HomeMy WebLinkAbout9/16/2019 Item 2, Regier
Wilbanks, Megan
From:Ron Regier <rsregier@gmail.com>
Sent:Friday,
To:Advisory Bodies
Cc:Ron Regier; Johnson, Derek
Subject:ARC communication re: 9/16/19 Agenda Item #2 - 609 Palm Street
To the members of the City of San Luis Obispo Architectural Review Commission:
Since I’m not acquainted with all Commission members, please allow me a brief introduction. I served on SLO’s Architectural Review
Commission from 1993-1998. Also, the Parks & Rec Commission for nearly 5 years. Before moving to SLO in 1987, I managed a
contemporary cultural center in downtown Columbus, Indiana, a small town that’s justifiably world-renowned for its architecture &
design. Finally, while not involved in the design, I managed the first 20 years of the PAC SLO facility operation at Cal Poly. I appreciate
the opportunity to contribute to the conversation about the design of this theatre in the beloved historic San Luis Obispo downtown.
I believe that the city and SLO REP have employed highly qualified, skilled and sensitive designers and architects; among the best we
have and the resulting design, that’s in front of the Commission, is effective and attractive. I am aware, and it shows, that they have all
been collaborating throughout on the design for this project to combine a public parking structure and a venue for live theatre. I believe
that the style, design elements, colors and materials used are appropriate and sympathetic to their surroundings. When I first looked at
schematics a number of months ago, I was concerned with how the front of the theatre addressed Monterey Street, knowing it was an
anchor for that end of the arts & culture district. I’m very pleased with the result; at how there is some open space and that the entry
and glass invite people in.
I did attend the ARC meeting of August 19, 2019. I heard some concern expressed about putting a modern design in this space. To
me, while it is modern, this design is compatible with the neighborhood, including both the contemporary approach to the Children’s
Museum and the classic, nearby Mission School. I strongly believe that neighborhoods and their architecture evolve over time, as do
downtowns and cities as a whole. The transition of this neighborhood into SLO’s arts and culture district calls out for transitional
architecture that can be appreciated as art itself. This design does that without going too far.
Finally, there was a bit of discussion at the last meeting about design compatibility and/or transition between the theatre portion of the
building and the parking structure. The acclaimed architect, César Pelli, who designed The Commons, the cultural center I managed in
Columbus, Indiana, made a meaningful mistake, in my judgment. That center was connected to a commercial shopping mall in the
heart of downtown, but the design of the exterior did not distinguish, or make much of a transition, between the center and the mall. In
fact, Pelli covered the entire building in mirrored, brown glass. The result created wonderful reflected images of the buildings across
the street but also produced massing of scale that was not entirely appropriate to the main street it fronted. It was interesting to me to
note, that when much of the building was replaced a number of years ago, that the new center’s façade was more articulated and more
distinct from the commercial area, reducing the impression of massing. The architects and designers of the project you are reviewing
have taken an approach that distinguishes and even contrasts the theatre from the parking in a way that is effective and helps to reduce
the apparent massing, particularly where it’s of greatest risk of offending, along Nipomo Street.
While I recently moved to Trilogy in Nipomo, I lived almost 32 years in the City of San Luis Obispo, plus my family has deep roots in
SLO going back to the late 1940s. I think San Luis Obispo residents will be pleased with and proud to have this new addition in its
downtown. Thank you for giving consideration to my comments.
Respectfully, Ron Regier
1168 Spring Azure Way
Nipomo, CA
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