HomeMy WebLinkAbout10/2/2017 Item 13, Kulick
Christian, Kevin
From:Ben Kulick <ben@stalwork.com>
Sent:Tuesday, October 03, 2017 4:34 PM
To:E-mail Council Website
Subject:Paint/Color - 1135 Santa Rosa
Dear Council:
The applicant asks you to consider precedent on color.
Below are two buildings currently being painted within two blocks of 1135 Santa Rosa. See email to Walter below.
\[Planner on 1135 Santa Rosa\]
The owners repainted the buildings without prior ARC review. The colors were modified significantly from original
(coincidently much darker). This was not subversive, calculated, out of procedural order, or nefarious. Color is something
the building code does not regulate.
67 commercial buildings, we have noted, have been repainted since we received a notice of violation on building color.
Not a single property received ARC or planning approval that we could identify via public records request. 1135 Santa
Rosa is the first ever in San Luis Obispo per public records search to be cited for color. It has been singled out for “not
following the rules” and the sentiment exists EVERYONE should follow the rules.
Does the council want to direct city staff to issue violations on all these properties or acknowledge that building color is
and always has been accepted as a matter of taste in San Luis Obispo? Differing opinions, like with all art and
architecture will exist, which creates a healthy and pragmatic culture.
Or should we delegate 5 ARC community volunteers the sole right of rule on our citizens to define appropriate
architecture regardless of building code or community feeling? Perhaps we should eliminate architects, designers, and
artists? Should we send out notifications to home owners that they can no longer paint their houses without approval
from ARC? I would presume citizens would want to elect the ARC members and see them accountable for decision
making?
Should the Christmas tree come down from San Luis Mountain because not everyone is Christian? Should the Chinese
park be demolished because it celebrates a single culture? Should we rip the photograph off 1264 Monterey because it
was not approved art?
I was born and raised in San Luis Obispo. Will San Luis Obispo be progressive and accept differing opinions and tastes?
The downtown Santa Barbara corridor continues to rise in vacancies despite a booming economical cycle. The
development criteria and consistency on building type is extreme comparatively to San Luis Obispo. While the Funk Zone
outside of these regulated districts in Santa Barbara is booming and buildings and tenants are moving in faster than ever
before. *See Radius reports \[Radiusgroup.com\]. The population dynamic is changing. The art and architecture and the
way people do business have changed. The tenant desires and architectural desires of these new residents and
businesses have changed.
San Luis Obispo prides itself on acceptance of cultures, religions, sexuality, environmental awareness, and an inclusion of
all its people. This consistent and vocal minority that resists all things new under the banner of regulation, fairness, and
rules has sorely missed lessons from history; we had rules on slaves, women voters, segregation, sexuality, and property
rights. This generation has every right to leave a legacy like the generation before it. Not all will be successful or
celebrated, but that is the nature of every culture.
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San Luis Obispo is unique in so many ways and celebrated in the media, government and its citizens continuously. The
definition of unique is the only one of its kind. Our downtown is special, unquestionably. Stalwork offices have chosen to
be downtown for over a decade. Our downtown is not immune to change. We have guidelines to target appropriate and
fitting resources. The genesis of these guidelines was to prevent “anywhere USA.”
“However, the City has no intention of discouraging architectural innovation and creativity, or requiring that all new
development look the same. The City encourages excellence, creativity, and innovation in architectural design. The City
encourages excellence, creativity, and innovation in architectural design.”
I would recommend one look at the World Architectural Festival and Awards, Archdaily, Wired, etc. and what buildings
look like that are excellent, creative, innovative, and award winning. Or perhaps what the celebrated Architecture
program and its graduates at Cal Poly are producing and designing. Geometric, boxy, rich, dark colored, wood, metal,
modern, etc. Are we willing to train our students locally as long as they don’t want to be designers in our community?
Should we let them know? The architect on this project is a Cal Poly Graduate.
www.worldarchitecturefestival.com
http://www.archdaily.com/best-architecture-of-2016
https://www.wired.com/2016/12/2016-architecture/
http://www.caed.calpoly.edu/content/designintelligence-2015-rankings-arch-and-la
When the ARC Guidelines were created the Chevrolet Monte Carlo was rated the best car of the year.
In 2017 it was the Chevrolet Bolt EV.
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This is why we have guidelines and creativity.
Thank you for your consideration.
-Ben Kulick-
STALWORK, INC.
CONSTRUCTION + DESIGN
License #948012
P.O. Box 391
San Luis Obispo, California 93406
O 805.542.0033
F 805.542.0837
ben@stalwork.com
www.stalwork.com
From: Oetzell, Walter \[mailto:woetzell@slocity.org\]
Sent: Tuesday, October 03, 2017 1:52 PM
To: Ben Kulick
Subject: RE: Quick Question
Hello Ben,
I find no permit for repainting in the permitting history for either of these properties.
--
Walter Oetzell, Assistant Planner
(805) 781-7593
From: Oetzell, Walter
Sent: Friday, September 29, 2017 2:30 PM
To: Ben Kulick <ben@stalwork.com>
Subject: Re: Quick Question
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Hello Ben,
I can check our records for the permitting history for those properties when I get back Tuesday.
Alternatively, you may want to contact the planner on duty at 781-7170 if you'd like someone to check before
then...
Walter Oetzell
Assistant Planner
Community Development
Development Review
919 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401-3218
E woetzell@slocity.org
T 805.781.7593
slocity.org
From: Ben Kulick <ben@stalwork.com>
Sent: Thursday, September 28, 2017 6:12:47 PM
To: Oetzell, Walter
Subject: Quick Question
Good Afternoon Walter:
Can you confirm (1011 Higuera) Thai Classic and the Church on the 900 block of Marsh all pulled permits/ARC review to
repaint.
Thank you.
-Ben Kulick-
STALWORK, INC.
CONSTRUCTION + DESIGN
License #948012
P.O. Box 391
San Luis Obispo, California 93406
O 805.542.0033
F 805.542.0837
ben@stalwork.com
www.stalwork.com
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