Terra Linda Second story atrocity

I've been watching the construction with dismay. Add me to your list .

Dan

Put me on your e-mail list if I can be of any help. Just driving thru different neighborhoods highlight the problem of second storoes.

I hate that two story addition. That's a perfect situation where the guy basically says F^%$ You to all my neighbors.

I hate him for it and for ruining our neighborhood.

judging by the latest HGTV assault on a perfectly good Eichler, they have more than just second stories to worry about.

Good luck!

What HGTV assault are you talking about? Please provide details..

Here is a link to the Cupertino Fairgrove guidelines for that Eichler neighborhood. Pretty well laid out. Something to think about for Terra Linda.

[url]http://www.cupertino.org/downloads/index.asp?Type=Pdf&Name=Eichler%20Handbook%20(941%20KB)&Location=_eichlerhandbook.pdf[/url]

has there been any movement to place the midcentury modern houses in conservation districts?

we did this in dallas to preserve all the 1920's Tudors when the soccer moms started to flood the area from the suburbs and level anything less than 3000 sqft

Here is an example

http://www.save-the-m-streets.org/

The following is on the agenda for the San Rafael City Council this evening at 8pm:

Recommendations Re 2nd Story Additions to Eichlers

There is no soft copy for the agenda item yet but it would be worth checking later today. Here is the link:

http://www.sanrafaelcityclerk.org/

There was a story on the front page of the Marin IJ on Sunday - here is a link to that for those not in Marin:

http://www.marinij.com/Stories/0,1413,234%257E24407%257E1549883,00.html?search=filter

There was another article this week in the IJ about Marin losing its 50's and 60's buildings. Another link:

http://www.marinij.com/Stories/0,1413,234%257E24409%257E1509055,00.html?search=filter

There's no way that those homeowners can claim to be good neighbors. They do not have to subject themselves to detailed design by a commitee of their neighbors, but common courtesy would at least ask that they say what they want to do, why they want to do it, and for directly adjacent neighbors, even where they are complying with all city setbacks, daylight codes, etc., at least discuss the impact with those neighbors. At least to acknowledge the impact of construction noise, debris, etc., and make some attempt at accomodating their neighbors concerns. Are cities going to go to the extent of mandating such common courtesy to prevent the really hard feelings from transpiring later? The Terra Linda picture shows what a complete lack of understanding and imagination some have when it comes to architecture. Know what you don't know and have some humility!

/te

But I have found that alot of people to care what their house looks like and only view it as a utilitarian object.

In the conservation district I mentioned above, much of the resistance came from people who had lived in the neighborhood for 30 years and only bought houses there because it was convenient to work, or just a nice area of town. They did not give a rats ass that it was a historically significant neighborhood and wanted the freedom to modify their houses to meet their aesthetic desires wether it was in keeping with the style or not..

My in-laws are the same way they bought one of these cookie cutter houses in a suburb. Youve seen the style it has the 2 stoory arch for a front entryway and the chandelier right over the front door. And on the eastern elevation it is all brick and maybe 2 windows...

anyway just an observation i made.

City of Pasadena Ca.-conservation plan for Bungalow Heaven

http://www.ci.pasadena.ca.us/planning/ deptorg/dhp/bhconpln.asp

there are also other links, try 'Googleling' to get more.

Quite a difference from Terra Linda, Lower Lucas Valley and the nearly intact (and 'better') Eichler tract in 'upper' Lucas Valley. Credit their strict guidelines and community support. You may whine about intrusion on ther rights of private property owners, but you just have to drive around the Eichler neighborhood in upper Lucas Valley and it is a very nice well kept neighborhood and there probably is quite a premium price when a house is sold there when it is in a more desirable neighborhood.

Bryan:

Here is a link for Eichler historic preservation in the Bay Area. It has many stories about current efforts.

http://www.eichlernetwork.com/ENQuest.html

Arapahoe Acres in Colorado is the only modernist community listed as a historic district. http://www.arapahoeacres.org/

Also, the Eichler community in Balboa Highlands in Granada Hills, CA is moving towards historic designation as well

http://www.balboahighlands.com

Most modernist neighborhoods are not eligible for designation until they get close to 50 years old.

These people that whine about property rights-They agreed to abide by the CC&R rules when they bought the house. My son just bought an Alliance a month ago that was built in 1954, the CC&R was still there and he signed it with the hope it would prevent the ugly elephant from creeping into his neighborhood.
The terrible work done on Las Raposas in Terra Linda must be halted. Property rights are controlled by agreements- abide by what you signed!

"These people that whine about property rights-They agreed to abide by the CC&R rules when they bought the house." Tell me about it, I am on the Board of Directors of our PUD (not mcm) as the secretary and we have to keep on homeowners all the time to get the to comply, we're always having to send fines and warning to the mgmt. co. to send to them to get them to comply. We're always having to get our ducks lined up. And ours our pretty strict-absolutely no modfications to the exterior and no paint color changes except as what is allowed by the HOA rules that they got (or were supposed to) when they moved in. And we're always reminding folks about putting trash cans away after pick up, speeding, parking and, not to put satellite dishes put up on the front of their unit. Ya gotta keep on em....