Building v. Preservationists

Monterey’s Historic Preservation Commission and the Architectural Review Committee convened a joint meeting on July 27 to discuss the City’s planned $13.5 million “one-stop” Public Service Center on the corner of Madison and Van Buren Streets.

Although the panel’s recommendation was not available at press time, the proposed 41,800-square-foot office complex remains controversial. Critics argue that it’s too expensive and would make the already-limited downtown parking situation even worse. The new city building has also run into opposition from national and statewide historical preservationists who feel the proposed office complex will negatively impact the neighborhood’s nationally-recognized historical heritage.

On July 27, “those two boards will meet jointly and give it either a thumbs up or a thumbs down,” Monterey City Councilmember Jeff Haferman says, in an interview before the joint meeting. “If it were to pass that subcommittee meeting then it goes to the Planning Commission meeting Aug. 9 and then go to the council on Sept. 6.”

Haferman admits the July 27 meeting is “a very big hurdle.”

The City has received letters from several organizations—including the National Parks Service, the State Historic Preservation Office, the League of Women Voters, the Open Monterey Project, the National Trust for Historic Preservation and Save Our Historical Organization (SOHO), another state-wide preservation group—expressing concerns about the project.

In a July 22 letter, Bruce Coons, executive director of the San Diego-based SOHO writes, “You are the stewards of one of the largest and historically most important collection of resources in the state…It is up to you to preserve these resources for present and future generations. It also makes the most economic sense.”

Haferman, who has said that the proposed Public Service Center is an example of wasteful spending, agrees that Old Town Monterey’s historical significance is “priceless.”

“This is a national historical landmark district,” he says. “That’s the highest national historic designation you can receive.”

Regardless of the panel’s July 27 decision, the City may still approve the building.

A “story pole staked layout” of the proposed Public Service Center is in place through July 30 to allow citizens an opportunity to view the proposed footprint of the building. [RM]