J.S. Pitcher’s 1883 map depicts the original donated school parcel, as well as the now-non-existent Fifth and Sixth Streets. (Click to enlarge.)
This Wednesday, July 16, the Encinitas City Council will vote whether to accept a 778-page Due Diligence report on the Pacific View purchase and whether to authorize City Manager Gus Vina to move ahead in securing $13 million in bond financing for Pacific View ($10 million) and a new lifeguard station for Moonlight Beach ($3 million).
The Due Diligence report by Public Works Senior Engineer Ed Deane includes an environmental assessment, limited geotechnical evaluation, title report evaluation, recorded easements and encroachment permits. It also includes a report on private property residents using the alley on the west side of the property to access their residences, and the Encinitas School District’s answers to several detailed questions from the city about the Pacific View property. The 59MB report can be downloaded from the city’s website here.
The very thorough report brings up several topics that may require further clarification, including the presence of asbestos and lead-based paint, but nothing that would appear to render the property unfit for purchase by the city. One fascinating detail on page 774 is a map of Encinitas prepared in 1883 by J.S. Pitcher, the man who donated the original school parcel to the school district. Whether it depicts 1883 reality or just wishful thinking is unclear, but it shows a Fifth Street to the west of Pacific View, and even a Sixth Street in the vicinity of Moonlight Beach.
The report on the issuance of the bonds (a small download), prepared by the Finance Department’s Jay Lemcah, is here.
The Wednesday, July 16, meeting agenda can be viewed here. Pacific View will be discussed in Items 10A and B. The Encinitas City Council Chambers ar at City Hall, 505 South Vulcan Avenue in Encinitas. Information about viewing the meeting online or on local cable TV is here.
The Pacific View purchase has overcome many obstacles to get this far, and it’s not finished yet. Feel free to send our city councilmembers a message of encouragement at council@encinitasca.gov.
SavePacificView.org will stay on top of developments and send email updates when new Pacific View events occur. You’re also invited to stay up-to-date on Pacific View news by joining the SavePacificView.org email list here. Your name and email address will only be used by SavePacificView.org. The SavePacificView story as told by local media can be read here.
What are your Pacific View ideas? Click here to Share Your View!
The discussion about what we’d all like to see happen at the Pacific View site has begun in earnest.
Here are some excerpts from Share Your View posts and comments so far:
Given that there is no current funding to build a state-of-the-art arts center immediately, why not focus on what we do have and build from there? While there must be long-range planning and vision, there is no reason not to tap available assets on the site to start a limited number of cultural activities and create community buy-in and use within 2014. —Steve Barilotti
The development of the Pacific School site will take time and energy, but what I would love to see, as soon as the transfer of property is realized, is a small “Legacy Garden” started somewhere. It doesn’t have to be huge, and it doesn’t have to edibles. The asphalt could be torn up, chopped into manageable pieces, and stacked for a raised growing area without use of concrete. A garden such as this could be modified or removed to suit other plans and designs. If there ever was a kid friendly project, this is it! —Mary Fleener
Sure, it’d make a nice garden and I’m glad the money will go to our school system but I don’t think the city is the best owner… Why not change the zoning of this land such that it protects the school. Let developers develop the other half of the land. The taxes from the development will pay for the maintenance of the historical school site. —surf1680
I also am in favor of using the building and property to provide a home for for various community groups. I would like to see some art elements but NOT just/mostly art. I want a community center for the downtown, something that becomes a social hub for the kid with after school programs and other families programs. —Christian Marcotte
Turn the old classrooms into dance and yoga class rooms, community art night rooms, etc. Use all the outside area for a weekly farmers market. Incorporate the previous ideas of the tribute/community gardens. —Cheyenne Arnold
I would like part of it be an Artist colony with classes for adults and children. and art shows. The Artist Colony would pay rent. Check out the Virgina Beach Arts Center which started extremely small with a few classes and shows. Now it is huge with lots of support. A Community Theater which would also pay rent. Different groups could rent the theater like they used to do with La Paloma. I would like to see venues like this maybe 6 so the city could get $10,000 plus a month rent from the property. —Beverly Goodman
It will take years before anything new will be approved and built, so meanwhile it should be revamped until further remodeling is eminent. Time is money and we have lots of space to work with! —Fred Caldwell
The existing classrooms and equipment on site should be surveyed and inventoried. The most logical process would involve rehabbing the classrooms, removing excess blacktop, and getting underway ASAP. —Lynn Autumn
Creating rental lockers and work areas for artist who are creating BIG projects could help too. Very Large sculptures that need “yard-space” in a secure area would be suitable in the parking area, charging by the square foot. Coming from the education world, my ideas are for after Pacific View gets “Cleaned-Up”. Let me know when you need an extra broom, I will be right there. YEAH! —Judy Salinsky
I had suggested we keep maximum zoning flexibility, also to include the option of moving the one room schoolhouse to the Historical Museum next to the Botanical Garden. This would enhance what would be a Museum-Botanical area, while giving full scope to an imaginitive ultimate project that could provide revenue along with a mix of functions. —Al Rodbell
You and your friends are invited to have your say and Share Your View on the SavePacificView.org website. You can login there directly or use your Facebook, Twitter or Google+ ID to post and comment. Your input is much appreciated, and essential to helping create a place that can be enjoyed for generations to come.
SavePacificView.org thanks…
All 724 people who sent a SavePacific View email– without you, the city’s purchase of this treasured site would not have happened!
Special thanks to:
- Antal Adriaanse
- Barbara Aplington
- Teresa Barth
- Catherine Blakespear
- Bob Bonde
- Robert Bush
- Fred Caldwell
- Sheila Cameron
- Bennett Chatfield
- Chris Chatfield
- Kay Colvin
- Carolyn Cope
- Dody Crawford
- Darius Degher
- Mary Fleener
- Sarah Garfield
- Anton Gerschler
- John Gjata
- Linda Huston
- Dan Jaoudi
- Stephen Keyes
- Tony Kranz
- Annie Leaf
- Kathleen Lindemann
- Tim Lueker
- Mail Dog Email Marketing Tools
- Lynn Marr
- Maureen Muir
- Pat Muller
- Robert Nichols
- Lili Noden
- Lucille Noden
- Mary Oren
- Treggon Owens
- Mark Patterson
- C Clark Porter
- Jean Radakovich
- Claudia Russell
- Deanne Sabeck
- Danny Salzhandler
- Jesse Schluntz
- Blair Schultze
- Lisa Shaffer
- Tricia Smith
- Elizabeth Wallace
(If we missed you, we apologize— we don’t have all the names of those who spoke at city council and school board meetings— please send us an email at info@SavePacific View.org and we’ll add your name!)
News media:
- Chris Ahrens
- Rachel Bianco
- Kay Colvin
- Ronnie Das
- Mary Fleener
- Alex Groves
- Barbara Henry
- Logan Jenkins
- Roman Koenig
- Michelle Mowad
- Hayne Palmour IV
- Gary Warth
- Jared Whitlock
