Start by doing what’s necessary
Then do what’s possible
And suddenly you are doing the impossible.--St. Francis of Assisi

TESTIMONY AT PUBLIC HEARING ON PROPOSED SALE OF ST. FRANCIS HOSPITAL CONDUCTED BY THE OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL
“I am often asked: Are we going to continue the hospital, or tear it down and build new? We don’t know the answer to that. Our goal is to keep as much of the hospital as we can. And that will really be determined by architects and seismic issues, and that sort of thing. But we would very much like to do that.”
--Ron Werft, 5/13/03

PLANNING COMMISSIONER COMMENTS AT EIR SCOPING HEARING
--most likely recyclable buildings or a hybrid project-- Bendy White
--the EIR must be seen as extremely credible, especially by the neighborhood. Credibility will be served by looking at reuse of the existing building-- Jonathan Maguire

Cheri Rae notes on 7/29/04,

ENVIRONMENTALLY SUPERIOR ALTERNATIVE
“The Project Redesign--Reduced Number of Units alternative would result in reduced or similar development-related impacts when compared to the impacts of the proposed project. This alternative would also result in and incremental reduction in development-related noise impacts, which is a significant unavoidable impact that would occur as a result of the proposed project. The Reduced Number of Units alternative would also be capable of substantially fulfilling the objectives of the proposed project to provide workforce housing near Cottage Hospital. Therefore, this alternative would have the potential to be environmentally superior to the proposed project.”
--Draft Environmental Impact Report
Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital Foundation
Workforce Housing ProjectDEIR HEARING PLANNING COMMISSIONER COMMENTS
--Stated there is a compelling argument from the neighborhood for adaptive re-use. The DEIR should include more information to provide a better understanding and clarity of this concept.
--Thanked the members of the public for their participation.
--Indicated that the debate has been distilled to new construction vs. Adaptive re-use of the existing facility. Commented that the Commission never imagined the dominant building would be demolished as part of the future project. Asked if there is a sensible combination where the main building could be saved and the remainder demolished. Include more analysis in DEIR on t his alternative.
--The demolition of the building goes against the Green building objectives by the City. State that if the project were to move forward, it should have strong “green-building” efforts. Suggested 100% solar use and stated that our community needs to be a more sustainable community.
--Planning Commission Minutes, 9/8/05