Bricks and mortar of city life
By Jon Hoornstra
As we go about our daily routines we get used to seeing certain people at certain places and times. We don't really know them by name, but they become as familiar to us as landmark buildings and we actually worry about them when they don't show up.
An example is the retired gentleman who once served as a crossing guard near Regnart School. A few years ago he was accidentally hit by a car. For months people wondered what happened to the man whose name they did not know, but who belonged at that certain spot. He recovered from his injuries, but chose not to return to his job as a crossing guard.
Or consider Brother Charles Boglitz, an 86-year-old Marianist and retired teacher of Latin, science and English. Brother Charles was known in his neighborhood by his daily predawn and early evening walks near Monta Vista Park off Foothill Boulevard. You could set your watch by Brother Charles' schedule. Six months ago people became aware that Brother Charles hadn't been seen in a while. A member of the neighborhood was missing and people worried. As it turns out, Brother Charles had moved from his Marianist Center residence into Villa St. Joseph, closer to skilled care. His move changed the neighborhood.
Then consider a woman seen every day for 42 years as she swept the sidewalk and tended the flowers in front of her home on Stelling Road near Jollyman Park. Over a period of four decades, thousands of motorists and neighbors knew she would be there. But six months ago the neighborhood changed when she no longer appeared. Who was she? She was Amy Yee, a retired teacher. Mrs. Yee and her husband, Tom, moved into the Stelling Road home in 1960 and raised five children. Mrs. Yee died at home May 3 at age 80.
Good and sad things move together through our communities, side by side, though good is too often the silent companion. Consider a recent ceremony to honor good, a salute to local heroes on May 4 by Tri-Cities Little League at Wilson Park. Among those honored were the firefighters assigned to Station 1, represented by Capt. Joe Parker and Truck #1. Dolly Sandoval, recently elected to the city council, was honored for her efforts to improve Wilson Park. Another honoree was Russ Loafman, a pitcher in 1941 for the Cleveland Indians and later a Little League manager and volunteer coach for 21 years at Monta Vista High School. Now 82, Loafman fielded his humor when he told the Little Leaguers, "My wish for you kids is that every batter gets a home run and every pitcher gets a no-hit game."
The people we miss as well as the people we honor reaffirm the common belief that people make a place what it is. But that adage sometimes masks another truth--that the bricks and mortar of a city affect the people. Consider the new 10-story hotel nearly finished at the city's crossroads, De Anza Boulevard at Stevens Creek Boulevard. It will forever change the look and feel of that nexus, as will other projects that will emerge in the next few months and years.
Where does all this change come from? In broad terms, it comes from what's called the city's General Plan. That's the document produced by the city that sets goals and rules of development.
A revision to the General Plan is now underway. The changes will have a direct effect on housing, neighborhoods, open space and parks, walkability and commercial development, among other aspects of community life.
The visible portion of the revision process began May 3 when the city hosted a "community congress" at De Anza College. More than 200 residents met with city leaders to discuss the city's future development. They "voted" on general ideas and goals, expressing opinions within a range, from "strongly agree" to "strongly disagree."
A report summarizing the conference will be published within a few weeks, according to City Planner Ciddy Wordell. That report will be followed later in the summer by specific proposals to the planning commission and city council that will change the General Plan.
Change is coming. Now is the time to pay attention.
Cupertino, California Since 1947
