Seeing red over Sonoma shop’s pink door
By Jeremy Hay, The Press Democrat, Santa Rosa, Calif. | |
McClatchy-Tribune Information Services |
"The kids, they love it," said
But the pink is like red to a bull for a group of people appealing the
"I've lived in the town for a long time, and you don't do that," said
The ice cream shop is in the
"This is a historic building, it's only a few feet from the mission, and here these people come in and they start painting it pink," Lewis said. "People will go there anyway, they don't need that."
"There are really a lot of things going on in the plaza and it would be a shame to be cookie-cutter," she said.
Pink, in itself, is not the problem, said
Patri is one of 12 residents making the appeal, which asserts that the design commission did not follow its own guidelines and approved a paint job that violates the historic and aesthetic values of the Plaza.
In a town as cognizant and proud of its long history as
"Those of us who are really concerned about preservation, we're like watchdogs; we just take a look at things and we respond to them," said
The Marmadukes, who ran the store as a Ben & Jerry's franchise until October, when they struck out on their own, said they worked hard with the commission to find a color scheme that worked for everyone concerned.
"We went through everything and went back and forth to come up with something that works for the business and for the historic building," said
They imagined, she said, that the townspeople would be pleased that the Ben & Jerry's and its nationwide presence was being replaced by an individual, local presence.
"We thought that we would be applauded for getting the franchise off the plaza, but it seems like the same people who didn't like our franchise don't like our colors," said Marmaduke, who is a
The couple have posted a letter in their shop window explaining that the paint color they chose (cerise delight) was the favorite of
"We definitely understand and appreciate
One thing the Marmadukes and those who oppose their paint can agree on: ice cream is good.
"We love ice cream stores, we want them to be there, we loved Ben and Jerry, we love these people," said Patri, a past president of historic preservation league. "We want to retain the historic integrity of the plaza and that's the only thrust of our appeal."
(You can reach Staff Writer
___
(c)2014 The Press Democrat (Santa Rosa, Calif.)
Visit The Press Democrat (Santa Rosa, Calif.) at www.pressdemocrat.com
Distributed by MCT Information Services
Wordcount: | 769 |
Advisor News
Annuity News
Health/Employee Benefits News
Life Insurance News