Post #435270 by tikibars on Thu, Feb 19, 2009 11:40 PM

I received a letter from one of my contacts today:

Thu, 19 Feb 2009

"As you are one of nation's formost authorities on Tiki bars, I feel it is my obligation to inform you the historic Tonga Room at the San Francisco Fairmont is scheduled to be demolished.

I live [very near to] to the Fairmont, and am an historical architect and member of the Society Of Commercial Archeology. The developers are planning a new condominium project on the back of the Fairmont. They are obligated to present it to owners within 300' of the project .. When they gave their presentation they didn't volunteer the information, but I asked if the Tonga Room would survive and they said no.

The project is in an early stage of approvals. Now is the time to act. Here is the status of the project. In California we have the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). The project sponsors have to provide an Environmental Impact Report (EIR.) The project has to look at any impact on cultural resources of the project. The public is asked to provide input on the scope of the EIR. In the letter from my homeowners association we declared that the Tonga Room was of historic significance, and the impact of its demolition should be studied.

Unfortunately the neighbors are more concerned with the exterior appearance and compatibility with the surrounding Beaux Arts structures.

Thus I feel it is imperative to tap into a national concern for saving the Tonga Room. If we can prove the significance, and show a ground swell of national concern and support, I can present that to the local Historical Preservation Commission, Planning Commission, and Board of Supervisors.

Can you suggest a way to communicate with people who understand the importance the Tonga Room, and get them to rally to save it?

Tiki bars may come and go, but that tropical rain strom will be gone forever!

I appreciate your time and suggestions."

I explained to her that we've seen this before, several times, and that all prior efforts to save these places have come to naught.

But it is great to know that there are finally serious architectural historians who recognize the importance of tiki, and care about saving it.