There goes the neighborhood

Back in the late 90’s I helped a candidate run for Burlingame City Council. The slogan for the campaign was, “You’ll miss it when it’s gone.” Referring to how Burlingame was rapidly losing its character. Every candidate for city council since seems to say they care about Burlingame's charm and character and that they want to protect it. With the exception of the candidate who so boldly stood behind the message, (and myself) it seems the message is simply lip service.

Cities don’t change overnight; their character is lost over decades. It’s been 20 years since the “you’ll miss it when it’s gone" phrase was coined and yet today it’s more evident than ever that the pace of the erosion of Burlingame's character has increased.

I watched as the pre fab components were delivered by giant crane yesterday for a home on Trenton Way. The photos illustrate, in part what I am talking about. Decades ago many were concerned about Mediterranean McMansions dominating our neighborhoods. Perhaps they were called that because McDonald’s typical architecture at the time was of Spanish influence. Today, take a look at any number of McDonald’s remodels. They are postmodern in style. Perhaps we just need to look to McDonalds to see what Burlingame is trending toward?

For the record, I like postmodern architecture, but we have to examine whether our neighborhoods can support it. The planning department has a tool called "neighborhood consistency" yet they rarely use it to argue that the architectural style simply does not fit into the character of the neighborhood. I made this argument before the commission suggesting that not everyone has the right to add a second story. Especially if that request is the only house on the block that will have a second story. Approving it sets the stage for changing the consistency of the street.

Some might argue that Burlingame’s charm is its eclectic housing stock. If you use that argument I believe you have to, pardon the pun, dig a little deeper. You have to compare the stock of the street, compare heights, widths, rooflines, etc. On streets the have not yet been disturbed by new construction, a rare fined, you will notice that while the architecture from one house to the next might be different, the mass and bulk, the set backs, the roof heights are similar.

It’s not up to me to decide on who can build what or how it can be built. I have expressed my opinion before the city council and as part of the city council that one simple way to begin is to examine the Floor Area Ratio to determine if houses are being built too large for their respective lot size. In the last 20 years there has been no political will to examine the issue in any real way.

Clearly I have felt that this discussion should have taken place long ago. However it is now that I once again remind our city leaders that it is time to put in place real policies that truly do protect Burlingame’s character or else, we will all miss it when it is gone.

Comments

[Not an architect but]

Hey I'm no architect but don't those two halves go the other way around? Did the crane operator mess up? LOL

[Bruce Dickinson]

Russ, I hear ya guy! Bruce Dickinson is no fan of the modern architectural movement in Burlingame, these houses tend to stick out like sore thumbs in many of the neighborhoods. Makes more sense when is in a more modern style neighborhood, but in certain places like Burlingame Park or Easton, they really detract from the neighborhood feel, that is, neighborhoods built in the early 20th centuries. Modern architecture, while making a comeback, particularly the mid-century vernacular, but wasn't always that way. Modern architecture can go out of style very quickly and replaced by other, fresher modern and post-modern architecture. Look at some of the horrendous designs coming out of the Bauhaus school, and some of the 60s and 70s modern architecture, including some of the Brutalist commercial buildings (Embarcadero Center as the ode to concrete?)

Stick to the classics, that is housing that is indigenous to California and has been for 150 years. This makes a lot of sense for older neighborhoods that will maintain their charm and character for many generations to come. And guess what? It will only increase the real estate values!

As far as adding second stories, well one can say there was a first HOUSE on any block in Burlingame when it was first sub-divided. Going from one to two stories in a consistent way with architectural vernaculars that were part of California's development is far less worse than keeping a neighborhood to one story, but allow a mishmash of architectural styles.

The home pictured above, I'm sure the new owners are proud of, and they got only what the City allows. Let's just say the words character, history, consistency, preservation seem to be foreign vocabulary to city and elected officials. You get a council that has no ties to local business, real estate, or the financing of either, and you will get VERY different decisions! City staff also love to build, build, build as more tax dollars = more revenue = more secure jobs, healthcare benefits, and pensions.

I think it's time to jettison the current council regime and elect those who have zero need to derive wealth and power from controlling real estate development!

**My name is Bruce Dickinson and I approve this message**

[response]

Dang kids! Get off my lawn!
Well, I won't let this happen. Not in my back yard.

[Jennifer]

Wow....this is a definite design departure. I thought several years ago, there was talk from PC about going back to look at "realized" plans to assess neighborhood consistency, and tweak, if necessary. I'm not sure that ever happened, but probably the time has come.

[resident]

In ten years it will be a teardown.

[Becca]

Thank you Russ for your thoughtful & insightful post. We need you back with a seat at the table.

[fred]

Oh my goodness! A modern dwelling! Right by the freeway, soundwall and sidewalk garbage dump! Pitchforks and torches! Rabble! Rabble!

[Samselfie]

This is the new McDonald's on Trenton.
Opening soon.

[NoseInOthersBusiness]

With y'all's impeccable tastes in architecture and design I'm sure you wouldn't be afraid to share photos of your houses to be critiqued here in this fine forum.

[Bruce Dickinson]

Listen little fella, it's not like the Belmont rental market has any architectural wonders, if ya know what I mean?

Pot, meet kettle!

Joe, time for another IP address sweep to ferret out the multiple user names!

[fred]

So weird.

[Who's going to stop the gravy train?]

Bruce, wrong again. I made no comments in this string whatsoever.

The Russians did it!

[Bruce Dickinson]

How's this house coming along? Something came across the desk of Dickinson that reminded me of this post:

http://www.blokable.com/developers

Actually, maybe I shouldn't be giving our city ideas!