That building mess that forced our Mayor to pull out his rarely used veto stamp is the city’s fault. At least it looks like it is and it also looks this morning like we should have seen it coming more than a year ago.
City Manager Joyce Wilson sent an e-mail to all city department heads back on March 16, 2007. telling them the system for approving building projects in historic districts didn’t work, even then. But city council shut down Jorge Valenzuela, halfway through the job. Neighbors complained his new home doesn’t conform to their style of homes. Many vacant lots in historic districts, like the Valenzuela’s, don't show up on city computers with an historic designation even though they should. That designation triggers a special permitting process. But the city didn’t go thtat route. What happens next is still unclear, but the stop work orders are still nailed to the house.