Published:
Feb. 1, 2013 Updated: 12:09 p.m. OC Register
'Too
many visitors' used to be the least of San Juan's problems
By GILBERT
JONES / GUEST
COLUMNIST
As
the former owner of the Jones Family Mini Farm located in the Los Rios District
in the heart of San Juan Capistrano, I feel compelled to address a few facts
that have occurred over the last 33 years since we (my wife Millie and I)
purchased the property now known as Zoomars Petting Zoo.
When
we first approached the broker in 1979, it had been on the market for almost
two years. The neighborhood included a trash truck parking facility and an auto
storage yard that was used to store wrecked automobiles. In addition, there was
a tree trimming company that stored their trucks and equipment. This was the
neighborhood in 1979.
Zoomars
Petting Zoo's current owner, Carolyn Franks,
looks over the revised site plan
for the dinosaur
with Gilbert and Millie Jones, former owners of the property.
COURTESY AMY BAGGS
A
number of the "historic homes" were in serious disrepair. The city
went so far as to describe the area as "a ghetto." The
"historic" property where the mini farm and cafe now stand had three
historic structures. All were very dilapidated. The back part of the property
was a storage area for hundreds of tar-covered lobster traps. The rest was
weeds.
Over
time, the neighborhood has evolved into a real place of interest, thanks to
those brave souls who invested in the area. When Millie and I retired, we put
the farm on the market. The response was amazing.
Since
everyone wants to leave a legacy, we were bound to find someone who would
continue to provide the benefits to the community that the mini farm presented.
We found that person in Carolyn Franks, the current owner of the farm.
I'm
so sorry that she has been vilified by those who cannot recognize that a
dinosaur statue does not denigrate those who came before us, or their legacy.
What does denigrate their legacy is to allow the neighborhood to become what it
was prior to 1979.
A
final note: I heard one person who spoke about the farm say that it brings too
many visitors to San Juan. They need to ask themselves if the same standard
applies to the Mission San Juan Capistrano, the Swallows Inn and other
businesses in the community.
I
know that the mini farm has never taken a cent from the city, and they should
at least appreciate a business "that brings too many visitors to
town."
– Gilbert Jones has lived in San Juan Capistrano with his wife Millie for
33 years.
Original article posted here
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