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Jan Meston <br /> From: Allan Giffen <br /> nt: Wednesday, October 22, 2008 10:45 AM <br /> Dave Koenig; Jan Meston; Ross Johnson <br /> subject: FW: Vote No on the proposed Riverside Historic Overlay <br /> FYI <br /> Original Message <br /> From: Kate Reardon <br /> Sent: Wednesday, October 22, 2008 9:34 AM <br /> To: Allan Giffen; Mary Lunz <br /> Subject: Fw: Vote No on the proposed Riverside Historic Overlay <br /> Fyi <br /> Original Message <br /> From: Tina Guzinski <tina.guzinski@gmail.com> <br /> To: tina.guzinski@gmail.com <tina.guzinski@gmail.com> <br /> Sent: Tue Oct 21 18:52:56 2008 <br /> Subject: Vote No on the proposed Riverside Historic Overlay <br /> Dear Mayor and Council Members: <br /> I am writing to you to express my very strong objection to the proposed Riverside Historic <br /> Overlay. <br /> I have been a resident and homeowner in Everett for just over 15 years. I was attracted <br /> to my home in the Riverside Neighborhood because of the potential of restoration. Over <br /> the last 15 years, I've managed to make some inroads towards my vision. I was fortunate <br /> )ugh to be recognized this year with the Monte Cristo Award. I believe that the <br /> jority of my neighbors also take pride in their homes. We may not have the resources to <br /> make all the changes we would like to make, but we do what we can. Most love their homes <br /> and it shows. <br /> On the other hand, there are some in the Riverside Neighborhood who seek the ability to <br /> control my decisions. They want stand between the homeowner and the city. They say that <br /> they will "guide my decisions" and "encourage me to make better choices". They have named <br /> themselves the arbiters of good taste. Their taste. I read with amazement the proposed <br /> standards of the Riverside Historical Overlay. My home -- just this month an award- <br /> winning home -- would not be acceptable under those standards. My neighbor, who has a <br /> lovely home (also award winning) would be shunned by the commission because they dared to <br /> enclose their lovely garden with chain link. <br /> What worries me most is the level of arrogance that resides with the group promoting the <br /> Overlay. Think about this, for a moment: How would you feel if someone whom you do not <br /> know, and who doesn't know you, stood in front of your home with a clipboard. Think about <br /> all the work you put into your home. Think about the arguments over paint color or <br /> plantings that you and your spouse have had. Think about how much time and effort you put <br /> into making your house a home. Now think about three strangers standing in front of your <br /> home, clipboards in hand, documenting what they believe is "right" and what is "wrong" <br /> with the decisions you have made about your home. Judging you. <br /> At the first meeting, a gentleman asked if any of the three bothered to knock on any of <br /> the 450 doors when they were judging houses for their "correctness". No. They seemed <br /> surprised by that question. They said that some people came out to ask them what they <br /> were doing. They implied that they told them. One of my neighbors did see them. She <br /> asked. She was not given an honest answer. So now we have arrogance and deceit promoting <br /> rnntrol over my home. Not their home. Not even the city's home. Mine. Do you have some <br /> cept about why I am concerned? Why I am opposed to the Overlay? <br /> In the last meeting, one of my neighbors stated her objection to the Overlay. Afterwards, <br /> someone came over to explain to her why she was wrong. She told me that he was extremely <br /> 1 <br />