Preserving history, and property rights

Jul 12, 2023
Jul 12, 2023 Updated Apr 13, 2025
6

Editor,

A recent guest perspective presented inaccurate information about historic districts and what it means to be part of one. We would like to correct the record.

(6) comments

anna kuhre Jul 12, 2023 1:46pm

The San Mateo Heritage Alliance has espoused the benefits of historical registration. We support that you take the time to educate yourself on this property rights issue. Here are six of the negative impacts, written by a non profit, non political organization that has no vested interest in what is about to happen in our city. Six Reasons to Say No to Local Districts. by L.M. Schwartz. http://www.vlrc.org/articles/33.html

anna kuhre Jul 12, 2023 2:23pm

Jay Kuhre is retired and has never been a developer. The world needs good builders too. Please read Six Reasons Say No to Local Districts by L.M. Schwartz. /Users/annakuhre/Desktop/Virginia Land Rights Coalition.pdf I am updating this to a pdf since I received calls from folks wanting to find out about the negative impacts.

Connie Weiss Jul 14, 2023 9:27am

There's a lot of scare tactics in the document Anna shares, and as a homeowner in favor of creating historic districts in San Mateo, there are two key points that are counterpoint to the document: 1) The effort to create historic districts is being sponsored by homeowners, not the government. As Laurie says in her letter, a survey was done in 1989 and has sat without any further action from City Council to make it happen; 2) Our home is a 1936 Monterey Colonial where we had to make/justify several changes to our 2017 remodeling plans because Planning wanted to ensure we kept the façade of our historic home in place. We happily made these changes and never saw it as "government overreach" but instead working as partners to preserve San Mateo's history. The point is, if a home is seen as historic, Planning is already involved, even without an historic district.

Connie Weiss Jul 14, 2023 9:44am

And a clarification: even though Planning will look to preserve a building they see as historic, it's not always guaranteed. Having a district deemed historic clearly identifies and defines the rules so we are all working with the same definitions.

anna kuhre Jul 14, 2023 9:44am

Dear People out there, Will someone please answer the questions if any one can get an exemption who does not want this district passed? Connie is a friend of mine, as many of these people are who are on the Alliance. It is good to get both sides of any argument. That is part of the public debate on any topic and the Democratic process. I do not understand if Planning is already involved why do we need to make Baywood a Historic District in the blanket format since individual declarations are available. Many folks do not want this. Even people on Fairfax, where the 3 houses were torn down said they appreciated hearing both sides of the issue and that they have now changed their vote. They must believe in property rights. I am not lying. There is no exemption process for us.

anna kuhre Jul 14, 2023 4:26pm

The City Council has not made any efforts to go forward because they know this is a hot potato. You are dealing with constitutional rights…property rights.

Thank you for visiting the Daily Journal.

Please purchase a Premium Subscription to continue reading. To continue, please log in, or sign up for a new account.

We offer one free story view per month. If you register for an account, you will get two additional story views. After those three total views, we ask that you support us with a subscription.

A subscription to our digital content is so much more than just access to our valuable content. It means you’re helping to support a local community institution that has, from its very start, supported the betterment of our society. Thank you very much!