Which way Covina?
I just read the letter to the Tribune, written by Duff and I couldn't help but ask myself where she is getting all of the money.She wants to do yet another districtwide seismic engineering analysis of all downtown historic structures.Isn't this what they did in 1989? Who is going to pay for this analysis? If nobody reacts to the analysis, why spend more taxpayer money to do it again?? What is the city going to do with this report that they didn't do with the last one? How can you MAKE a building owner retrofit their buidling?
The old Custer building comes to mind.The owner of this building has no intention on retrofitting it, even though it is sure to go down.How can the city force the owner to change it??
She mentions that on the same day of the recent Supreme court judgement on eminent domain, the City condemned the 100 N. Citrus building. Is she saying that this was planned as some kind of scheme by the city? Is there a connection between the condmenation and the court judgement??
She states that the Downtown business owners should consider Covina voluntary Historic Preservation Act? It seems that most Downtown Covina buildings are owned by people outside of Covina, such as the owner of the Casa Moreno/ Rude Dogs building. These people aren't going to spend a lot of moeny to change these buildings. Why should they? They are getting their rent money and have been for years without putting a penny into these buildings.How can we now force them into putting money in to retrofitting? Do anybody believe that the property owner is going to listen to the business owner's advise to shore up these buildings?
I will be very anxious to see how she works with the owners of the Casa Moreno/ Rude Dogs building and the Custer's building to get someything done to those two buildings.
Posted by Collector  a 54 year old on 08/02/05
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- Re: Which way Covina?
If you’ve got a better idea, let’s hear it!
Hopefully, good ideas are still worth something.
Two words George:
Code Enforcement
Look, I am a downtown resident business owner and downtown commercial rental property owner.
Like it or not, I highly value your perspective as a non-resident Covina business owner and community stakeholder.
That is why I mostly go out of my way to treat you gently and with respect,
even though you've spent a staggering amount of energy and time trying to debunk and discredit me,
and not just here in the forum.
I don't see the payoff for you yet, but perhaps it brings you some glee.
You did make room for several disingenuously broad generalizations.
Can you seriously not spare me a single positive comment?
In any case, I have to thank you because in consistently doing so, you have made my voice a stronger one, by challenging me to refine my voice and clarify the message.
Though I am sorely tempted (as ever),
I'm afraid I shall have to resist the urge this time,
to sacrifice precious sleeping hours,
banging out careful answers to questions you haven't given much thought to yourself.
If you truly seek answers to those twelve questions,
I encourage you to do some more research on your own.
I recommend googling on 'commercial space rental and comparative profit strategies' , and see where that takes you.
The answers are out there, but only if you want to find them.
Concerning your final comments, so as not to be entirely unresponsive (yawn):
No bets, as I don't gamble, but I will be very surprised if the Webb Block (CasaDogStar) is still standing come January. Call it educated intuition and awareness of past practices.
I am not aware (are you?) of any specifically identified structural problems with the Warner-Whitsell Building (Custer's Stationery, today).
I am not aware of any formal structural analyses of downtown buildings, with the (possible) exceptions of:
1. Hearsay only (so far), about two structural reports supposedly done recently for the remainder of the Reed Block at 100-104 No. Citrus; one of these, supposedly prepared by the project's engineer of record. The remainder of the Reed Block was red-tagged and is being torn down currently, based on these late stage analyses. (Though since neither report is evident in the building department's project file, this information remains unconfirmable) and
2. the infamous and very well-documented Kariotis survey of our hazardous Public Library building (which arguably ought to get marching down that same path).
Do you have some contrasting facts or evidence to present indicating that any of the other buildings have had structural reports done?
I'm pretty sure the building owners would like to read such reports, and to thank whoever paid for them. So would I, but it's not been done as far as I know.
Big day tomorrow. See you there?
Posted by Duff a 38 year old from Covina on 08/03/05
duff.org
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- Re: Which way Covina?
Sorry you don't gamble...I will be SHOCKED IF ANYTHING is done to the Casa Moreno/Rude Dog/Pinky Star buildings by next January.I expect them all to be operating as usual, even with the upstairs red tagged.In fact,I would be surprised if anything is done to that building in years,unless it falls down.
The Custer building,(which by the way isn't a stationery store anymore)is a 3 story brick building,built about the same time period as the rest of the 100 block.Why would it be any different than the Casa Moreno/Rude Dog building?
Weren't structural reports given back in '89 when these buildings were checked and listed as being unsafe?
My positive thought for you today,Duff.......You do a great job of researching countless documents for the facts in any given situation....unfortunately you twist a lot of them around for your benefit after you have found them.I ALWAYS learn a lot from your postings and you are definately a spokesperson,sometimes I just don't know for who.
Posted by George a 54 year old from NON RESIDENT BUSINESS OWNER on 08/03/05
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- Re: Which way Covina?
Duff, have you noticed that the Webb Block Building (Casa Moreno/ Rude Dog) is still standing and NOTHING has been done to correct any potential problems? I seems the "Casa Moreno" portion is being used for storage.
Posted by Collector a 54 year old on 02/09/06
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