Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2007-11-06; City Council; 19221; Rotary Park GazeboCITY OF CARLSBAD - AGENDA BILL 16 AB# 19,221 MTG. 11/06/07 DEPT. Recreation Rotary Park Gazebo DEPT. HEAD W-bfW CITY ATTY. <^/- CITY MGR. \jj RECOMMENDED ACTION: Receive presentation and consider request from the Carlsbad High Noon Rotary to relocate the gazebo currently located in Rotary Park. ITEM EXPLANATION: The City Council provides an opportunity for citizens and organizations to have an item placed on a City Council Agenda by submitting a letter to the City Manager. Attached is a letter (Exhibit 1), from Carlsbad Hi-Noon Rotary to make a presentation and "seek the City Council's guidance" on this issue. FISCAL IMPACT: None ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT: None EXHIBITS: 1. Letter from the Carlsbad Hi-Noon Rotary Club dated 10/1/07 DEPARTMENT CONTACT: City Employee 760-434-2826 kpric@ci.carlsbad.ca.us FOR CITY CLERKS USE ONLY. COUNCIL ACTION: APPROVED D DENIED D CONTINUED D WITHDRAWN D AMENDED D CONTINUED TO DATE SPECIFIC CONTINUED TO DATE UNKNOWN RETURNED TO STAFF OTHER - SEE MINUTES Dn SENT BY: CDS PRINTING;760 438 2512;OCT-2-07 11:12AM;PAGE 2/2 EXHIBIT 1 The Carlsbad Hi-Noon Rotary Club City of Carlsbad 1200 Carlsbad Village Drive Carlsbad, CA 92008 10/01/2007 Honorable Mayor Bud Lewis and Council Members, A part of the history of Carlsbad is in danger of being demolished and with it many fond memories will be gone forever. We are writing this letter to you on behalf of the Carlsbad Hi-Noon Rotary Club with the intention to save the historical Gazebo, now located in Rotary Park. The roof structure, which we wani to preserve, is said to be made of materials from the original Twin Inns dated back to the late 1920s. The remainder of the structure will be rebuilt on the new site with current building material, yet with the same historical details as the original Gazebo. This Gazebo has been a part of Carlsbad's past, a gathering place, a wedding destination, a birthday party to remember and to cherish. Our 100-strong membership has unanimously voted to save Carlsbad's historic Gazebo, which is scheduled to be demolished by NCTD at the end of October 2007. We intend to move the Gazebo and refurbish it to its previous glory. The move and reconstruction entails a great deal of attention to details, community involvement and most importantly, the City Council's guidance. We request that the Council direct staff to schedule the Ga/.ebo for a near future Council Meeting agenda so our members can present the past, present and future of this Gazebo in detail to the Council Members and seek your advice. Please keep in mind that the Gazebo will be demolished by the end of October if our members are not able to move it. Should you have any questions, please do noi hesitate to call John Simons at 760-729-6865. Your attention to this request is greatly appreciated. On behalf of Hi-Noon Rotary Club's 100 Members, P.O. Box 741 Carlsbad, CA 92008 AGENDA ITEM # / (0 ct Mayor City Council City Manager City Attorney City Clerk November 2, 2007 Mayor Bud Lewis Members of Carlsbad City Council Re: 'Twin Inns' Gazebo I understand that subject will be on your agenda Tuesday, Novemb 6. Marcela and I will be on vacation and will be unable to attend but would appreciate your serious consideration of Carlsbad Hi-Noon Rotary Club's Restoration Plan of subject. Please note a brief history of subjoct compiled by Kip McBane. There is so much sentiment attached to this over these many years By residents and tourists that we feel it should be restored and placed in a prominent location Your positive vote on this matter would certainly be appreciated, .truly Janres A> Smith Committee for Restoration of Ga2ebo A Brief Informal History of the "Twin Inns" Rotary Gazebo July 12, 2007 The Gazebo was built in the early 1970s by Eddie "Bup" Kentner, Jr., son of Eddie Kentner, Sr., and manager of the Twin Inns at the time. Bub recalls: "As for the (Sazebo, I designed it ecirly in the 70s. I had undertaken the restoration of the Twin inns building in 1970, in hopes of having it finished for the bi-centennial year [1976]. At that time about the only traces of Hie original 18S7 building were a portion of the "front" face, and the South facing side. I decided, among other changes, to duplicate the original Victorian "look" by replacing all the plain siding with fancy-butt shingles. An employee, Emilio Lopez, began cuitlng shingles In the Inn's workshop using a small Sears band saw. He would cut a few hundred shingles, then stos and dip them in white paint, then cut a few hundred more whilst the first hundred dried, and so on. Because the bundles of shingles came in random widths, there were dozens upon dozens of shingles too narrow to cut for the <S" fancy-butts. What to do with the "left over" was the impetus for the design of the Sazebo. They would be used to roof a Gazebol Notice that several shingle patterns are visible in the roof... it all depended on the width of the scraps from the band sawl As I remember, we cid use some shingle scraps for 5" fancy- butts on the towers, but it's been a long while ago! The octagon shape of the structure is pure Victorian, which also -ties in nicely with the main dinning room architecture. Perhaps it Would be of some interest to anyone trying to preserve, or restore, the Sazebo to mention some details of its construction. The curv<s in the roof line is a catenary curve . . . the Victorians seldom, if ever, built a tower or a Sazebo roof with straight lumber. To generate the catenary curve I suspended a light chain between two of the floor joists of the main dining room, draping the chain to nearly the basement floor, then using a spray can and a 4' x 8> piece of plywood, transferred the curve to the plywood. The (Sazebo roof rafters were then constructed from this pattern by Robert (Eiob) Lininger, the resident carpenter. As you probably know the (Sazebo was in great deriand for weddings. Marie MacPherson, my banquet manager, handled all the logistics for these events. She probably has many stories to relate, if the [Historical] Society Is interes-ed in personal recollections. Marie also served the Rotary Club of Carlsbad for many years, and so may be of Interest to the current members. She Is now retired, living on Redwood Street in Carlsbad." The Kentners owned the Twin Inns from 1919. The- property was sold in 1964, and after extensive remodeling and the development of the aejaeent Village Faire Shopping Centre it became Neiman's (now Ocean House) Restaurant. After the family sold the property, in order to make way for the development of the shopping center the Gazebo was moved to adjacent Rotary fork in 1985. Apparently this transfer was very casuai. It seemed to take place between the developers and the City, and the Kentner family does not appear to have been involved. The Carlsbad History Room at the Carlsbad City Georgma Cole Library has no offlciai or formal ownership transfer, nor any paperwork detailing how the (Sazebo got to the sark. The president of the Carlsbad Historical Society knows of no such records either. This history was created by Carlsbad Hi-Noon Rotarlan Kip Me Jane from conversations with and Information provided by Susan Gutierrez, Carlsbad City Library History Room, Georglna Cole Library, and Marjorle Howard- Jones, local historian and author of Seekers of trie Spring (A History of Carlsbad). The City received the lease on Rotary Park and the Depot in May of 1963. Carlsbad Rotary Club member Chris Christiansen was instrumental in gaining the permission for use from the Santa Fe Raiway Company, with contact made through Raymond T. Anderson, also a member of the Carlsbad Rotary Club. The Park was intended to be a memorial to Paul Harris, the founder of Rotary International. Over the years the Gazebo has suffered neglect aid its location has made it a focus for loiterers considered undesirable by neighboring businesses and shoppers, in 2OO7 the City o£ Carlsbad was considering demolishing the (3azebo to clean-up the Park and reduce liability. When members of the Carlsbad Hi-Noon Rotary Club (distinct from the Carlsbad Rotary C'ub) heard about the proposed demolition in the Spring of 2CO7, they determined to try to mcve the Gazebo to a more appropriate location, restore it, and once again make it a focal pom- for visitors to and residents of Carlsbad. The CcHsoad Historica Society and the Carlsbad Historical Sites Commission have been inrormed of this effort and are supportive of the move. '-•-Noon Rctorian and author Dave Dana has offered to prepare an "oral history" of the Gazebo and will be put in touch with related parties who have agreed to be interviewed. Historical photos are used courtesy of the Carlsbad ^ Istory Room, Georglna Cole Library. This history was created by Carlsbad Hi-Noon Rotarlan Kip Mcliane from conversations with and Information provided by Susan Gutierrez, Carlsbad City Library History Roorr, Georglna Cole Library, and Marjorle Howard- Jones, local historian and author of Seekers of th9 Spring (A History of Carlsbad). Historical photos are used courtesy of the Carlsbad I Hstory Room, Georglna Cole Library. Historical photos are used courtesy of the Carlsbad History Room, Seorglna Cole Library. This history was created by Carlsbad Hi-Noon Rotation Kip Me )ane from conversations with and Information provided by Susan Gutierrez, Carlsbad City Library History Room, Georglna Cole Library, and Marjorle Howard- Jones, local historian and author of Seekers of tr e Spring (A History of Carlsbad). Historical photos are used courtesy of the Carlsbad History Boon, Georglna Cole Library. Historical photos are used courtesy of the Carlsbad History Roonr, Georgina Cole Library. This history was created by Carlsbad Hi-Noon Rotation Kip McB 3ne from conversations with and Information provided by Susan Gutierrez, Carlsbad City Library History Room, Georglna Cole Library, and Marjorle Howard- Jones, local historian and author of Seekers of th(' Spring (A History of Carlsbad). p' Good Evening Mr. Mayor, City Council Members. My name is .... I'm here tonight along with ... on behalf of Carlsbad Hi-Noon Rotary Club. In the near future the Gazebo located in the Rotary Park will be demolished and with it a part of Carlsbad's history will be gone forever. This Gazebo has a long historical background. It was the host of many weddings, birthday parties and picnics. It was a happy and memorable gathering place for the residents of Carlsbad. With the demolition of this Gazebo, we will lose a part of our past, a part that will never be replaced. Our goal is to preserve and save this historical Gazebo. We're asking for your help and guidance. Let us give you a summary of the history of the Gazebo: The history of the Gazebo is a part of the story of the Twin Inns. In 1887 Gerhard Schutte built a home at 2987 Carlsbad Blvd. The Schutte family lived in the home until 1906, when Gerhard and his wife moved to National City. After being home to anther family, in 1914 the building became a restaurant and was named Twin Inns. The owners served family-style dinners on blue willow pattern china. In 1919, Ed and Neva Kentner purchased the Twin Inns Restaurant and moved their family to Carlsbad. The structure was once again a family home as well as a restaurant. The Twin Inns became famous for the Kentner's family-style chicken dinners, corn fritters, and the famous plaster chickens out front. Twin Inns' fame wasn't just local. The restaurant was featured twice in the National Geographic Magazine. Ed Kentner, who is the son of Eddie Kentner Sr. and worked as the manager of the Twin Inns, designed the Gazebo early in the 1970s. The whole thing began when he was working on the restoration of the Twin Inns building. His goal was to finish the restoration for the bi-centennial year. At the time only portion of the "front" face and the south facing side was from the original 1887 building. Ed decided to restore the Twin Inns building to its original Victorian look by replacing all the plain siding with fancy- butt shingles. As his employees were cutting and painting shingles, they realized there were dozens and dozens of shingles that were too small to be used for the 6" fancy-butts. Pretty soon the question became obvious: What to do with the "left over" narrow shingles? This is when Ed Kentner decided he would build a Gazebo and would use the shingles to roof the Gazebo. The design he developed was a Victorian one. The octagon shape of the Gazebo is pure Victorian, which also blends in with the main dining room architecture. In a recent writing, Ed Kentner recalls the building of the Gazebo. He writes: "Perhaps it would be of some interest to anyone trying to preserve or restore the Gazebo to mention some details of its construction. The curve in the roof-line is a catenary curve. The Victorians seldom, if ever, built a tower or a Gazebo with straight lumber" Ed continues with a detailed account and instructions on how to build the catenary curve both for the main dining room and the roof of the Gazebo. He ends his writing by saying: "As you probably know, the Gazebo was in great demand for weddings". From this account it is obvious that while the Gazebo was built in early 1970s, the design and inspiration came from the original Twin Inns building, which was built in 1887. /O .eiAVha The Kentners sold the property in 1984. In the process of extensive remodeling of the Twin Inns and the adjacent Village Faire Shopping Center the Gazebo was moved to Rotary Park in 1985. There are no official papers or documents showing the details of how the Gazebo was moved to the Rotary Park. Over the years the Gazebo has suffered neglect and its location has made it a focus for loiterers and it is now considered undesirable by neighboring businesses and shoppers. Early in 2007 the Gazebo had become a liability for the City and plans were in progress to demolish it. The members of our club, Carlsbad Hi-Noon Rotary, became aware of the plans and in a unanimous vote decided to save the Gazebo and move it to a more appropriate location, restore it and once again make it a focal point for visitors and residents of Carlsbad. Notes to our Gazebo Group: During the presentation we will have a power point presentation with the old pictures that Kip has given us. After the above text, we need to explain what our plan is: We are planning to move the Gazebo. Our plan is to save the top part because this part is the only historical part of the Gazebo still remaining. The move will not cost the City a dime. We will pay for it. Do we have a location or are we asking the City to assign a location for it, while we work to restore the top part? We want to excite the community at large to come and participate in the restoration process. This is the people's Gazebo and we want to fix it with them. The restoration will not cost the City. Here we need to ask for specific action from the Council. Do we want them to assign a park to our Gazebo? Do we want to talk about the Pine Avenue Park or ask the Council to tell us where they would like to see the Gazebo? Let's think about these issues and talk Monday after the Rotary meeting. ROTARY PARK GAZEBOROTARY PARK GAZEBO Gazebo Site AlternativesGARDENPARKINGOPEN SPACEOPEN SPACEEXISTING RESIDENCEMULTI-USE FIELDCHESTNUT AVENUEExisting multi-purpose fieldPine Park – Madison Properties Gazebo Site Alternatives Gazebo Site Alternatives Gazebo Site AlternativesCity HallCity HallCity Hall Gazebo Site AlternativesHidden Canyon Park