KatysBlog

On
9 March, I wrote about yesterday’s

San Jose Planning Director hearing on File # HA89-104-01 – about the three large old
stone pines that our
neighborhood ARCO gas station petitioned to remove.
Here is my husband’s writeup of the 11 March hearing:

Three of the six of us there spoke about noise, light and keeping the
trees if possible. It seemed clear that they were going to approve
the request simply because of the “federal rules require us to let the
gas station install a vapor recovery system by April 1” excuse, and
they did. The trees lost out to a masonry wall, a reference to a
federal requirement and a promise to plant replacements – there wasn’t
even anyone from the gas station there to answer questions.

It turns out that the bright canopy lights are illegal and must be
removed, and that there is a chance that the graffiti and tagging will
be cleaned up. The planning dept was surprised that the station was
open all night (is it? The lights seem to be left on all night…).

We also got an immediate and helpful email update from the city planner
to whom we had directed our communications:

Thank you all for your comments on the tree removal permit for the above mentioned site. I have opened a Code Case in regards to the illegal spot lights located on top of the canopy, as well as, the graffiti that has not been cleaned up. Both of these items are in violation of the gas stations site development permit, as well as, the zoning ordinance. This action should abate the graffiti and light nuisance. I will keep you updated on the Code Enforcement action. If you have any additional questions please let me know.

The summary is that the three old trees will be cut down and replaced with much smaller
trees; however, some of the problems of the gas station may diminish because we called
attention to them during the hearing process.

There has been so much bad economic news for so long, I thought folks would
enjoy some good news, even if it is a very little, very local trend. I live
in the Willow
Glen neighborhood of San Jose, California. During the last few years, our
immediate area (near the Guadalupe River)
had accumulated four single family homes which didn’t sell.
That is, the houses were actively for sale (signs out on the lawn) but nothing moved.
As of this week, all four houses have sold and new owners have moved in! One home
which was under construction (very very slowly under construction) is now
almost fully built out with final work progressing very fast. Even if this means
that housing values are down, we and all of our neighbors are very happy to see
the homes finally inhabited. Unfortunately, two more local houses just
went on the market but we hope they too will sell soon.

Happily, our neighborhood has become much closer and more supportive because
of the current mortgage crisis. Partly to exchange status updates on the four
long-empty homes, our local neighborhood group developed an email list. We use the
group list to exchange information of interest to all.

For example, this Wednesday (11 March 2009), we found out that the
San Jose Planning Director is reviewing File # HA89-104-01 (a Tree Removal permit
request by the local ARCO station’s owner to remove three large stone pine trees).
The trees are lovely in themselves and they also do much to reduce the lights
and noise of the gas station. (Many customers thoughtlessly leave their radios on
full blast while pumping gas. Last summer the ARCO’s ATM machine was broken and
beeping every few minutes for days at a time.) So, we neighbors are exchanging
information to be sure letters are written in advance to the city planner and
we are represented at the hearing. Below are some pictures of the ARCO station
and the old trees they want to kill.

ARCO lights through the pines

ARCO sign at Belmont-Alma

Stone Pine at ARCO

Stone Pine at ARCO

Images Copyright 2009 by Katy Dickinson and John Plocher

I have written from time to time about a family project to restore the antique
fainting couch that my Mother gave me. My last update was on

September 21, 2008. This late 19th century backless couch was in our family
cabin at
Elkmont, in the Great Smoky Mountains in Tennessee, probably
starting around 1912. We have seen a similar item called a “Turkish Couch” in
a furniture catalog dated 1875-1905. The original couch was stuffed with
horsehair and upholstered in leather. My Mother had it re-upholstered
in black Naugahyde (artificial leather) over foam about 20 years ago.

Today’s news is that the fainting couch restoration is almost complete and the
couch itself is now in WP668, the 1916 backyard
caboose where I have my home office. We bought two whole cow hides to cover it.
There is one just button that needs fixing before the couch is done. Other than
the window seat that my husband John is building now, the fainting couch is the
last major piece of furniture to go into WP668.

Who did the work?

John Gibbs of The Workshop (500 E Mcglincy Lane, #G, Campbell, CA 95008-4919, Phone: 408-371-7166) and Tom Malloy Upholstered Furnishings worked together to restore the fainting couch.

Fainting couch restoration pictures

June 2008 View from the foot

June 2008 Head carving

June 2008 Foot carving

June 2008 View from head

July 2008 Upholstery removed

September 2008 Wood repaired, refinished, braced

February 2009 Foam with tufting diagrammed

February 2009 John and the hide

February 2009 Upholstery partly done

February 2009 Upholstery almost done

February 2009 Head carving

February 2009 Foot carving

February 2009 Fainting Couch foot view

February 2009 Into the truck

March 2009 In WP668 Caboose

Images Copyright 2008-2009 by Katy Dickinson and John Plocher