A quick report from the meeting tonight:.
The good news is that we had a great show of support from some very eloquent and impressive people.
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The Arts Commission was sympathetic, but they don't have the power to change the situation, and they seem quite dubious about the City Council taking any action. The Commission did, however, offer suggestions on navigating the City system to make ourselves heard.
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It appears that the City Planning Dept issued permits to the developer without asking for a historical study or jumping through the appropriate CEQA hoops first. And it sounds like the developer plans to start demolishing things as early as next week, beginning with the landscaping. Building demolition begins in earnest by August 1st, if not earlier.
It appears that the City Planning Dept issued permits to the developer without asking for a historical study or jumping through the appropriate CEQA hoops first. And it sounds like the developer plans to start demolishing things as early as next week, beginning with the landscaping. Building demolition begins in earnest by August 1st, if not earlier.
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Sadly, it appears this situation may require the preservationists to communicate with the city and developers in the only way people understand these days: litigation. But I still hope (probably foolishly) that it can be resolved without bringing lawyers into it.
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To clear up some earlier statements by City officials, the Mariners Medical Arts complex IS, in fact, on the City's historic inventory.
To clear up some earlier statements by City officials, the Mariners Medical Arts complex IS, in fact, on the City's historic inventory.
