HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-17-2017 Item 12, KriegerCOUNCIL MEETING: I - I JAN 17 2017
ITEM NO.: I
S, 1_
From: "
Date: Mon, Jan 16, 2017 at 9:13 PM -0800
Subject: 580 Higuera Street
To: "E-mail Council Website" <emailcouncil@slocity.or >
Cc: " , "'Liz's G -mail"' < , "'Dan Krieger"'
< >
Re.: 580 Higuera Street
Dear Mme. Mayor and Members of the San Luis Obispo City Council,
The four story project proposed for 580 Higuera Street violates the Goals for Design Quality and Character
specified in the City's Community Design Guidelines. It is also a project that clearly required the input of the
Cultural Heritage Committee. The 500 block of both Higuera and Dana Streets have an overwhelming historical
significance for our community. The first two sites of Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa were constructed on
the ridge between the two streets.
The Juan Bautista de Anza expedition stayed at the second location in April 1776 before going north to found
both San Jose and San Francisco. Mission San Luis Obispo's resident artist, Nageh Bichay, is representing the
site as it appeared in 1776 for the National Park Service's Anza Trail, Nageh Bichay. It will be more than an
embarrassment to our city to have visitors see the site defaced with a massively over scaled building.
Dana Street has two structures of great historical importance. The Barneberg Mansion, now offices for the San
Luis Obispo Foundation and the City owned Rosa Butron de Canet de Simmler adobe. When I served on the
city's long range plan study group during the early 1990's, we contemplated a bridge across San Luis Creek
near the end of Dana Street to facilitate historical walks. Artist Pierre Rademaker's map hanging in your
chambers depicts this desire.
Clearly, this project requires significant redesign.
Very truly,
Dan Krieger, Ph.D. Professor Emeritus, Cal Poly
Curator, Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa
Best wishes,
Daniel E. Krieger
Professor of History, Emeritus
California Polytechnic State University
San Luis Obispo, CA 93407
Past President, California Mission Studies Association/California Missions Foundation