From: Joyce Green
To: City Council
Subject: Letter to City regarding the Chapman Estate,for their meeting on 2-18-25 Date: Friday,February 14,2025 1:13:28 PM
January 24, 2025
Dear city council members,
I am writing to implore you to please turn the Chapman Estate over to the Foundation so we can continue with all the hard work we have put into the Estate.
When Mr. Chapman bequeathed the property to the city there were stipulations he put in place. He wanted the property to be used for the community, because he loved his neighborhood, and he wanted everyone to enjoy the property as much as he did. You accepted this generous gift, knowing Mr. Chapman's wishes.
Now that the ADA bathrooms are completed, the Foundation is now finally able to use the property as Clifford intended. We have been limited by the city for not being able to have open gates more often. This has frustrated the community and the Foundation's. ability to raise more revenue. We are now able to give tours of the inside of the house and open it up for dinners in the estate, which has been a great success and has brought in a lot of money to the Foundation. We deserve an opportunity to make Clifford's dream a reality. You are required to offer the property to a non-profit organization first, it makes sense to let the Foundation continue the job they know so well.
The Chapman Estate is an iconic property and a gem for the community. Residents and tourists alike rave about how much they enjoy visiting the property and taking a docent-led tour. They just wish it was more accessible to the public. We will correct this problem if given the chance.
The Chapman Estate is one of the very few examples of English Tudor architecture on the central coast. Please don't let this historic property be taken over by a developer.
I encourage you to read the cultural resources assessment of the Chapman Estate completed in 2013. It states, "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." Why didn't this happen? The Chapman Estate is almost certainly eligible for listing on the national register of Historic Places. The city could have had access to federal funding resources for the city to maintain, restore, and open the property to the public and could have provided additional cachet for the property in the City's fundraising efforts.
The Foundation is more than willing to take over the property and continue to adhere to Mr.
Chapman's wishes.
Thank you for your consideration in this matter.
Sincerely,
Joyce Green
Shell Beach resident& Chapman Estate volunteer