Letter: We should preserve the Barton Ranch House

The Barton House is scheduled to be demolished and with its destruction there will be a loss of the history of South Lake Tahoe.

I understand that the house is proposed for demolition to make way for implementation of the Tahoe Valley Area Plan. I support the plan and its implementation because I think it has been done with care, good public input, and thoughtful discourse between landowners, residents and business owners and operators. The planning process in the City has been transparent.

Unless the Barton house is determined to be in an utter decay, it should be saved and moved to a location in the Tahoe Valley Area or to a large public park for restoration and use. I know that money doesn’t grow on any trees I have ever planted, but there are likely service organizations or even park and historic grants available for restoration. I know that in Fremont the Chadbourne Carriage House at the Hub Shopping Center was a historic structure built in the 1870’s that the City government and property owner required to be saved as part of a larger commercial development. This preservation of the Barton Ranch House can certainly be done here if there are friends of our history and organizations willing to be part of the process.

Sincerely,

David M. Jinkens, M.P.A.