HomeMy WebLinkAbout11-13-2017 Item P1 (Cooper)
To:SLO Architectural Review Commission
Re:1027 Nipomo Street
From:Allan Cooper, Secretary Save Our Downtown
Date:November 10, 2017
Honorable Chair and Commissioners -
At their August 14, 2017 meeting, the Cultural Heritage Commission made and passed the
following motion: Å,,,to recommend the ARC deny the project based on the Ðnding that the
proposed new building is inconsistent with the Historic Preservation Program Guidelines
Section 3.2.1 because the building is not compatible in scale and massing with the Downtown
Historic DistrictÈs structures and provided direction that the project reduce the height of the
building to three-stories with the third story setback.Æ
Although we commend the architect for signiÐcantly scaling back the fourth Ñoor with
increased setbacks on all four sides, this project continues to remain, according to the Cultural
Heritage Committee, incompatible Åin scale and massing with the Downtown Historic DistrictÈs
structuresÆ. We concur.
Even though the material selection and step-backs above the second and third Ñoors do help
to bring down the scale of this building, this project remains a 4-story building near the 2-story
Soda Water Works and SLO ChildrenÈs Museum buildings and immediately adjacent to the 1-
story historic Creamery. The only neighboring building currently taller than 2 stories is the 3-
story Kraker Oce building at 641 Higuera Street. We acknowledge that the 4-story South
Town 18 project has already been approved. We also acknowledge that the updated
Downtown Concept Plan is recommending that 4-story buildings be located on this block (so-
called ÅBlock 18Æ). However, this recommendation was made in direct contradiction to nearly
all public input. There were two public outreach workshops, an online survey (393 survey
responses) and a neighborhood group meeting with a near unanimous recommendation of
either maintaining the current Ålook or feelÆ of downtown or keeping downtown 2-3 stories.
In light of all of this - and short of asking the architect to eliminate the entire 4th Ñoor - we
believe it is incumbent on you to ask the architect to increase the step-back above that portion
of the 4th Ñoor facing Nipomo Street so that it cannot be seen - from street side - above the
3rd Ñoor (for reference, see the illustration below). Secondly, the balconies facing the creek
should be eliminated to prevent the possibility of tenant-related noise encroaching onto the
Dana Street neighborhood. Thank you!
VIEW AT NIPOMO STREET AND PASEO
CEMENT PLASTER
EXPOSED RAFTER TAILS
DECORATIVE CORNICE
CAST CULTURED STONE OR GFRC
CONCRETE BARREL TILE ROOF
CEMENT PLASTER
SLIDING PATIO DOORS AT SHALLOW PROJECTING
BALCONIES WITH METALWORK RAILING
CEMENT PLASTERMETALWORK BALCONY RAILING
SAND CAST THIN BRICK
GLASS TRANSOMS
FABRIC AWNINGS WITH METAL SUPPORT
DECORATIVE TILE OR PRECAST CONCRETE
BULKHEAD AT RETAIL STOREFRONT BAYS
PEDESTRIAN PASEO
NIPOMO STREET FRONTAGE