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Published on 07/21/1997 All articles from this issue

Letters to the Editor

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DeMartini House and 'petty politics'

There is an old saw that says that any publicity is good. So I welcome the editorial about the DeMartini house in the July 9 Town Crier that makes a hit on the Homeowners League. So the problem with the house is petty politics?

Why is the editor surprised there are some "naysayers" as he calls the opposition? Some of us just don't like the old house and feel that it detracts from any site where it might be located.

Whether or not there is a "technical" conflict of interest, the close association of many of the decision makers and city staff to the Community Foundation certainly has created an impression of such. The honorable course is for them to recuse themselves.

Unfortunately, the use of the house will be restricted to use by qualifying nonprofits. I feel that the house, if it is to be used at all, should be available for any Los Altos citizen. If the Community Foundation is truly the charitable organization that it claims to be, then the house should not be used as their office.

It appears that the house is primarily for their use. They are paying part of the cost. The editor condescended that the Homeowners League should be one of the first users of the house. From my association with the League (and this letter expresses my own opinion, not the League's), it is my impression that the mere thought of using the house would be obnoxious.

The bone that the council majority tossed to Mrs. DeMartini was to change the "official" name of the house.

I understand that part of the house stood on Mrs. DeMartini's property when it was moved. That should mean that she owns that part and not Parc Regent. What if she says her part must be demolished?

Tom AndersonLos Altos

Mrs. DeMartini wants house gone

The July 2, 1997, article in your newspaper by J. G. Domingue did not report important facts that were voiced at the Los Altos City Council meeting of June 24.

I believe the Town Crier has a duty to its readers to report both sides of an issue. Did this lead to such a biased editorial dated July 9, 1997?

I stated at the meeting that the Senior Housing Project had taken so long, eight years, and apparently there had been so little knowledge on the part of the people in recent discussions of the house.

June 8 I wrote a letter to the city council in an effort to explain the facts.

The house was to be demolished, and the City of Los Altos already knew this fact. In an earlier meeting with the Los Altos Historic Society, they had stated it was of no historic value.

Developer Gordon Snedigar spoke June 24, telling the council that the house was to have been demolished.

When asked, he stated that Los Altos Housing Partners were aware of the verbal agreement with Frank and Catherine DeMartini.

At this June 24 council meeting Dianne Gershuny, city manager, stated Los Altos Housing Partners had offered the house to the city with the expectation of a tax write off.

July 7 I spoke to Steve Seely of Los Altos Housing Partners. He denied this. Larry Tong, Los Altos planning director, also stated that, having no use for it, they had refused the house.

Is this when Roy Lave, Los Altos Community Foundation president, stepped in?

My husband died believing the agreement would be fulfilled. If it were not for petty politics the house would have been demolished a long time ago.

There is a great injustice here. Is the City of Los Altos willing to honor this agreement? Los Altos Housing Partners is willing to honor the agreement, and I am prepared to pay the cost of demolition.

Catherine V. DeMartiniDanville

Editor's note: the DeMartini house, a 1920s bungalow, is located on the corner of San Antonio Road and Edith Avenue.

In 1989 the Los Altos Housing Partners, who developed the Parc Regent condominiums, bought the house and land from the DeMartinis, said Dick Henry, a principal in the original partnership and a Los Altos Hills resident.

"All along the intent was to use it (the house) as a sales office (for the condos)," Henry said.

With regard to demolishing the house, "I don't know the agreement about that," Henry said.

In 1994 during a bankruptcy proceeding, there was a change in the partnership but not in the ownership of the property, Henry said.

In March 1996 the house was moved to its current location, from another spot on the lot, said Jim Mackenzie, Los Altos senior planner.

The city owns the land on which the house currently sits.

Thanks for a successful Arts & Wine Festival

On behalf of the Los Altos Village Association, I wish to express our thanks to everyone in Los Altos for making the 18th annual Arts & Wine Festival the best one to date.

Without the 400 plus volunteers -- the citizens of Los Altos as well as the Realtors and the city staff who volunteered in the various booths -- the shop keepers and restaurant owners who kept long hours, and residents who may have experienced some inconvenience, this event would not have been the success it was.

I have been told by vendors and visitors that Los Altos has indeed the best Arts & Wine Festival in California.

One vendor in San Diego was called on Friday when another artist canceled. She assembled her crafts and drove non stop to be part of the event.

She was happy she did. So was I.

Conrad Heintzelman

LAVA President