HomeMy WebLinkAbout7/16/2018 Item 2, Stork
Goodwin, Heather
From:Magnolia Papac <magnoliamaepapac@yahoo.com>
Sent:Monday, July 16,
To:Advisory Bodies
Subject:790 Foothill Blvd
Attachments:20180716_111736\[1\].jpg; 20180716_111713\[1\].jpg
I am writing after reviewing the revised and resubmitted plans for 790 Foothill Blvd. that the committee is scheduled to
review this evening. While changes in design are somewhat successful in giving the appearance of less bulk and
massing than the previous design, they do not address the REAL problems of this development, which are size and scale
and incompatibility with the rest of the neighborhood. It is clear that the city of San Luis Obispo has abandoned all
previous height limits in building downtown and that we are in a phase of transformation to become more of a city (as
compared to small town) with a dense and tall city center, but this project at 790 Foothill is not downtown. 790 Foothill
Blvd. is sandwiched between a beautiful and historic neighborhood of small single family homes and a suburban
neighborhood of mixed housing that contains 2 of the cities 6 elementary schools. The drawings being submitted do not
show the adjacent properties to this lot in their architectural renderings for you to be able to see how this building will
DWARF EVERYTHING around it, no matter how much you break up the building or change the cornices or
wainscotting. The problem with this development has never really been about what design elements do or don't work,
people get used to new design. The problem is about the hazardous situation is causes at an already problematic
intersection and about the poor city planning in allowing developers to destroy well established neighborhoods rather than
planning infill that FITS with the neighborhood and builds community.
I suppose this letter is more for the city council than the ARC, in hopes that they will have the strength to hold true to what
our goals are. I understand that we want more affordable housing as a city. This is not affordable housing, and it is not
workforce housing - it is a luxury DORMITORY on the edge of a neighborhood of family homes. I do not have a problem
sharing the city and my neighborhood with students. The homes in my neighborhood that are student rentals will likely
not revert back to workforce housing as a result of properties like 790 Foothill being built. Granting a density waiver to this
project because it includes "affordable by design" studio apartments is outrageous. Is this where they will have their RAs
live?... Building managers that they can pay less because they get discounted rent in their affordable studio apartment in
the big student dormitory? REAL low-income housing should include a variety of types of housing. Students who live in a
mixed neighborhood should be learning what it means to be a part of a community - of people of all ages and from all
walks of life. When students live in rentals in my neighborhood, they should be getting valuable life experiences in looking
out for children playing in their driveways and walking to school, keeping and eye out for the elderly, learning to
communicate with and be respectful of others. Forcing an ill fitting giant dormitory that dwarfs everything around it does
not work towards this goal. From the very beginning, it shows a lack of respect for everyone else around it and it insulates
itself from the surrounding neighborhood. I've attached a photo of the 22 Chorro project by this same developer that
illustrates what I am talking about and is why I would like the architectural renderings of 790 Foothill to include the
properties that are directly adjacent to it - because it does matter. This is what we are talking about. That is someones
single family home behind that truck on the right - barely as tall as the entrance to the garage on this monster building,
whose driveway practically goes across this persons front yard! There is not a day that this doesn't make me feel sick.
My husband and I were both raised in this town and have worked very hard to find a way to move back here and are still
working hard to stay in the neighborhood where we will ultimately be caring for parents who live down the street. We
have invested everything we have into trying to make this work - so, yes I will fight ill fitting projects that I feel are being
forced upon us. I am not anti-development, but this is a project that doesn't fit, and clearly if I am not looking out for
myself and my family, neighbors and friends, who else should be expected to?
Sincerely,
Magnolia Stork
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