City planners have some
suggestions for Pini which will be presented at the regular Planning
Commission meeting this evening. They are recommending he remove some
of the decorative tiles on the tower dome which has turned out with
more detail than expected, and that he eliminate some other unexpected
decorative embellishments added to the interior of the recent construction.
In addition planners are recommending that the current parking lot
turn-around space be moved to the back of the site, so that it does
not pose a danger to passing pedestrians. Though the proposed design
change eliminates a parking space and requires relocation of the trash
enclosure, they believe it is an essential safety measure.
Pini says that though he plans to make the parking lot changes requested
of him, he will dispute the recommendation to remove some of the ornamental
tiles and a sculpture of Chantico, an Aztec Indian goddess, and the
Inn’s namesake. The bust initially placed on the porte-cochere
was moved to the chimney where it does not stand out as much.
In the staff report planners said the the extraneous tile was “so
busy it takes away from the simple integrity of the mission style
integrity of the building.”
Pini responded that all the buildings he has built generally make
a statement.
“But at the end of the day everybody loves them,” he said.
“They’re works of art.”
Pini said that his sister, a recognized artist and ceramics teacher,
spent hours painting each individual tile, depicting animals that
live in the forests and rivers surrounding Ojai.
The tiles on the dome that he was asked to remove are hand painted
and imported from Europe, costing $35 a piece which added up to thousands
of dollars total, he said.
“I would like to reach a compromise if possible and keep some
of the art that has taken so much time to make. After all Ojai has
been known to be artistic,” he said.
Five years have passed since Pini purchased the dilapidated property.
Initially he had planned to make some miner improvements and re-open
as the Adobe Hotel but was stopped by the publics works department
when they found elements of the project were not part of the original
scope of the work.
“My plans changed when I realized how bad the condition of the
building was,” said Pini. “I realized that it would have
to be a more significant project. After all it is at the city’s
entry way, it has t be the best “
Pini said that his new plan for an entire remodel ended up taking
much longer than he expected.
But as years passed and the abandoned, unfinished construction project
began to concern neighbors and city officials, the city gave him a
210 day ultimatum to finish the project. When it was not done, which
Pini said he had expected, he was fined daily.
Having paid the city $22,000 in fines so far with an additional $30,000
or so accruing, according to Pini, it is no small wonder that he is
ready to get the project completed.
Pini, a notorious Santa Barbara landlord, who, according the the Santa
Barbara News Press was once convicted and jailed for failing to keep
his properties legally habitable, said he hopes the project will be
completed in four to six weeks.
“I’m perplexed by the city’s restrictions,”
he said. “What I’m offering is another fine hotel for
Ojai. The hotel I tore down was nothing but a place for drug deals
and prostitution.”
The El Camino Motel had been a eyesore for almost 10 years when Pini
purchased it. It had also become a site where illegal activity was
frequently reported.
But hopes for a newly refurbished quality Inn were dampened when the
property was left with mid-way through the construction with mosquitos
festering in the pool.
But Pini says he is putting a lot of effort in this project and is
working hard to create a quality inn for the downtown entryway.
If all goes as Pini plans, and city planners hope, the new Chantico
Inn will be hosting customers in a month or two
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