Book by tyler buhr

Tyler Buhr is a 17 year old and has lived in Los Altos his entire life. He currently attends Los Altos High School and Freestyle Academy. He plays water polo and swims for the school, as well as club. He volunteers for a program called Service League of Boys or SLOBS for short. In the program, they do a bunch of philanthropy work and volunteer at many local organizations. In his free time, he enjoys listening to music and socializing with friends. He has a passion for music and loves everything about it. He prioritizes concerts over everything and is hoping he can involve this passion into a career one day. Either that or he’d like to be involved in screenwriting. He loves to write creatively and create short stories.

Tyler Buhr

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Tyler Buhr

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I’d like to dedicate this book to my family who supported and helped me while I wrote this book. The memories we have shared together at Pajaro Dunes inspired me to choose this topic and made writing this very special to me.

Although I have been very busy and stressed the last few months, you guys have always stuck by my side.

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Acknowledgements I

couldn’t have created this book without the help of the Freestyle staff and community. Without the staff, this project would’ve been impossible. They were there by our side for the whole project and helped us learn how to create this project. I’d like to specifically thank Mr. Greco for always being willing to help me write and work out a time in his busy schedule to talk to me. I’d like to thank my classmates for being there for me throughout this whole process. Although some days distracting, they were always there to help and give honest feedback. I’d also like to thank Pajaro Dunes company for allowing me to do my documentary on them. I couldn’t have done this project without my two interviewees from there, Mickey Holzman and Morgan Stuart. I also got great help from my other two interviewees, Jon Freeman and Nancy Buhr, and I’d like to thank them for their time dedicated to my project.

The boardwalk of Pajaro Dunes Resort

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Table of Contents

Preface

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Introduction

11

Location

12

Architecture

16

Sanctuary

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Conclusion

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Works Cited

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Preface C

oming into Junior year at Freestyle, I didn’t know much. I had only assumptions of the projects that we would be creating and I was blind to almost all of it. The only thing that I did know about coming into Freestyle was the Documentary project. And these things I heard weren’t good things. I now assumed that this project was going to be a very stressful time of my life and would require a lot of devoted time working on it. As someone who procrastinates a lot, this project did not sound like a fun idea to me. The more and more I dreaded the documentary unit coming, the faster it came. Before I knew it, we were assigned to pick our documentary topic. This was one decision that I really struggled with. It took me awhile to find a topic that I was interested in and worked as a documentary subject as well. I overcame some rejections and unanswered emails to finally find the perfect documentary subject, literally sitting right in front of my eyes.

I have been attending Pajaro Dunes ever since I was a child, and the same goes for my mother. Our family has had history there ever since it had opened. My grandparents were very close friends with the developers and owners at the time and became regulars there. The house that we own and visit now was actually built by my Grandfather and his construction company, so I feel very connected to the community there. As it was one of the first houses built on the property, I feel as if my family is part of their history. I consider Pajaro Dunes my second home. I have spent almost all of my Thanksgivings there with my extended family and visit monthly. I will continue to go there my entire life and hope to take my future family there, too.

Now, the documentary unit has come and gone, and my assumptions about it were 100% correct. Well, not necessarily 100%. Although there was a lot of stress and too much procrastination, I took away some valuable life experiences from this project. Throughout this project, I had to communicate with my interviewees through email, which is something I normally never touch. Learning to check my email regularly was a hard step to conquer and ended up with a few 3-day-late responses. But by doing this, I learned how to communicate in a professional manner.

The Pajaro River 8

Introduction H

ave you ever wanted to stay in a castle...on the beach? What about a barn... on stilts? Or how about waking up with the ocean right in front of you? You’ll find this and more at Pajaro Dunes. Through fields of strawberries, cabbage, and artichokes, you will find the entrance to this wonderful resort. As you approach the end of the road, this tucked away community is the last turn on the left. Pajaro Dunes calls themselves, “the best-kept secret on Monterey Bay”. Their private white sand beach is lined with beautiful rental homes and condos, which all have priceless oceanfront views. It’s a place to relax and create memories with friends and family. There is more than a mile of beach to walk along, collect shells, look for sea life, and unwind. As Pajaro Dunes is a gated community for homeowners and renters only, the beach is never crowded. A location to relax and get away from it all cannot be more ideal than this. Located between Santa Cruz and Monterey, this resort gets the perfect view of the ocean and the marine life that it brings with it. So what makes Pajaro Dunes such a special resort?

Pacific Ocean with a dolphin breachng 11

Location

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he land that Pajaro Dunes is built on has always been desired. For many generations, it was used for recreational purposes for locals and has passed through many ownerships. It has been a popular destination due to its proximity to the Pajaro River, gaining its name from Spanish explorers in the late 1700s. (Pajaro Dunes History) It was also popular due to the expanse stretch of a white sand beach. In 1963, the land was bought by the Palo Alto based developers Hare, Brewer, and Kelley. Their plan was to develop a beachfront community. Development began immediately and the first house was finished in 1965.

Pajaro Dunes was officially developed and opened in 1973, only 10 years after they bought the land.

Just after Pajaro Dunes opened, the Californian government passed the California Coastal Act, creating the California Coastal Commision (CCC). The purpose of the California Coastal Commision was to preserve the California coastline and the habitats of species that live amongst it.

They now had jurisdiction over the whole coastline, all the way from Mexico to Oregon. (Coastal Commision) This gave a scare to many developers and owners of coastal land with intentions of building, as they were now required to be granted a Coastal Development Permit. This permit is not the easiest thing to acquire. Even for houses not located directly on the beach, the process can be arduous. As Pajaro

Dunes tried to build their new office building, they had to deal with the CCC’s strict regulations. The process to get to the county and get the permit took 37 months and required three different proposals of the actual plans.

This wasn’t the first run-in Pajaro Dunes has had with the CCC. Mickey Holzman, owner and CEO of Pajaro Dunes, has had firsthand experience dealing with the CCC. He recounts a story about how the Pajaro Dunes developers were concerned about the newly created CCC, “When the Coastal Commission was being formed, the developers, Hare, Brewer, and Kelley, were concerned enough with it that they started all five of the final Shorebird condos, so they could have them under construction prior to the Coastal Commission becoming a reality.” It was fortunate that Pajaro Dunes was developed before this commision was started, as it may not have been allowed to be built. The California Coastal Commision was passed in response to resorts like Pajaro Dunes being built, as California residents opposed the idea of beachfront land being developed for private use.

Trying to create a resort today like Pajaro Dunes would be nearly impossible. This adds to the feeling of uniqueness at Pajaro Dunes, as there are very few resorts like this in California.

“It’s the greatest getaway where there’s nothing to do except rest and enjoy nature within a two hour drive of 10,000,000 people.”

- Mickey Holzman

Stairs leading down to the beach 13

Architecture

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ne of the most notable aspects of Pajaro Dunes is the architecture of the houses. The resort has 146 unique houses where no house shares the same style. Developers Hare, Brewer, and Kelley hired five different architects to work on the houses which allowed for five different visions and creative freedom.

Pajaro Dunes wide variety of houses include a barn built on stilts, a lighthouse, a dog-shaped house, a castle, an octagon house and many more. Nancy Buhr, a Pajaro Dunes frequent visitor and homeowner, states “Our house is pretty normal looking, but obviously people went kind of crazy down there. There is the flying barn, which is up on stilts. Everybody was just kind of blown away that they would build a house like that.” There are houses with irregular shapes and forms mixed in with traditional houses you would expect to find in a beach community.

Although many houses are designed with a creative theme, you can still find a selection of modern houses.

Jon Freeman, a homeowner at Pajaro Dunes, has been a frequent visitor to the resort since it first opened. He has watched the architecture grow up with the resort and knows the importance of it to the community. When describing other resorts and how they compare to Pajaro, he says, “Every single thing is cookie cutter and it feels like everybody is the same and driving the same car into the same house. At Pajaro Dunes it’s very eclectic.”

At Pajaro Dunes, this feeling of it being eclectic is an important distinction. In 20 steps, you can walk from a medieval castle to a Chinese pagoda and pass by a windmill along the way. Pajaro Dunes homes were built at a time where people were willing to be bold and creative with their home. The fact that these homes were primarily second residence of families gave them a freedom to explore different architectural styles. You don’t see this in neighboring beach communities.

The castle house, The ship house 17

“ here than people realize.

We have a lot more

It’s an experience. It’s not just a place to stay.

”

- Morgan Stuart

The Flying Barn 18

Sanctuary

P

eople come to Pajaro Dunes to connect with nature, and with each other. Hare, Brewer, and Kelley wanted to develop more than beachfront homes and condominiums; they wanted to build a community. A place where not only could visitors get away from the stress of daily lives but also to connect and engage with their family and friends. There are tennis, volleyball, and bocce ball courts as well as community centers for organized use. Guests can be as active as they want or simply hang out on the beach all day. The resort fills the need for true decompression from stress and getting back to nature while enjoying a beautiful setting. Morgan Stuart, the Vice President and General Manager of Pajaro Dunes, describes it as, “A world of its own in the middle of a hustle, bustle, busy area.”

Pajaro Dunes has also been a popular destination for Silicon Valley companies. During the early days of Apple, Steve Jobs often brought his team down to Pajaro Dunes for offsite retreats. (Credit Where Due) The quiet, secluded location proves to be ideal for team bonding and brainstorming. Science backs the powerful effects of the ocean. Research shows that beaches are proven to be a natural stress reliever. A study by Richard Shuster, a clinical psychologist, shows that looking out at the ocean actually changes our brain waves’ frequency and sends us into a mild meditative state. The smell of the ocean breeze also contributes to your soothed state as you breathe in the negative ions that come from the crashing waves. Negative ions increase oxygen flow to the brain which can help the body become more focused.

Not only is Pajaro Dunes a sanctuary for the people who go there, it is a literal sanctuary for the birds and wildlife they protect. Something you’ll notice immediately when visiting Pajaro Dunes is the amount and variety of birds. Seagulls, Brown Pelicans, Cranes, Sandpipers, Sanderlings, and Comerants are only a few of the bird species you will find. The Pajaro Dunes community is committed to environmental stewardship of their beach and the surrounding habitats for wildlife. Homeowners at Pajaro Dunes created a non-profit group that protects habitats and wildlife in the area around the resort. This group, called Friends of Pajaro Dunes, brings awareness to the importance of wetlands conservation and volunteer their own time on wetlands restoration projects. One of Pajaro Dunes most impactful conservation projects is for the Snowy Plover. This small, fluffy, white bird has been on the endangered species list since 1993. Pajaro Dunes has been committed to providing a secluded habit for the Snowy Plover in an effort to increase their population. There is a dedicated portion of beach that is preserved as mating territory and is off limits to beach-goers.

Sandpipers by the ocean 21

Conclusion T

he Pacific Ocean touches all 1,000 miles of the California shoreline and has many beaches scattered along the whole coast. Pajaro Dunes has a legacy of providing a haven from the increasing pressurized world around it. For over 40 years, visitors have taken advantage of this unique and beautiful beach community, to connect with family, friends, and nature. This pristine location has stayed beautiful for all these years. It is a unique resort that comes along with a unique experience. This one of a kind resort will bring you endless memories that you will never forget.

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Works Cited

“Blog.” Santa-Cruz, www.santacruz.org/blog/article/750/5-things-we-love-about-pajaro-dunes.

Buhr, Nancy. Personal Interview. 4 April 2018.

Coastal Commission. California Coastal Commission, www.coastal.ca.gov/.

“Coastal Conservation.” Pajaro Dunes, visitpajarodunes.com/coastal-conservation/.

Freeman, Jon. Personal Interview. 28 March 2018.

“History.” Pajaro Dunes, visitpajarodunes.com/history/.

Holzman, Mickey. Personal Interview. 22 February 2018.

“It’s Not Done…”, Andy Hertzfeld, “Credit Where Due,” Folklore.org, January 1983. http://www.folklore.org/StoryView. py?project=Macint osh&story=Credit_Where_Due.txt&topic=Retreats&sortOrder=Sort%20by%20 Date&detail=high&showcomments=1 Law, Bona. “The California Coastal Commission Regulates Oceanfront Property Under California Law.” Titles and Deeds, 20 Dec. 2017, www.titlesanddeeds.com/2017/12/california-coastal-commission-regulates-oceanfront-property-california-law.html.

“Pajaro Dunes Resort Inspires Rest and Rejuvenation - Visit Santa Cruz County.” Santa-Cruz, www.santacruz.org/pajaro-dunesinpsires-rest-rejuvenation.

“Snowy Plover Overview, All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology.” Photos and Videos, All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology, www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Snowy_Plover/overview.

Stuart, Morgan. Personal Interview. 22 February 2018.

“What a Day at the Beach Does to Your Brain.” NBCNews.com, NBCUniversal News Group, www.nbcnews.com/better/health/whatbeach-does-your-brain-ncna787231.

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Tyler Buhr is a 17 year old and has lived in Los Altos his entire life. He currently attends Los Altos High School and Freestyle Academy. He plays water polo and swims for the school, as well as club. He volunteers for a program called Service League of Boys or SLOBS for short. In the program, they do a bunch of philanthropy work and volunteer at many local organizations. In his free time, he enjoys listening to music and socializing with friends. He has a passion for music and loves everything about it. He prioritizes concerts over everything and is hoping he can involve this passion into a career one day. Either that or he’d like to be involved in screenwriting. He loves to write creatively and create short stories.

Tyler Buhr