From: Kathy Teufel
To: City Council
Subject: Fwd:The Chapman Estate
Date: Tuesday,February 18,2025 12:06:36 PM
External Email
Item 2A
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From: Paul Carlisle
Date: Thu, Jan 23, 2025 at 8:29 PM
Subject: The Chapman Estate
To: Citycouncil(a pismobeach.org
Pismo Beach City Council Members,
We believe that the Chapman Estate is a valuable asset to the community of Shell Beach and therefore Pismo Beach.
We maintain, with dedicated volunteers, the large collection of Tuberous Begonias at the Estate. The collection is one of the largest public collections in the state of California. Most of the plants were gifted to the Estate from the last remaining domestic wholesale nursery/suppliers of Tuberous Begonias, before the nursery sold all of it's mother stock to a grower in Europe. When Clifford Chapman was alive, he filled his lath house at the Estate with Tuberous Begonias from the same nursery.
The Chapman Estate is a special place which Clifford created and generously shared with the public. We first experienced Clifford's gardens nearly 40 years ago when attending one of the free to the public, Mozart Fringe Concerts. He would host concerts on the front lawn; the lath house filled with beautiful Tuberous Begonias as a back drop. He also often hosted community fundraisers.
We enjoy being part of Clifford's legacy sharing the Begonia collection with the public. When we are at the Estate working on the Begonias, locals and tourists are always interested in the Estate, which has broad appeal, especially to tourists. One of the few remaining historic coastal estates, it is a treasure which Clifford Chapman wanted to remain available to the public, for the public good.
It is our hope that you too, see the potential in this property, to be an attractive tourist destination and a valuable community meeting place.
Thank you for your consideration,
Paul and Laurel Carlisle
Los Osos, California