LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Against the Shops at Capistrano

The Capistrano Historical Alliance Committee is announcing their position on the proposed "Shops at Capistrano."

Also, while the Planning Commission has already approved the $43 million dollar hotel/townhome project, the Capistrano Historical Alliance Committee is extremely disappointed at their decision.

We, as the Capistrano Historical Alliance Committee Board of Directors must call attention to the lack of focus on the historical impact the Shops at Capistrano will have on this town.

Most of us know that the Mission San Juan Capistrano was the first establishment in what was to become San Juan Capistrano. At 17yrs old, Jerry Nieblas said that the Mission was the "birthplace of Orange County," giving it this title. From the beginnings of the Great Stone Church in 1796 to now, those walls are and always have been a place of living history, thriving culture and prayerful worship.

Historical families were raised to serve and protect the Mission, treating it as their second home. The grandure of this most sacred ruin was once the tallest building in San Juan Capistrano - from any vantage point: driving, walking, on horseback - a place of spiritual and historical significance that welcomed visitors to town.  Back then or today, if you can see those walls, you are in the very heart and soul of San Juan Capistrano.

The land where the Shops at Capistrano are planned is sacred and rich with history that will become extinct if it's not handled with care. That land certainly deserves better than to be cheapened and violated by what some are calling a "strip mall."

Ask a visitor why they are here - 8 times out of 10, their response is to "step back in time" and experience our history. Whatever their faith, they have come to see the Mission San Juan Capistrano. History is first, shopping is secondary.

We ask our community leaders, historians, activists and residents to take a good, hard look around town.  How many commercial vacancies can you count?  Adding more retail space makes no sense.  Someone in favor of the Shops at Capistrano used to support the history when it was needed for their benefit. Now they're pro-development at any cost.  

The Shops at Capistrano are another tragic example of our history getting buried underneath the almighty dollar.  And, lets not forget the developers who pick and choose whenever history gets in their way, how to make it disappear.  he end result will be irrepairibly damaging and changing, not only to the Mission, San Juan Capistrano but to Orange County as well because the story started HERE.

It is an honor and a privilege to live in San Juan Capistrano.  It is a matter of the heart.  The Capistrano Historical Alliance Committee will ALWAYS take a stand to protect all the local history of San Juan Capistrano.  Don't just look at the almighty dollar.  Really look at San Juan Capistrano.  Incorporate development to always COMPLIMENT our history so we CAN "preserve the past to enhance the future."

The Mission will outlive and survive all of us. Over 200 years later, it still stands tall and proud because of all the contributions of many, especially the historical families.  Protecting the history is expected, anything less is unacceptable. The Mission should live on not surrounded by retail shops and strip malls, but be clearly visible, FOREVER representing our community and the heart of San Juan Capistrano.

On behalf of the Capistrano Historical Alliance Committee Board of Directors,
Jerry Nieblas - President, Capistrano Historical Alliance Committee
Janice Pickartz - Vice President/Secretary, Capistrano Historical Alliance Committee