The Willow Glen Resident

Council Watch

Adult day care moves one step closer to construction

Project is set to start in November

By Cecily Barnes

Live Oak Adult Day Services has nailed down one of the city permits needed to build its new center in Willow Glen. The nonprofit organization, which provides all-day care for disabled and frail adults and seniors, needs only two more permits before it can begin construction.

Organizers expect to see the project start by November and to be completed by the summer of 1998, Live Oak's architect, John Miller, said.

"We are doing a wonderful job of restoring the original house. It will be restored to the national and state standards for historic preservation," Miller said. "The use of this building is going to be a tremendous asset to Willow Glen."

The Willow Glen Live Oak center will be at 2845 Minnesota Ave., in the home originally built for Willow Glen's first mayor, Paul Clark, in 1920. Live Oak's renovation and design plans have been approved by the Preservation Action Council and the Historical Landmarks Commission.

At a Sept. 10 public hearing, the Planning Commission unanimously approved Live Oak's project and design plan. Live Oak will restore the front portion of the historic Minnesota Avenue home, erect a new building in the back yard and construct a hallway adjoining the two buildings.

"The addition is the same mass and scale as the original building. It will stand as a background to the original one," Miller said. "It is equal in height and size and uses a similar design element."

On Sept. 17, the city planning director will decide whether to approve the removal of eight on-site trees that would obstruct construction plans.

The eight trees to be removed include old cedars and redwoods, but Live Oak intends to plant four new trees for every one tree removed.

"Some of these trees have either been poorly maintained or have poor structure," Miller said. "They've been improperly pruned or are nearing their life expectancy."

Despite the tree removal, the Willow Glen community seems supportive of Live Oak Adult Day Services and its chosen location. After reviewing the construction plans, the Willow Glen Neighborhood Association submitted a letter of support to the Planning Department.

"I think that the project shows careful consideration for both the historical importance of that house and for the service they're going to provide to Willow Glen," said WGNA president Kris Cunningham. "In terms of the trees, it's unfortunate whenever trees are taken out, but the plans show a good number of trees along the back, three in the corner and one in the front. There are a number of trees in the plan."

Only the home's current residents, Kevin and Heather Wagner, have complained about the day care's renovation plans for their present home.

"They're going to sterilize it," Kevin Wagner complained in July. "It won't ever be able to be a home again."

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