A Concept of Where Art and History
and the Future of Old Town Tubac Meet
Presented to the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors, March 10, 2006

A Development Concept for Old Town Tubac

Tubac Historic Properties, LLC
Nancy Valentine        

Purpose

To secure and enhance the integrity and economic viability of Historic Old Town Tubac's ambiance and the tradition of “Where Art and History Meet” through an integrated and interconnected use of existing buildings and new improvements.                                                                                                                                                     "First Signs of Spring" By Lois Griffel, Oil on Canvas.

The overall concept is to build a replica of 1860’s Tubac, using existing buildings on the National Register of Historic Places as featured structures and integrating new buildings designed for mixed-use purposes as artist residences, studios and galleries, which was the construction model prevalent in Tubac’s early artist colony days of the 1960s and early 1970s.

Compliance

Tubac Historic Zone Design Criteria Ordinances are the basis for the design of all exterior elements and will be gladly complied with in all expansions of existing buildings and new improvements. The concept is in keeping with the Santa Cruz County Comprehensive Plan and has support from long-time Old Town Tubac property owners. All improvements will comply with Santa Cruz County Building Codes. The project is not necessarily the highest and best use of the parcels given current trends. A zoning variance might be required on portions of the parcel zoned multiple-family to allow for a mixed use. Abandonment of a county easement on the Placita de Anza could serve the purpose of eliminating long-standing boundary issues, afford access and egress, and accommodate infrastructure and parking requirements for the project.

The siting of improvements will place new construction in relation to existing structures in such a way as to enhance the historic presence, create a sense of “village”, and to encourage “discovery” and pedestrian flow through interconnecting pathways, placitas, common areas for art display, and outdoor  “working studios”.

These elements will be woven throughout the “village” creating an organic and natural environment which invites visitors/patrons to meander in a relaxed, hassle-free, and car-free atmosphere where gallery viewing, watching and talking with artists at work, and opportunities for discovering Tubac’s history—narrated via public art and complementary interpretive structures—will afford and maintain a unique Old Town Tubac ambiance and experience.

All new construction will reflect the size, scale and proportions of existing buildings. The single-story adobe “row house” architectural style with features prevalent in the 1860s Tubac will predominate and maintain and enhance existing streetscapes. If and when possible, building facades will be of a non-load bearing, un-stabilized adobe, re-creating the authentic historic visual and textural qualities of the buildings of the era and today existing only in the unstuccoed  historic Pennington House.

This 1940's photo looking NE on Calle Iglesia, just west of St. Ann’s Church, and the corner of Placita de Anza, reflects the Tubac 1860s “row house” architecture that will be the dominant style throughout the project.

Left: the historic Pennington House, today the Hugh Cabot Gallery.

Middle: an adobe residence, today The Sacred Paths shop.

Right: ruins of buildings since demolished, today the location of the Sculpture Plaza owned by Tubac Historic Properties, LLC.

Utilities

An existing well with a right of 56-acre feet, currently only used on Tubac Historic Properties, LLC (THP)  for irrigation, will be further explored as the water source for the project.

An integrated septic system to accommodate as many 1-bedroom living-quarter units as allowable will be constructed.

Utilities will be underground within the village. Solar energy and other energy efficiency options will be featured components of new construction.

Grading

The preference, when feasible and allowable, is to make use of the grace and charm of the existing contours of the topography, maintaining visual interest and variety through naturally changing elevations.

The preferred use of flood plain or run-off prone areas is as natural terrain.

Parking

Public parking will be placed at the perimeters of the “village” in locations as to not dominate the streetscape yet afford access, and will comply with requirements relative to the number of allowable units.

Landscaping

Landscaping will be minimal and in keeping with native plant selection with the exception of small pockets of lushness in nooks and crannies or interior courtyards. Landscaping will be irrigated via a watering system making use of an existing well.