https://n2v.almanacnews.com/square/print/2007/02/05/atherton-is-barring-residents-from-moving-antique-urns-to-their-new-home


Town Square

Atherton is barring residents from moving antique urns to their new home

Original post made by News Guy, another community, on Feb 5, 2007

A pair of antique plant-filled urns are likely to stay in Atherton's historic Lindenwood neighborhood now that the City Council has denied the request of residents Randy and Lisa Lamb to take them from their Lindenwood property when they move to their new home, also in Atherton but two and a half miles away.
The cast-iron urns, about 5 feet tall on their pedestals, date from at least 1937 and were part of the estate of Silver King James C. Flood, who lived in the area more or less defined by the walls of the Lindenwood neighborhood.
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It seem ironic that Atherton, the defender of property rights, would make this decision. Atherton doesn't claim to own the urns. And the Lambs said they spent money to repair them. Who owns them?
The council's decision doesn't square with the law or the town's own staff and consultant's view. Did the council just cave into public pressure from Lindenwood?
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Comments

Posted by Deb
a resident of Atherton: West Atherton
on Feb 7, 2007 at 5:15 pm

Sounds like a screwy decision. I've got nothing against preservation of historic artifacts, but it seems to me that the town should spend a bit of time thinking about a reasonable (and legal) approach to preservation, then write an ordinance spelling out the rules to homeowners. This decision seems so haphazard.

So have the Lambs decided whether or not to sue?