HomeMy WebLinkAbout07-24-2017 CHC Correspondence - Item 2 (Woods)Paramount Properties
Ginger Woods, Broker
560 Higuera Street, Suite A
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
805-550-8943
07/20/17
City of San Luis Obispo
Cultural Heritage Committee and City Staff
San Luis Obispo, CA
Re: 546 Higuera Street Project, “Norcross House”
Dear CHC Members and City Staff,
My name is Ginger Woods, and I am 7th generation to the Central Coast. My great, great
grandfather on my father’s side was Joaquin Estrada, who was given the Santa Margarita Ranch
land grant. Then, on my mother’s side is the Martines/See & Calloway family(s) who settled up
See Canyon which still bears the family name.
Further, my family has owned many businesses in downtown San Luis Obispo over time.
We owned the entire corner which wraps around Higuera and Broad to the creek where my
family had the town “Meat Market”. My grandfather owned a little grocery store named
“Georges Market” people still talk about today. More currently, my cousin has a gallery on
Garden Street called “Gene Francis Gallery”, and my Uncle owns a well-known gym in town. I
personally am living on one of our family ranches which was the last working dairy farm around.
My father, Chuck Estrada, is one of our town’s few professional athletes who made it to
the major league level and remained in professional baseball for 40 years. -Quite a thing back in
the day in these parts.
I mention the above because I believe I am one of the few locals left who actually have
such deep roots in the town, and therefore, I would hope my word has a certain level of
credibility with regard to historic opinion.
In fact, throughout my entire childhood, my mother restored approximately 12 old
historic homes around San Luis Obispo. As it turns out, I went into real estate as a broker, and
have been for 15 years now. One home I listed and sold, was the Historic Shipsey House on Mill
Street.
Shipsey House
The Shipsey House is extremely similar to this current project, down to the similar paint
colors. I know personally the amount of work, money, and effort the new owners had to go
through to create what stands there today. I completely understand the need to preserve history.
I look around town and have memories from many landmarks around. The Norcross project is
going above and beyond what I would expect in a restoration, and should be approved. In fact, I
would think we should all thank the owner(s) for putting forth such a great effort at this location.
A location I HAPPEN to be doing business right next to at, 560 Higuera Street.
I think it would be good to pull back and look at the bigger picture regarding this project.
I wonder what kind of property owner would actually go to such efforts and expense to restore
such a structure? It would be YEARS to see any kind of return on such a restoration! Therefore,
the owner(s) must very much love our town, and want to contribute positively to it.
I am concerned if pushed for too many requirements, the owner(s) may just walk away
and nobody will benefit from this wonderful project. My business is certainly affected by the
construction that does not seem to be moving forward, and makes our end of town look like we
are not in business.
Please consider this a plea from a true local resident of San Luis Obispo; and allow the
Norcross project to get going!
Ginger Woods
Broker, Paramount Properties