Landmarks coming down

Four vintage water towers in Chico—including the pair of downtown icons—have been marked for removal.

Pete Bonacich, Chico district manager for Cal Water, told the CN&R that a seismic assessment found instability in the two at East Third and Orient streets (pictured) as well as the towers by Chico State and Enloe Medical Center. None is currently operational.

The downtown towers, built in 1905 and 1913, have historic designations; the cost to retrofit would run $800,000 to $1.2 million each, versus $150,000 to $200,000 to dismantle.

Bonacich said Cal Water “had a lot of conversations” about saving the historic towers “because we understand the iconic nature, what they mean to the community.”

The towers will be dismantled later this summer or fall, depending on permitting. The landmarks could wind up at Meriam Park, Bonacich said, as developer Dan Gonzales has expressed interest in restoring them as decorative features.