HomeMy WebLinkAboutcc - Loper (71 Palomar)JAN 2 :' 2017
From: Jloper <
Sent: Sunday, January 22, 2017 12:34 PM
To: Advisory Bodies
Subject: Please distribute to ARC members, City Council and Tree Committee mem bers.
First off, let me thank you all for the amount of time you have each put into listening to the extensive input on
the 71 Palomar project. I can't imagine that all your projects meet with such interest and involvement. I
consider that a sad aspect. We should all be interested in the preservation of the historical beauty of SLO. I am
a life long resident of SLO — born in the old French hospital and raised on the Cal Poly campus as my dad was
an instructor there. I am saddened to have watched the uniqueness of both the campus and our town slip away
to progress and what I see as the need for change and growth. I consider some of that change based on greed as
we put in as much as we can in all open space. Reading an article from a May 24, 2007 copy of the Tribune,
Jean Martin (my second grade teacher) warned us that if we didn't watch out, our downtown would be lost and I
believe that is what has happened over all as I watch the many many projects underway.
As far as the 71 Palomar property goes and the Sanford House, I see that you are put in a difficult position,
preserve the house and let the owner move forward. I appreciated so much how the anccetect was sent back to
redesign. And, as much as I appreciate their attempt at redesigning, I fail to see how what they did change will
truly honor the Sanford House. I see it, the house, becoming just another old house stuck on a modernized
lot. I know the trees are not a direct part of the deal but they are what adds to the character of the
house. Moving the house, removing the trees and crowding as many people as possible on that lot will forever
displace the house as an honored part of our history. What I found that was so amazing is the full history of that
house and how so few people are aware of it. As a kid, I walked past it through the open space surrounding it
before the development of any student housing and had no idea what it represented. I went there as a teenager
when it was a Frat house and was impressed by the interesting design of the house. But I had no idea of the
importance of the people who had designed it and lived in it. I do wish we had the historical society connnected
in on all of this.
I know this project has been redirected to you from the Cultural Heritage Committee and I can only hope that
we can encourage you to driect the plan to once again be revised, reduced or even rejected and encouraged to go
elsewhere. I, of course, would like to see the property open to public use and purchased by the city knowing
that there are very few lots left that could offer what 71 Palomar can offer and I also know that I'll be told that
there is no money for that. Why is that in a town as affluent as SLO we can't pull this off.. I hope in your
recommendations you will really emphasize that what is currently planned does not honor the Sanford house
and will still over shadow it. And that the number of people this project will add to our neighborhood will just
be too much.
Thank you for your time and interest.
Jackie Loper
(
Warning: Don't Use Probiotics Before You See This
Gundry MD