HomeMy WebLinkAbout10/23/2019 Item Public Comment, Visci
Wilbanks, Megan
From:Chip Visci <visci805@gmail.com>
Sent:Sunday,
To:Advisory Bodies
Subject:Parking Garage-SLO REP joint project
Dear Planning Commission Members:
I’m writing to ask you to approve the proposed joint project for the Palm-Nipomo-Monterey Parking Garage and the
plans for a new home for SLO Repertory Theatre.
Suffice to say, more parking is needed, and this garage has been long planned and long promised.
As a member of SLO REP’s Board of Directors, I am especially eager to see this project go forward. The new theater will
more than double SLO REP’s ability to draw residents and visitors alike to downtown SLO. The new theater will greatly
expand SLO REP’s educational outreach to students across the county.
Two particular points worth mentioning:
1. SLO REP (formerly SLO Little Theatre) has been a cultural fixture for 73 consecutive years. Each year for at least the
last five years, SLO REP has enjoyed higher attendance than the SLO Symphony, Opera SLO and Festival Mozaic
combined. SLO REP's impact is large - and will be larger if this project is approved.
2. This building will not be a static thing to wander through and wish that the walls could talk and tell us some history.
Instead, it will be a dynamic, thrumming hive of activity 46 weeks a year, bringing thousands of people together every
year to explore what unites us rather than divides us, to share tears and laughter, to gain a better understanding of who
we are and how each of us might become a better person.
As we like to say, live theater presents powerful storytelling that connects people in ways that open the mind, nourish
the soul and illuminate our shared humanity. What a great byproduct from a plan for a new parking garage.
Please vote to approve this project.
Thank you for your consideration.
Chip Visci
SLO REP Board Member
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