P[istorino

I talked to a guy yesterday who has a nice sized lot and wanted to put a significant addition to his home 15 months ago. The best offer he could get was 100k. He went back to those very same companies last month and got a bid of 40k for the VERY SAME addition. The Pistorino report is easily obtained if one makes a Freedom of Information request at the City Clerks office. It probably SHOULD be online but it WAS buried DEEP! Pistorino and Elam is the name of the company, and I believe they are structural engineers who have done work for the state, county, Tri-rail, etc. It would be cool if THEY had a copy of their report on THEIR website, as it may save a lot of time and effort. It HAS been a couple years since that report was made tho. New roof, floors, walls, plumbing, electric, sprinklers and insulation is "lipstick on a pig"? Get real. No variances required. Its a new building THAT WE CAN AFFORD, with no new debt. Some of our local builders and contractors would obviously be involved in the renovation, so we would be supporting our own. Dr. Mel P. Johnson

no basis in fact

Is it possible that the Optimist president doesnt know what is in the Pistorino report? Is it possible he doesnt even know it EXISTS? If he had actually read it- new roof, floors, walls, fire sprinklers, and structural supports, documented and itemized estimates by an eminently qualified structural engineer, confirming that the gym can be renovated for 1.6-1.8 million to a like-new condition - he would NEVER have said that its "like putting lipstick on a pig". Its a interesting turn of phrase but unfortunately has NO basis in reality. IF he had actually READ the Pistorino report, how could he make such a ridiculous statement? If hes going to present himself as a source of more-or-LESS rational opinion in public, he should do some homework first, or he will embarrass himself, again.