Dear Editor:
My name is Gordon Chong. I am an architect, a resident of Lafayette and a member of The Citizen’s Technical Advisory Committee composed of 4 nationally acclaimed structural engineers and leading authorities of seismic design; all 4 are also residents of Lafayette. The Committee has been advising the City of Lafayette in the evaluation and search of culturally sensitive alternatives to EBMUD’s proposed demolition of the (nearly)100 year old Reservoir Tower to upgrade seismic code deficiencies. Despite 2 years of exhaustive and complex structural analysis by the Committee, EBMUD has chosen to proceed with their proposal.
In a brief morning’s effort, the Committee gathered over 100 signatures of walkers at the reservoir in opposition to EBMUD’s proposed demolition; shockingly, most were unaware of the proposal. Given our failed technical efforts, we feel professionally compelled to inform the public of this pending demolition and the options available. There has been little attention paid to the potential loss of this historic and culturally significant icon. We are seeking your assistance in informing the public of the EBMUD proposal.
CLICK LINK FOR OPINION PIECE BY THE LAFAYETTE CITIZEN’S TECHNICAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE
The Committee prepared the attached statement with the intent of posting it on multiple news outlets but learned that most news outlets limit their Letters to the Editor or Opinions to 120-200 words. Therefore, we are hoping that you will use the attached as background information from which you might consider writing an article of your own making. We hope you can assist with disseminating the information with your writing.
Should you have additional questions in preparing your writing, Committee Members will be pleased to provide more detail and photos of what EBMUD is proposing.
With thanks for your consideration.
Gordon H. Chong, FAIA
Thank you, News24-680 for printing this informative article!
I agree, leave the tower up!!!
This is a Letter to the Editor. It is not “from” the site itself, and it is not a news article.
It is a sad day to learn instead off repairing it they will take it down completely.. It’s like the lighthouse of the reservoir.
It will be replaced by a shorter tower so not going away completely. Although for those that like it as is, the shorter tower will take some getting used to.
If you ever get a chance to look at the tower up close, it’s quite an ugly piece of concrete that detracts from the beauty of the surroundings. It looks great on a poster or promotional material for the city but in real life not so much. And then you add in the fact that its a result of an engineering error in the first place, I’d be happy to see it shortened for seismic and aesthetic reasons. As a Lafayette resident I am fine going with EBMUDs proposal and having the natural beauty of the reservoir (and I get that a reservoir isn’t natural either) be our dominant branding rather than a tower of concrete.
No, I won’t miss it because it won’t be gone. It will just be shorter and look about the same. I do not understand the resistance to changing anything that pervades places like Lafayette.
No
It’s being shortened because it may fail when a sizable earthquake inevitably strikes the area. Its unnatural height represents 100-year-old errors in the building of the reservoir which was supposed to be much larger with a higher water level. Imagine a chimney on your house built for 2 stories and then deciding you can’t build the second floor…It’s like that. Cherish it if you must.
I support shortening the tower.
No.
Shorter is not “demolished”.
It was never intended to stand an extra 40 feet above the water.
Time for it to go. Looks like a giant p….
I don’t care. I thank Chong and his associates for their valuable work, but as one citizen, I’m not as upset as I am about the vandals in the White House and Congress.
I’m with Gordon on this one. Can’t imagine taking a walk around the Reservoir without the tower watching out from the middle.
There is always someone who above, vents their political views. Disgusting, and nothing to do with this. That aside, as a person who grew up fishing at “The res” almost daily in my younger days, that tower grows on you. Not only as an angling guide, but on foggy or rainy days, a navigational assistant! I suppose we should consider the safety of our friends downstream of the dam however. If indeed there was an unexpected collapse, apparently, as it’s an overflow valve of sorts, the rush of water could be devastating to the West End of town. Sometimes folks have to give up the things we love and admire so others can be safe. I’m sure EBMUD will do everything possible to keep as much of the outlets ambiance in tact! It’s definitely a landmark, and the pinnacle of the reservoirs long history!
“nothing to do with this”
Your statement, your opinion, is itself a political statement. When laws revered for centuries are trampled, and the weak are persecuted, you can pretend that a local garden party or the preservation of a local landmark is separate and sacrosanct from the disruption of the firestorm that rages all around us. In such a time, it is not.
“There is a time when the operation of the machine becomes so odious, makes you so sick at heart, that you can’t take part; you can’t even passively take part, and you’ve got to put your bodies upon the gears and upon the wheels, upon the levers, upon all the apparatus, and you’ve got to make it stop. And you’ve got to indicate to the people who run it, to the people who own it, that unless you’re free, the machine will be prevented from working at all!”
(I realize this is unlikely to post and certainly not within 20 hours. I endeavor regardless.)
“(I realize this is unlikely to post and certainly not within 20 hours. I endeavor regardless.)”
You have ten minutes to withdraw this comment or forfeit your News24/680 Press Club Pass. Remember, “All You Can Eat Pasta Night” and no-host bar every third Thursday. Think about it…
No apology, as I have endured, and readers have perhaps enjoyed, “outages” of this duration for my contributions…
Okay, but the bar manager just put you on the “pay double” list for all well drinks. You had your shot…
I am also a fan of Mr. Cannon’s photographic contributions.
As are we. We have a soft spot in our hardened hearts for the shooters…