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A tiny yawp
Jan. 13th, 2025 09:32 pmThere is an alleyway (that used to have trolley tracks) and a defunct cafe and a two story house and an unused warehouse diagonally across the street from me. And two tall glorious redwood trees. When I look in that direction I see dawn light, moon rise, and bits of the east bay hills.
Just before Thanksgiving, a notice went up that all of that was to be torn down to make way for a six story 143 unit apartment building that will fill the block from end to end and side to side, towering over this low-rise neighborhood. Because 15 of those units will be low-income housing, they get waivers on all the height and setback regulations that keep the area around a building livable.
The comment period was two weeks across Thanksgiving. I contacted my councilmember to ask for help around this, but his staff person was deeply unhelpful and said they're in favor of the project. I did write a letter with my concerns, and contacted some of the small neighborhood associations around here.
I felt like I should be organizing neighbors somehow, but I didn't know where to start. Friday, I got an email saying there's a zoom meeting organized by the developer coming up this Wednesday. I printed out 60 flyers with an introduction and the zoom info, with a photo of the concept drawing for the building on the back, and put them in mailboxes up and down my street. I included my email address, but no one has reached out. Maybe some of them will come to the meeting?
It's a small step, but at least it's a step. It felt like writing letters to voters was training for this, in a way. Print them out, send them on their way, expect a very small effect, if any.
I feel powerless and grief-stricken for the spaciousness I've been enjoying. Yes, we need more housing. 100% affordable and 100% in tune with the neighborhood. I can only hope that it will be a long time before they break ground.
Just before Thanksgiving, a notice went up that all of that was to be torn down to make way for a six story 143 unit apartment building that will fill the block from end to end and side to side, towering over this low-rise neighborhood. Because 15 of those units will be low-income housing, they get waivers on all the height and setback regulations that keep the area around a building livable.
The comment period was two weeks across Thanksgiving. I contacted my councilmember to ask for help around this, but his staff person was deeply unhelpful and said they're in favor of the project. I did write a letter with my concerns, and contacted some of the small neighborhood associations around here.
I felt like I should be organizing neighbors somehow, but I didn't know where to start. Friday, I got an email saying there's a zoom meeting organized by the developer coming up this Wednesday. I printed out 60 flyers with an introduction and the zoom info, with a photo of the concept drawing for the building on the back, and put them in mailboxes up and down my street. I included my email address, but no one has reached out. Maybe some of them will come to the meeting?
It's a small step, but at least it's a step. It felt like writing letters to voters was training for this, in a way. Print them out, send them on their way, expect a very small effect, if any.
I feel powerless and grief-stricken for the spaciousness I've been enjoying. Yes, we need more housing. 100% affordable and 100% in tune with the neighborhood. I can only hope that it will be a long time before they break ground.
