The recently constructed pillars are part of the city's Gateway Project, a $2.9 million beautification effort funded by the state of California. The project was expected to be completed early this spring, weather permitting.

Public works director John Cherbone said in an email that it appears the city will take the pillars down. "Feedback in the community regarding this design element has not been positive for many reasons," he said. "Most of the comments received center around their height and massiveness."

When motorists cross Prospect Road and enter Saratoga from Cupertino, the first thing they see are four waist-high stone brick pillars followed by a cluster of nine similarly designed pillars about 9 feet tall.

"In place of the columns we would plant trees, so that there isn't a need to redesign the area. There will be costs to remove the columns and plant trees in their place. I do not have the costs as of yet. The work will likely happen in early April," Cherbone said.

"I think the overall sense is that people don't feel comfortable with the look of the structures," Chang said. "When we talk about Saratoga, what comes to mind is nature and openness. But this Gateway Project does not convey that impression, in my opinion."

Chang said, yes, there were concerns in Saratoga's Chinese community that the pillars violated the principles of Feng Shui, an ancient Chinese art that involves manipulating and arranging surroundings to attract positive life energy, or chi, so that it flows smoothly. And, yes, a Feng Shui expert did determine that the Gateway Project violated Feng Shui principles and did not provide good welcoming energy into Saratoga. But Chang wants to make it clear that the decision to take down the pillars was not solely because they have bad Feng Shui.

"I don't want to give the impression that the Chinese community is trying to impose its culture on the larger community," she said. "In the Chinese community, some people believe in Feng Shui and some people don't. My understanding is that you try to have the whole environment in harmony. This project does not convey that."

Chang said the fact that there are 13 pillars is bad luck in Western culture, but just past Prospect Road the four smaller pillars are lined up in a row. In China, the number four symbolizes death.

"I have heard people say that it looks like tombstones. Other people say it looks like it's from The Flintstones. The design committee and the city council probably did this project with good intent, but the outcome was not satisfactory."

Mayor Norman Kline called the design a mistake. "I had a lot of people who are not Chinese call me about it," he said. "It is a design element that didn't come out right.

"I don't know anything about Feng Shui," he continued, "but the way I understand it, bad taste and bad Feng Shui go hand in hand."

Kline said two workshops were held, and after a lot of discussion, the council decided to change the design and take the heat for it.

He said because the cost to complete the project is more than it would cost to tear out the pillars and re-landscape the median, changing the project at this point might actually save money.

"I asked about 80 people about the project, and only one liked it," Councilwoman Kathleen King said. King said solutions such as covering the pillars with latticework and vines or placing wooden beams across the pillars were proposed. But in the end, everyone on the council thought it was best to have the pillars removed. "My husband told me you can't gild a turd," King said.

"I think it's OK to say it was a mistake," she said. "If we had a lot of people who liked it, then it would be different, but nobody liked it. People thought the pillars were too big and they didn't portray our city well."

Bad Feng Shui or not, Chang is happy the city has decided to take down the 13 pillars. "I've been living in this city for 22 years," she said. "I think everyone wants to have harmony in our surroundings. Let's see what would be the best solution to make this area look nice again."