Windemere Saga Continues: City Council
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PAGE A10 - OCTOBER 3, 2013 - LA JOLLA LIGHT www.lajollalight.com Windemere Saga Continues City Council upholds appeal of Irving Gill cottage demolition BY PAT SHERMAN The San Diego City Council voted 5-3 on Sept. 23 to uphold the La Jolla Community When we bought it (Windemere), Planning Association and La Jolla Historical “ Society’s (LJHS’s) appeal of a California my wife wouldn’t even allow our Environmental Quality Act exemption, children into that house because it which led to the demolition of Irving Gill’s ‘Windemere cottage,” formerly located at was dangerous. Our kids could have 1328 Virginia Way in La Jolla. The vote is the latest development in a killed themselves walking around the contentious, two-year conversation pitting development against historic preservation. second level. … We went to the city The house, built in 1894 and believed to be the master architect’s first home in and … the city determined that it was California, and the first Craftsman home in the state, was demolished on Dec. 23, 2011 a nuisance … and actually ordered us after the City of San Diego deemed the to tear that house down. property a “public nuisance,” thus requiring its demolition (sans a normally required — Property owners and attorneys Frank” and Nina Bottini coastal development permit). Historic preservationists argue that property address the San Diego City Council on Sept. 23. Screenshot from CityTV owner Frank Bottini knew the cottage was potentially historic when he purchased it, and was aware of the costs associated with himself and his family, Bottini altered the from its original condition to be historic, Scott Sherman recusing himself from the vote). restoration or relocation of Windemere if structure by removing “architecturally and and the city’s Development Service “It is not appropriate to pretend deemed historic (from $750,000 to $1 historically important aspects of the Department to declare it a public nuisance. (Windemere) never existed; this is a wake-up million, according to LJHS attorney, Julie cottage.” These included redwood brackets The motion to uphold the LJHS’s appeal call for all of us about the potential abuse of Hamilton). in the eaves, and diamond-paned windows. was made by District 1 City Councilmember the system,” Lightner said when making the Hamilton said that to avoid incurring The changes, preservationists say, Sherri Lightner, who represents La Jolla, and motion, noting that an environmental such costs, and to expedite demolition of weakened the structure and led the city’s seconded by District 9 representative Marti analysis should have been done when Historical Resources Board (HRB) to Emerald (opposing the motion were Kevin Windemere existed on the site, and not the cottage so he could build a modern, s single-family residence on the site for determine it had been altered too much Faulconer, Lori Zapf and Mark Kersey, with when it was finally performed, after Professionals in Coins, Currency & Precious Metals With Over 60 Years of Experience WE BUY & SELL! 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LJHS campus on Prospect Street, Hamilton it becomes a public nuisance in order to “I’m stumped myself,” Shearer-Nguyen said the LJHS recognizes that incurring the avoid historic designation so they can said about conducting an environmental costs of re-creating Gill’s cottage from obtain a demolition permit from the city,” review on a property that no longer exists. architectural drawings is largely impractical. Lightner said. “We’re having an internal meeting to try to “We had originally told them we realized The issue will now return to Development determine how to proceed. This is very that it is impractical,” Hamilton said, adding Services Department staff, who have been unusual. … We’re going to have to look at that earlier this year the LJHS suggested that asked to “re-evaluate the environmental what (information) we have internally … Bottini make a “$300,000 contribution to determination” from the point at which and also go back and read the (city council) the (LJHS’s) historic preservation front” as Windemere cottage circa 1910 when Windemere cottage still existed on the site. motion and make sure we’re following a mitigation for demolishing Windemere. it was located on Prospect Street. Lightner’s motion instructs staff to direction staff was given. Hamilton said those e-mails were forwarded COURTESY conduct an “expedited” environmental “I don’t know how I’m going to proceed to the city council. “We weren’t playing hide review that takes into consideration a yet; it’s difficult for me to determine exactly the ball,” she said, adding that the contribu- ■ View the Windemere historic report completed on the property in when it will be done,” she added. tion would have been a way to mitigate the discussion and council vote: January 2010 by the previous property LJHS Executive Director Heath Fox said he loss and “avoid some of the pain.” owners (who sought to designate the property expects the city’s new environmental Hamilton said money paid to mitigate Visit bit.ly/windemere and historic before separating and selling it). analysis will show that there was a potential Windemere’s loss could have been put Hamilton said Bottini and his attorney historic resource on the site and that the toward the ongoing restoration of the LJHS’s click on the ‘video’ tab for the suppressed this report in 2011 at the time owner or possibly the city will be culpable museum and offices, which include an city council meeting of Monday, the HRB was deciding whether to grant a for “some form of mitigation for that loss.” Irving Gill addition. Sept. 23. The discussion begins local historic designation for the property, “The process will determine what the “That would have been ideal,” she said. 51 minutes into the video. even going so far as to threaten its author proper mitigation could be and should be,” “That would have been the best mitigation.” NEW HOME CONSTRUCTION 2839 Racetrack View Drive, Del Mar, CA 92014 J. Craig Venter Institute La Jolla JOIN US Join us for a black tie gala fundraising event to commemorate the opening of the first net zero energy genomics laboratory. Stroll through our beautifully designed OPEN HOUSE SUNDAY, OCTOBER 6TH FROM 11:00 - 4:00 building on the UCSD campus while you are entertained by unique musical and visual acts. Speakers, food, beverages, and dancing will round out this unforgettable evening. Please visit • European Country, Single-Story Home, • Vanishing Doors Open Home for www.jcvi.org/stepintothegenome 4,530 sq. ft. on .92 Acres. 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