January 23, 2025
Honorable Mayor and City Council,
This letter is to express my support for preserving the Chapman estate for public access and use, as stated in the Distribution Agreement and to encourage the transfer of the Estate to the Chapman Estate Foundation so that the non-profit public benefit corporation can manage the Estate for the community benefitl.
A Cultural Resources Assessment of the Chapman Estate requested by the City and completed in 2013 stated the following:
"Given the magnitude of this bequest,the City of Pismo Beach may wish to declare the Chapman Estate an official historic property per the Pismo Beach municipal code, with future consideration for registration with the state office of historic preservation, and possible placement on the National Register of Historic Places, in order to help the city preserve and maintain the property into the future" "the Chapman Estate is already a landmark to both locals and tourists.... An amazing piece of property in Shell Beach that anyone who has passed by has no doubt noticed...., stunningly iconic and historic" -and additional excerpts: "the Chapman estate is one of very few examples of English tudor architecture on the central coast..". At the time of the assessment report it went on to say"the Chapman Estate is also an increasingly rare early example of estate living on the coast. Most Shell Beach and Pismo Beach summer homes were small cottages of simple design and little detailing.... there are only three other remaining large estate homes in Shell Beach dating to the same period.... The Chapman Estate is almost certainly eligible for listing on the national register... listing on the National Register of Historic Places will enable the city to access federal funding resources for the city to maintain, restore, and open the property to the public and will provide additional cachet for the property in the City's fundraising efforts" Completed over 11 years ago,we do not know why the recommendations of this report were not brought to fruition, but we share this information with you as quotes that are taken directly out of the report that the city paid for in 2013.
It is apparent that the city knows the historical and community significance of this property and we believe that it is up to the foundation to undertake supporting and preserving the property for the public access and use that Clifford Chapman intended.
Thank you for your time.
Kathy Teufel
President of the Chapman Estate Foundation