Historical Preservation

Re “School May Be Built on Stilts to Protect Artifacts,” Sept. 4.

As the owner of a condominium on property adjacent to the San Buenaventura Mission, I would like for Holy Cross School to be allowed to proceed with its building plans.

Yes, it is a historical site but it is a fairly well-documented one, and there should be some balance between historical preservation and the needs of the living.

The education of children currently attending Holy Cross School, as well as the future generations who will attend school there, should be considered, not just the desires of the archeologists.

The entire controversy surrounding this site also raises some very disturbing questions as to how much control, if any, an owner has over his or her property.

The architect’s plans for developing the San Buenaventura Mission property show site-sensitive, beautifully designed buildings that, when completed, will be an asset to the downtown and greatly improve the appearance of this block. The sensitive development of this property is a very important part of improving downtown. When everyone from the city of Ventura through its downtown specific plan to the Downtown Ventura Community Council is working hard to improve all aspects of downtown, it is frustrating to have the development of this very important project delayed.

BARBARA CARLETON EVANS, Ventura