From Email: Miraflores Fire Could Have Been Prevented
May 23, 2025







 

Today, a fire seriously damaged the historic structures at Miraflores. I have been asking repeatedly (while I was still mayor) and warning (after I was no longer mayor) that these structures
are endangered and that the City should take responsibility for protecting them. See the email below that I sent to Shasa back on October  4, 2024, I wrote, “What is going to happen is what happened to the International Hotel; someone will burn them down,
and the problem will go away.” The only thing that surprises me is that it took so long.

 

Unfortunately, neither the City nor the City Council has any interest in preserving the City’s historic resources. It is lack of City code enforcement that ked to the fire that destroyed the
International Hotel.”

 

The same thing is happening at Winehaven.

 

 

 

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From: Tom Butt
Sent: Wednesday, October 9, 2024 6:41 PM
To: Shasa_Curl@ci.richmond.ca.us; Bisa French <bfrench@richmondpd.net>; Dave Aleshire <daleshire@awattorneys.com>
Subject: FW: Miraflores

 

You know, you have multiple tools to compel Artes Capital to take care of these structures until they are rehabilitated, including RMC 2.63, 6.38 and 9.22. I don’t understand why the City doesn’t
take action. What is going to happen is what happened to the International Hotel; someone will burn them down, and the problem will go away. “Having conversation,” is a lame excuse for doing nothing.

 

 

Tom Butt, FAIA, LEED AP BD+C

 INTERACTIVE
RESOURCES, INC. | Est. 1973

117 Park Place
|

Richmond, CA  94801

M: 510.220.1577

Etom.butt@intres.com
|
W:
www.intres.com
 

 

 

 

From: Scott Taylor <scott.taylor@artescapital.com>

Sent: Wednesday, October 9, 2024 3:54 PM
To: Tom Butt <tom.butt@intres.com>
Cc: Michael Jin <michael.jin@artescapital.com>; Scott Taylor <scott.taylor@artescapital.com>
Subject: RE: Miraflores

 

We are having conversations with the City around “mothballing” the City owned historic buildings.  Hopefully that will provide added protection to the buildings.  Thanks.

 

 

Scott Taylor

Founding Principal/CEO

 

Title: line art

 

2829 Townsgate Road • Suite 100

Westlake Village, CA 91361

c: (805) 234-7999

scott.taylor@artescapital.com

 

The information contained in this message may be privileged and confidential and protected from disclosure. If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient, or an employee or agent responsible for
delivering this message to the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution or copying of this communication is strictly prohibited. If you have received this communication in error, please notify us immediately by replying
to the message and deleting it from your computer. 

 

From: Tom Butt <tom.butt@intres.com>

Sent: Wednesday, October 9, 2024 3:36 PM
To: Scott Taylor <scott.taylor@artescapital.com>
Cc: Michael Jin <michael.jin@artescapital.com>
Subject: RE: Miraflores

 

I agree with your assessment of the challenge. About the only thing that would work are cameras and a 24/7 guard. I know that is expensive, but the alternative is probably destruction.

 

From: Scott Taylor <scott.taylor@artescapital.com>

Sent: Wednesday, October 9, 2024 3:34 PM
To: Tom Butt <tom.butt@intres.com>
Cc: Scott Taylor <scott.taylor@artescapital.com>; Michael Jin <michael.jin@artescapital.com>
Subject: RE: Miraflores

 

Thanks Tom.  We have repaired the fencing multiple times and the police department is routinely driving by the site to remove trespassers.  Not much all of us can do when the trespassers immediately cut down the fencing with wire cutters. 
Appreciate the info.  Thanks.

 

 

Scott Taylor

Founding Principal/CEO

 

Title: line art

 

2829 Townsgate Road • Suite 100

Westlake Village, CA 91361

c: (805) 234-7999

scott.taylor@artescapital.com

 

The information contained in this message may be privileged and confidential and protected from disclosure. If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient, or an employee or agent responsible for
delivering this message to the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution or copying of this communication is strictly prohibited. If you have received this communication in error, please notify us immediately by replying
to the message and deleting it from your computer. 

 

From: Tom Butt <tom.butt@intres.com>

Sent: Wednesday, October 9, 2024 3:27 PM
To: Scott Taylor <scott.taylor@artescapital.com>
Subject: Miraflores

 

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