subject:
CHC Agenda item: Utility box art
From: Peg Pinard [
Sent: Saturday, September 24, 2016 10:06 PM
To: Leveille, Brian <bleveille@slocity.org>
Cc: Marx, Jan <imarx@slocity.or >
Subject: CHC Agenda item: Utility box art
Re: Utility Art Box Program on the CHC 9/26 Agenda
Dear Cultural Heritage Committee Members,
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In the minutes of your last meeting it was reported that: "Committee Member Papp shared
that, because Sinsheimer Brothers is a National Register eligible building, he was
uncomfortable in introducing a sign that was not of the period and was potentially
detracting from what makes the building significant, namely the fagade." According to
the minutes, the rest of the CHC apparently agreed. This was encouraging to read but
led me to wonder why the same care wasn't being taken with this city's first Historic
District.
As you may recall, without any communication with the residents most affected, the city
somehow thought that the image below would be 'appropriate' for children to
view right outside their bedroom windows. And, forgotten in all the rush to paint the
boxes, was any consideration for the historic nature of the district within which the 'art'
was to be exhibited. Committee Member Papp's very recent comment seems like an
appropriate standard to raise for impacts on other historic buildings, especially those
within the city's first Historic District.
While the proposed art has become more family friendly, the relationship and the
context within which they are placed still hasn't been considered as an important
factor. For instance, the corner of Pismo and Broad has a very glaring problem. The
city spent a lot of money on the logo sign program designating this major entrance to
the Old Town Historic District and yet the sign is essentially hidden behind the utility
pole and the utility box. You can hardly see it! Why not use that utility box for displaying
the historic designation sign? As one is driving south on Broad St., instead of being
obscured, the Old Town Historic District logo could be so much more visible. It's really
a shame to have visual clutter instead of highlighting what the signage was supposed to
be identifying.
Secondly, the artwork proposed for the corner of Broad and Buchon, while very nice in
its own right, bears no relationship to the special area within which it is situated. Isn't
there some aspect of the historic district that could be highlighted and reflected in
art? Something that would tell visitors that they are in a "special place" of the city? The
proposed tree could be placed anywhere. You only have one Old Town Historic District,
so why not recognize and honor it with artwork reflecting its historic context?
Just so you know, we did bring these points up well before the current discussion and
recommendation of utility box 'art' renewals was even being considered - but both
points were ignored. The city seems to have a conflicting attitude with regard to
resident input ... they say they want resident input, but then, when it is given, in this
instance, there was no response. As residents of the Old Town Neighborhood and co-
founders of the city's first Historic District, we would appreciate your specific
consideration of these two issues.
Sincerely,
Leo and Peg Pinard
Co -Founders of the Old Town Neighborhood Association
Homeowner/Restorers who secured the designation for the city's first "Nationally
Register of Historic Places" Home
and the "Old Town Historic District"