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Quick Notes - Rep. Lee, TOD & Forum For Families

This weekend Rep. Barbara Lee is visiting San Leandro. Next weekend, we will host a forum on building stronger families. There is also an updated plan for the downtown Transit Oriented Development.

 

Q&A this Saturday in San Leandro with Rep. Barbara Lee 

Representative Barbara Lee will be visiting San Leandro this Saturday and speaking at 10:30 a.m. at on Bancroft near Dutton. Please come and participate in the Q&A with Rep. Lee. Under redistricting, starting in January 2013, she will be San Leandro's representative in Congress.

New Plan for Transit Oriented Development next to San Leandro BART Station 

On April 9, 2012, at a City Council work session, City staff along with project developers unveiled an updated proposal for the mixed use San Leandro Crossings Development Masterplan. A key component is OSIsoft will develop a technology campus on the site west of the San Leandro BART Station. This builds upon and extends the commercial district next to the San Leandro BART station, bringing hundreds of new high-paying jobs to San Leandro. 

In a recent report from the San Francisco Planning and Urban Research Association, the authors make the case that there is a strong link between density and job growth. "In fact, we believe that locating jobs closer to transit — and closer to one another — will be key to the Bay Area’s long-term economic growth."

You can learn more about the Crossing development at http://www.sanleandro.org/depts/cd/projects/crossings.asp

San Leandro Forum on Children and Teens Coming Soon

On Saturday morning, April 21, the City will join with the San Leandro Unified School District, the San Lorenzo Unified School District, and the San Leandro Education Foundation to co-sponsor a "Forum on Children and Teens" at the Main San Leandro Library, 300 Estudillo Avenue, from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Former California Superintendent of Public Instruction, Delaine Eastin, will be the keynote speaker.

Our schools, SLED and the City have been working to create a format where families, children and teens, educators and public officials can come together and discuss the issues facing the families and young people of our community. We are extremely honored that Superintendent Eastin will be our keynote speaker. She has a tremendous breadth of knowledge and experience regarding education in California. 

With the theme of “Putting the Pieces Together to Build Strong Families,” topics at the forum will include youth wellness, teens and technology, parenting education, job training and mentoring resources, and more. Other speakers include myself; Alameda County Supervisor Wilma Chan; San Lorenzo Schools Director of Student Services, Dr. Ammar Saheli; Ms. Dale Gregory, MPH; and members of the San Leandro Police Department.

Everyone is welcome to attend this free event. Childcare will be provided, but space is limited and each child must be registered in advance.  To register for childcare, please e-mail childrensforum@sanleandro.org or call 577-3351.

Leah Hall April 17, 2012 at 07:22 pm
I was curious what the The Bay Area League of Women Voters position on local housing policy was and found this:
The LWVBA Position on Housing Policy Support a regional housing plan that provides for balanced and equitable housing throughout the region. Support federal and state legislation that facilitates the implementation of regional housing goals. Support a regional fair share housing plan as part of the broader comprehensive regional plan. Place special emphasis, consistent with compact growth principles, on local efforts to meet needs for very-low-to-moderate-income housing. State and regional guidelines for local policies that promote: a higher density housing b inclusionary zoning c mixed-use housing d housing near transit e incentives for development of affordable housing f incentives for rehabilitation of existing housing stock g clarity and consistency in the development process h emphasis on good design, maintenance and management of subsidized housing. i retention of subsidized housing as affordable housing 3 Requirement that major new commercial and industrial developments assist in providing housing for the jobs created by such developments. 4 Establishment of a regional trust fund for the funding of needed housing development throughout the region. http://www.lwvbayarea.org/files/social_policy_lwvba2004-06.pdf
Leah Hall April 17, 2012 at 07:45 pm
"Bay Area League of Women Voters Day Tackles Housing" -Bay Area Monitor
(April 2012) Thought this article might be of interest to other housing advocates: http://www.bayareamonitor.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=297:bay-area-league-day-tackles-housing&catid=112:aprilmay-2012&Itemid=66
Leah Hall April 17, 2012 at 08:01 pm
Sensitive much? Perhaps you should consider going into a different line of work, or try earning a more reputable degree of higher learning. :-)
Fran April 17, 2012 at 08:33 pm
And David don't forget the crappy quality of this housing. Every fixture made in china, the cheapest crap available, believe me. Oh, there's no doubt in my mind the developers will make out like bandits. People think they are doing this out of the goodness of their hearts. Cracks me up. LOL. It's so simple...just follow the $$$. I may be persuaded otherwise if I thought it was actually needed, but I don't see it. Perhaps if our public schools were better, these so-called "workforce" families would move there and it would be as imagined. But unfortunately we don't and it won't.
Fran April 17, 2012 at 08:39 pm
First and foremost the RDA $ goes to pay bonds, then other obligations as they decide. I'm assuming, the commission that was just formed will decide. Morgan Mack Rose is on it, so I'm hoping the school district isn't going to be short-changed. She needs to be vigilant about that.
Paul Vargas April 17, 2012 at 08:54 pm
I knew those old ladies were nothing but a bunch of Leftists hacks.
Paul Vargas April 17, 2012 at 08:57 pm
What a laughable article. Those who want to fight sprawl are idiots and limiting the opportunities of future generations. No wonder if it weren't for the illegals flooding the Bay Area this place would be in a net population loss position.
Rob Rich April 17, 2012 at 09:37 pm
It seems the total number of housing units has decreased from 700 - 200 with office/tech space instead.
Rob Rich April 17, 2012 at 10:10 pm
I have worked with Bridge and I know that they develop high quality affordable housing. Their property management sweats the details, using lessons learned from past projects to inform the design of future projects. They are very sharp, hard working, and effective.
David April 17, 2012 at 10:55 pm
Thus spake the woman from her quarter-acre lot in the burbs, from which house she drives her child all the way across town for a 5-digit private school.
David April 17, 2012 at 10:56 pm
Rob, according to Bridge's website, the Alameda, of 100 units, was "valued" at $36,800,000.
There is no new project value for the 200 unit complex. Previous housing projects like the ones in Oakland were built for $300k-ish per unit. Again, higher than single-family house prices.
David April 17, 2012 at 10:57 pm
Rob, give me $300,000 and I'll prove a "high quality" housing unit. Heck, I provide 3 high quality housing units already for that price.
Leah Hall April 17, 2012 at 11:48 pm
High quality "crime holes" are Us? My goodness, Fact Man has my head spinning now.
David April 17, 2012 at 11:57 pm
High cost. I never wrote these would be 'high quality.' Keep rockin, hypocrite.
Leah Hall April 18, 2012 at 12:37 am
The vast expanse of your personal knowledge is breathtaking, indeed, Cowboy. :)
Leah Hall April 18, 2012 at 02:52 am
Nah.
I merely cut and paste this content from the wonderful world wide web, Fact Man.
Leah Hall April 18, 2012 at 03:22 am
Now what we gonna do is clap four times quickly
And bust a signal (clap clap clap clap) WHOOP WHOOP! (The sound of being rocked by the rodeo clown hypocrite)
Fran April 18, 2012 at 11:27 am
Rich, I have nothing against Bridge. It's just good business practice to cut costs when and where you can. Power to them.
David April 18, 2012 at 12:05 pm
Leah, when are you going to write up a blog post?
I look forward to you proposing some real plans to increase San Leandro's density. There is an entire area of San Leandro, you're familiar with, called the "Broadmoor." It is a suburban wasteland of typically less than 2000 sq ft houses on oversized quarter-acre lots, you should be astounded and deeply upset at such a waste of space in this sprawling section of a sprawling suburb. Here's a modest proposal, again, you should easily be able to support. Split all the quarter acre lots lining Broadmoor, Victoria, Beverly, etc etc. Put in roads/alleys behind and build a bunch of new houses along the new roads. New lot size ~3000-3500 sq ft for existing and new houses (the remainder going for the road & sidewalks. Unlike you, I actually lived in such a neighborhood in a small city you might be familiar with, "Chicago." Standard lot size is 3125 ft, alleys in back, etc, so you know it can be done. Instant doubling of density in the most disgustingly sprawling area of this eeevil sprawling suburb. Or do you actually prefer your quarter-acre lot, and would rather "increase density" by corralling poor people somewhere you can't see them (since you don't take BART on your daily trips to Oakland).
Rob Rich April 18, 2012 at 03:59 pm
Fran, since Bridge maintains and operates their buildings for the long term, they have a fundamentally different focus than someone who is looking to fluff & buff in order to flip to maximize profits. By drawing on their decades of experience developing and managing affordable housing in San Francisco, Oakland, San Jose, San Diego, Palo Alto, Santa Rosa, Fremont, Pinole, Sacramento, and Livermore (to name a few) they are able to identify and specify cost effective durable fixtures and finishes that drive down ongoing operating costs. This "life cycle cost analysis" helps them to maintain high quality housing without jacking up the rents.
Mike April 18, 2012 at 11:45 pm
http://www.insidebayarea.com/oakland-tribune/ci_20427376/pleasanton-approves-500-apartments-south-bart-station
What a lot of people don't understand is the state requires a certain amount of new affordable housing, like Pleasanton has to build in this article
David April 19, 2012 at 12:01 pm
Then, Rob, they'd be a perfect partner with SL to buy up foreclosed houses, fix them up, and rent them out. There are plenty, would cost less, and would be a real "investment" in extant housing stock.
This project remains an unneeded waste.
David April 19, 2012 at 12:03 pm
And in housing project news, just a BART stop away (hmmm):
A man was shot and killed in East Oakland on Wednesday while pushing a child in a toy car, authorities said. The shooting happened near the corner of 65th Avenue and Eastlawn Street in the Lockwood Gardens housing complex about 3:15 p.m., police said. Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/04/18/BA4A1O5JH8.DTL#ixzz1sUzYQ3nd
David April 19, 2012 at 01:38 pm
Mike, one of the points made repeatedly is that San Leandro *IS* already affordable, with about 200 units of housing available RIGHT NOW that are affordable to people making as little as 25%-40% or so of the median household income.
Pleasanton: http://www.redfin.com/city/14986/CA/Pleasanton Median LIST price: $719,000, nearly double that of San Leandro. What people don't understand is that San Leandro is both affordable and is next door to even more affordable areas. Pleasanton is neither. Nor is Walnut Creek, San Francisco, San Mateo, or other examples thrown around here.
Marga Lacabe April 19, 2012 at 02:47 pm
Mike, that's actually not true. The state requires that cities have housing plans that identify properties where low income housing can be built, and that they don't stand in the way of low income housing being built. But the law does not require that the city contribute financially in any way whatsoever to building affordable housing.
Here is the law: http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/cgi-bin/displaycode?section=gov&group=65001-66000&file=65580-65589.8 The problem with Pleasanton is that they had passed an anti-expansion ordinance - by limiting how much housing could be built, they were thus violating their obligation to not hinder the building of affordable housing.
Fran April 20, 2012 at 01:22 pm
It always amazes me how people interpret laws to fit their objectives.. It is up to the individual city, as far as percentages to market rate housing. It was, however, required that redevelopment agencies contribute money towards the goal of providing more affordable housing. San Leandro RDA did that hotel and the senior housing near Grocery Outlet, if I'm not mistaken.
Tonya Willliams April 24, 2012 at 09:17 pm
unknown.... first off half of u people are already to uppity and thats why this world is so messed up cause people who are really low income and are in need of housing or low income theres certain people like u who have issues and thats why there is sooo much crime. people are homeless and all you people do is care about yourself so get a grip of real life. some people dont have family at all to be there probably passed away and they are left with nothing but shelters....
Vanessa June 1, 2012 at 12:38 pm
Why not make the condo units available for sale? When it was decided to make the units rentals the real estate market was on a downward spiral. Now however, things have changed and there is a shortage of inventory. The condo market for new, well designed, open and bright floor plans has a good demand. The prices will make it very affordable for single people or couples looking to move to a new development. Teachers, firefighters can purchase them with FHA loans. They do not have to be below market rate units as condos are already more affordable by nature. This will be a great compromise, allowing you to build the units, and make San Leandro residents happy by not making the condos into more rentals. If they must be rentals for the $24 million grant to pass, then let's talk about other options for private investment and lets avoid the grant all together. When the negatives outweigh the positives it is time to move own and leave the grant idea behind. As an alternative you can rehab or build them along East 14th neat Bay Fair, 94578 zip code is where most of our problem area is and a better fit perhaps.
Paul Vargas June 2, 2012 at 12:05 pm
Yes, Leah, I've dealt with the Leauge of Women Voters and they are merely an extention of the liberal Democrat Party, totally non- "non partisan".
Paul Vargas June 2, 2012 at 12:06 pm
Interesting proposal.

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anthony June 18, 2013 at 09:24 am
so is Strobridge, Castro Valley Bart...excellent farmer's market too. pick another if you want, IRead More have more as well. www.bridgehousing.com
David June 18, 2013 at 09:30 am
And you think that plunking down a very low income housing project in the middle of cheap housing inRead More San Leandro is more like Castro Valley? or more like West/East Oakland. It's more like the latter. Can't wait for the drive-by shootings and muggings to ratchet up when we thrown away $9M in tax dollars on building a new downtown SL BART ghetto.
Rob Rich June 18, 2013 at 12:35 pm
It is unfortunate the Bridge has been unable to stop all crime in Oakland. Sadly, that lesson willRead More probably apply to San Leandro too.
Mattie Ignacio June 13, 2013 at 06:02 pm
it was a hundred times better...it is now useless!
Richard Eisenman June 14, 2013 at 11:17 am
I'm not a very regular viewer. Could you be a bit more specific about what changed recently (plusesRead More and minuses)? Thanks.
Opera On Tap Co-Manager, Indre Viskontas
Joanna Dyer June 12, 2013 at 07:16 am
F
Molly Rosen June 14, 2013 at 04:36 pm
One of the best operas ever. I hope to see it. How excited for OOT and San Leandro!
Susan Reisz June 10, 2013 at 07:29 pm
Can you reprint this several times prior to June 27. I don't want people to forget about it? Thanks
Unstable vs. stable world views
Michael Moore June 2, 2013 at 06:02 pm
Leah, do you have the authorization from Disney for the use of the copyrighted Dumbo character youRead More use for your blog? I thought that the policy of Patch was to deny access to non-authorized materials such as this.
Leah Hall June 2, 2013 at 08:12 pm
Nope.
Leah Hall June 2, 2013 at 09:44 pm
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/a/a7/Dumbo-1941-poster.jpg My 13 year old daughter justRead More explained how to search www.creativecommons.org.