March 3, 2026
By Pam Nichter
President, SLO REP Board of Directors
Dear SLO REP Supporters,
On February 3, 2026, the San Luis Obispo City Council granted SLO REP permission to take another step forward with our downtown theatre project, a decision that includes the difficult necessity of replacing the large oak tree currently on the site.
I am writing to you because I know how much this tree means to our neighborhood. Many in our community have expressed their concerns, and I want you to know that we share those sentiments.
Some residents objected to our request, and I understand why. We were equally disappointed. Seeking the Council’s permission to remove the tree was a step we took reluctantly and only after considering all of our redesign options. Unfortunately, no viable alternatives were found, due to three primary factors:
- Root Location: The arborist’s assessment shows the tree’s shallow root structure is estimated to extend under nearly our entire building footprint, likely making it impossible to complete the necessary foundation work without fatally damaging the tree.
- Prior Impact: As noted in the February 3 City Staff Report (p. 77), the tree’s health had already been impacted by frontage improvements along Monterey Street related to the new parking structure construction.
- Expert Consensus: Both our arborist and the City’s arborist concluded that the probability of the tree surviving any major construction is low, unless changes were made to the building’s footprint that would reduce the size of the theatre to a point where it would no longer be economically viable.
I firmly believe that SLO REP has acted in good faith and has exhausted every reasonable effort to preserve this tree. In the spirit of full transparency, we have documented the history of our preservation efforts and the technical findings that led to this conclusion. You may read that detailed history HERE.
On behalf of the Board of Directors and the SLO REP staff, I extend our deepest gratitude for your ongoing support and look forward to the many cultural and economic benefits SLO REP’s new theatre will bring to our community.
Sincerely,
Pam Nichter
President, SLO REP Board of Directors
