Since its obvious you have access to the internet, if you had done a simple Google image search of "medieval village, town or city" you would've been given many examples of a Medieval City you say never existed. I think history might disagree with you. I'm pretty sure human civilization existed back in the Medieval Ages where people built towns and cities with tall buildings that were built right up to the street and up to property lines directly adjacent to one another.
As for the "real character of our Pueblo Viejo," you need to look back on history yet again. Before the 1925 earthquake, Santa Barbara was a town/city with buildings much taller than present day, where State Street was lined with 3 and 4 story buildings. In addition, pre-1925 earthquake Santa Barbara looked nothing like a Spanish town, it looked more like any other town or city in US at that time, i.e. San Francisco. Only after the earthquake did the city begin building in the Spanish Colonial Revival Style. Also, if you're so worried about preserving that Spanish town look, you should look at actual Spanish towns where there virtually no setbacks, buildings 3,4,5 stories high built right next to each other, the streets would be much narrower with little to no cars, etc. Your idea of having real Spanish character is no where near the actual thing.
Maybe you yourself should read the Ten Books on Architecture by Vitruvius. He clearly states history as being important to architecture. If the people of Santa Barbara opposed to high buildings got out of their close-minded thinking that a Spanish town resembles Santa Barbara and look back on history to see how Spanish towns were built and still stand today, then they might see that the developments on Chapala Street are in the right direction.
Spanish towns/cities, such as Granada, Pamplona, and Sevilla are so densely packed that there are shadows everywhere. In these towns, since buildings are built right next to each other, they create barriers against wind. Having Santa Barbara actually resemble an actual Spanish town will make the city more intimate and lively and not "oppressive" as you say. If you want "canyon-like" go to a city like San Francisco, New York, Chicago. Santa Barbara is no where near being "canyon-like."
The current 60 foot height limit in the Commercial Zone, which includes most of El Pueblo Viejo, is more than reasonable. Currently, there are very few buildings in Santa Barbara that actually even reach that level anyways.
I agree with having nice open plaza though. I think it might be feasible to close some blocks off on State Street to begin to create that sense of a plaza or revitalize De La Guerra Plaza to make it much nicer and attractive.
Previous Month
Posted on March 13 at 2:56 p.m.
To DonJosedelaGuerra,
Since its obvious you have access to the internet, if you had done a simple Google image search of "medieval village, town or city" you would've been given many examples of a Medieval City you say never existed. I think history might disagree with you. I'm pretty sure human civilization existed back in the Medieval Ages where people built towns and cities with tall buildings that were built right up to the street and up to property lines directly adjacent to one another.
As for the "real character of our Pueblo Viejo," you need to look back on history yet again. Before the 1925 earthquake, Santa Barbara was a town/city with buildings much taller than present day, where State Street was lined with 3 and 4 story buildings. In addition, pre-1925 earthquake Santa Barbara looked nothing like a Spanish town, it looked more like any other town or city in US at that time, i.e. San Francisco. Only after the earthquake did the city begin building in the Spanish Colonial Revival Style. Also, if you're so worried about preserving that Spanish town look, you should look at actual Spanish towns where there virtually no setbacks, buildings 3,4,5 stories high built right next to each other, the streets would be much narrower with little to no cars, etc. Your idea of having real Spanish character is no where near the actual thing.
Maybe you yourself should read the Ten Books on Architecture by Vitruvius. He clearly states history as being important to architecture. If the people of Santa Barbara opposed to high buildings got out of their close-minded thinking that a Spanish town resembles Santa Barbara and look back on history to see how Spanish towns were built and still stand today, then they might see that the developments on Chapala Street are in the right direction.
Spanish towns/cities, such as Granada, Pamplona, and Sevilla are so densely packed that there are shadows everywhere. In these towns, since buildings are built right next to each other, they create barriers against wind. Having Santa Barbara actually resemble an actual Spanish town will make the city more intimate and lively and not "oppressive" as you say. If you want "canyon-like" go to a city like San Francisco, New York, Chicago. Santa Barbara is no where near being "canyon-like."
The current 60 foot height limit in the Commercial Zone, which includes most of El Pueblo Viejo, is more than reasonable. Currently, there are very few buildings in Santa Barbara that actually even reach that level anyways.
I agree with having nice open plaza though. I think it might be feasible to close some blocks off on State Street to begin to create that sense of a plaza or revitalize De La Guerra Plaza to make it much nicer and attractive.
On Height Fight on Chapala