04/22/06

To:	ONDNA Neighbors
From:	Bruce
Re:	Two F Street Redevelopment Proposals

	May I draw your attention to New Business items (A) and (B) on the agenda for our monthly meeting [7:30 PM, Hattie Weber Museum, Thursday, 27 April].  These are independent proposals to tear down existing houses in order to develop lots located at 507 and 516 F Street.

507 F Street

	James Moresco has acquired this property with the intent of removing the house and building a single-family, for-sale home in its place.  He has elevation drawings prepared by a Sacramento architect and a preliminary site plan.  He was directed to a dialog with ONDNA by City Staff, Xzandrea Fowler and Cathy Comacho.
	This 1920 house is  described in the OND Eligibility Evaluation for the CA Register of Historical Resources (EE-CARHR) as a "rectangular plan bungalow. . . [with]. . .a planar front facade [that] appears to result from later alteration which enclosed the original porch, leaving the house with an uncharacteristic cement stoop porch. . .The house does not retain its integrity of design, materials, and workmanship and it does not appear to contribute to a district eligible for the Californa Register."
	Moresco has spoken with me, Pat and Dan Szumski, Joanna Scheib and perhaps other neighbors of the property.

516 F Street

	Realtor Steven Boshken (ReMax) and builder Brad Lawson have acquired this property.  They propose to remove the existing home, divide the lot, and build two, side-by-side homes, one each on the new parcels.   They have not yet drawn formal plans; they were directed to the ONDNA by City staff.
	This 1925 house is described in the OND EE-CARHR as a "small revival style house. . .Mediterranean influence. . .Clad in stucco.  Although in poor condition, the integrity of design, materials, workmanship,setting, location, feeling and association remains intact."  It is a contributing structure "to a district eligible for the California Register."
	Boshken and Lawson have spoken with me, Dan and Pat Szumski, and John Lofland.

	In both of these cases I reminded the developers that community concerns would focus on loss of historical (contributing) structures, and consistency of any renovations or rebuilds with the "Traditional Residential Neighborhoods - Old North Davis" part of the Davis Downtown  and Traditional Residential Neighborhood Design Guidelines.   Both parties seem interested in understanding neighborhood ideas and working with the neighborhood on these projects.
	The process and outcome in these two cases will be extremely important to ON, as we are aware of other property owners in this area interested in development, in some cases at quite a high density.  These two cases will set important precedents for ON.  

	Please give this some thought and come to the meeting.  I believe Boshken and Lawson, perhaps Moresco, will be available to describe their projects, answer questions and hear concerns.