Rebuttal to Carmel Voice 'Flanders Failure' By Sam Salerno

Carmel Voice: “It’s ironic that a judge or the courts can tell a city they can’t sell a piece of property and must retain it...”

Rebuttal: Monterey Superior Court Robert A. O’Farrell ruled that the City of Carmel-by-the-Sea violated the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), California Government Code and the City’s Municipal Code. As a consequence of the City Council’s illegal attempt to sell the Flanders Mansion property, the significance of the ruling is that if the City Council continues in its attempt to sell the Flanders Mansion property, the City Council must now follow all applicable laws regarding the sale of parkland, et cetera.

Carmel Voice: “...even though it is falling apart.”

Rebuttal: DEBUNKING MYTHS ABOUT FLANDERS
2. It's falling down and deteriorating.
It's falling down and deteriorating. No. Flanders is an amazingly solid structure. It has been neglected by the city for years. Like any house built in 1925 it needs upgrading. The cost of $800,000 can be paid for by grants, private donations and in kind donations if the city ceases talking of sale.(Source: http://www.flandersfoundation.org/myths.htm)

The Flanders Mansion, an English Cottage Tudor Revival, a combination of English half-timbered, English country and English cottage styles. Cement Block Building, fabricated of precast concrete units. Only known example of "cavity wall construction" in the region.
(Source: Draft Environmental Impact Report)
Ergo, by virtue of its composition and construction, the structure is not “falling apart.”

Carmel Voice: “It’s tough when certain groups can determine your fate. Is this a great country or what?”

Rebuttal: It is absolutely GREAT when a private organization has the opportunity to rectify a city’s violations of State and City Municipal laws through our country’s legal system! ABSOLUTELY!