Condos Approved
[ Excerpt from SBN-P article of July 26, 2006 by Joshua Molina. ]
In surprise move, City Council OKs condo project
In a surprising twist, the Santa Barbara City Council on Tuesday night rejected calls by an A-list of affordable housing advocates to block a condominium project that would replace rental apartments on the first block of North La Cumbre Road.
The vote was 4-1 to deny an appeal of the proposal, filed by housing activist Mickey Flacks, the Santa Barbara County Action Network and PUEBLO, two high-profile community organizations. Only Councilman Das Williams backed Ms. Flacks and the two groups in voting to deny the project.
The majority of the council, however, felt that the nine-unit condo project was a good one.
The council members said that the larger discussions related to the conversion of relatively affordable rental apartments into market-rate condos should be handled separately. They said it would be unfair to tie up the project when a broader community discussion is necessary...
The project consists of a new three-story building containing nine residential condominiums, ranging in size from 887 to 1,578 square feet. The condos would include eight market-rate units and one below-market-rate unit intended for middle-income workers...
The appellants argued that the project was inconsistent with the city's general plan, housing element and zoning ordinance, and that it will decrease the number of affordable rental units available in Santa Barbara at a time when the high cost of housing is pushing some people to move out of the area.
Many of the residents who live in the building spoke out at Tuesday's meeting. In emotional testimony, they pleaded with the council to save their homes...
Supporters of the project were able to convince the council that the "modestly sized condominiums" being proposed would be affordable for first-time home buyers. They said the existing building is old and in need of demolition.
They also said that the condos might help revitalize the upper State Street area...
The appellants had a different perspective. They said that Santa Barbara needs to preserve its affordable housing stock and discourage the building of market-rate condominiums that are out of reach for many people.
Harley Augustino, executive director of PUEBLO, a group that advocates for affordable housing and alternative transportation, called on the council to remember that the 30 working-class people who now live at the site pay taxes, contribute to the community and should be heard.
"If we can't preserve affordable housing in Santa Barbara, I don't know where we can," Mr. Augustino said.
In addition to denying the appeal, the council voted to set up a work session within 60 days to talk about ways Santa Barbara can move quickly to preserve its rental and affordable housing stock.
For Mr. Williams, however, taking that action alone wasn't strong enough. He said that it is hypocritical for the city to say it backs affordable housing, but then approve market-rate condos that replace existing rental apartments.
"I believe that projects like this are undermining the public's confidence in affordable housing as a total package," Mr. Williams said. "We need to send a clear message that this kind of project frustrates the goals of the general plan."
e-mail: jmolina@newspress.com
Santa Barbara News-Press
In surprise move, City Council OKs condo project
In a surprising twist, the Santa Barbara City Council on Tuesday night rejected calls by an A-list of affordable housing advocates to block a condominium project that would replace rental apartments on the first block of North La Cumbre Road.
The vote was 4-1 to deny an appeal of the proposal, filed by housing activist Mickey Flacks, the Santa Barbara County Action Network and PUEBLO, two high-profile community organizations. Only Councilman Das Williams backed Ms. Flacks and the two groups in voting to deny the project.
The majority of the council, however, felt that the nine-unit condo project was a good one.
The council members said that the larger discussions related to the conversion of relatively affordable rental apartments into market-rate condos should be handled separately. They said it would be unfair to tie up the project when a broader community discussion is necessary...
The project consists of a new three-story building containing nine residential condominiums, ranging in size from 887 to 1,578 square feet. The condos would include eight market-rate units and one below-market-rate unit intended for middle-income workers...
The appellants argued that the project was inconsistent with the city's general plan, housing element and zoning ordinance, and that it will decrease the number of affordable rental units available in Santa Barbara at a time when the high cost of housing is pushing some people to move out of the area.
Many of the residents who live in the building spoke out at Tuesday's meeting. In emotional testimony, they pleaded with the council to save their homes...
Supporters of the project were able to convince the council that the "modestly sized condominiums" being proposed would be affordable for first-time home buyers. They said the existing building is old and in need of demolition.
They also said that the condos might help revitalize the upper State Street area...
The appellants had a different perspective. They said that Santa Barbara needs to preserve its affordable housing stock and discourage the building of market-rate condominiums that are out of reach for many people.
Harley Augustino, executive director of PUEBLO, a group that advocates for affordable housing and alternative transportation, called on the council to remember that the 30 working-class people who now live at the site pay taxes, contribute to the community and should be heard.
"If we can't preserve affordable housing in Santa Barbara, I don't know where we can," Mr. Augustino said.
In addition to denying the appeal, the council voted to set up a work session within 60 days to talk about ways Santa Barbara can move quickly to preserve its rental and affordable housing stock.
For Mr. Williams, however, taking that action alone wasn't strong enough. He said that it is hypocritical for the city to say it backs affordable housing, but then approve market-rate condos that replace existing rental apartments.
"I believe that projects like this are undermining the public's confidence in affordable housing as a total package," Mr. Williams said. "We need to send a clear message that this kind of project frustrates the goals of the general plan."
e-mail: jmolina@newspress.com
Santa Barbara News-Press
Posted by Malcolm on
7/27/2006
1 Comments
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