About 306
I’m Bob Howells. My wife, Katherine, and I are the owners of Village 306. We think the home is pretty special, and not only for its wonderful location in the heart of the Village of Arroyo Grande.
It also happens to be the home I grew up in. And even though we have greatly remodeled it, it retains much of its original midcentury style and charm.
A Bit of History
The home was built in 1959 by Louis Routzahn, a member of a prominent local family. (Old-timers fondly remember Routzahn Park, which now lies under Lopez Lake.) Louis sold it to my parents, Billy and Ginnie Howells, in 1968, and it’s been in our family ever since. Growing up in the Village, known back then as Old Arroyo, was idyllic. My brother, sister, and I walked or rode bikes everywhere. We waded barefoot in the creek, bought penny candy at Don’s Variety, hung out at the Harvest Festival, and marched in parades on Branch Street. The Village was its own little world—not quite as hip as it is now, though certainly charming.
After graduating from Arroyo Grande High School, I needed to escape the small town. I moved to the big city to attend UCLA, and went on to a career as a travel writer. (You can check out some of my work at bobhowells.com.) I roamed the world and had scads of adventures, but AG always was, and still is, home.
Mom was an elementary school librarian who enjoyed a retirement career as a columnist for the local newspaper. Dad was a retired Air Force pilot who loved his second career as AG’s only walking mailman. He was our mailman, and knew everyone in the Village. He passed in 1996. My older brother passed in 2020. Mom lived in the house until her death at age 95 in 2021, which is when my wife and I bought out my sister, Suz, and set about upgrading and remodeling the home, inside and out.
Midcentury Touches
Sure, we upgraded the house, but we also still love its midcentury touches, such as the flat rooflines, vaulted ceiling, clerestory windows, corner fireplace, and my favorite: the original doorbell. Some houses have a Ring doorbell. We have a doorbell you can ring. Ding-dong!
Landscaping
Does it look a little sparse? That’s the great thing about plants: They grow! We redid the landscaping to emphasize drought-tolerant native plants that will attract hummingbirds and insects. We tore out the old lawn and replaced other water-guzzlers, but held on to Mom’s beloved rose bushes, front and rear.
We urge you to return often to check on the progress of the landscaping.