Protesters rallied early Monday aiming to slow progress on a controversial affordable housing development in Marin City.
Around 30 demonstrators gathered at 825 Drake Ave. at about 7 a.m. The demonstration was organized by the community group Save Our City, led by Bettie Hodges, a founder of the Marin City Community Development Corp., and Marilyn Mackel, a former Los Angeles court commissioner.
The project was approved in 2020 under Senate Bill 35. SB 35 exempts projects from most zoning and environmental requirements if certain standards are met.
The plan originally called for a five-story, 74-apartment building. A proposal has since emerged to scale back the effort under a plan negotiated between the county and the developer to move 32 apartments to a parcel in Tamalpais Valley.
“I feel good about this,” said Hodges, who organized the Monday protest. “As people are walking and driving by, they are stopping and asking questions. Some are joining us. We were peaceful, and on the sides of the street.”
Critics of the development said the building would disrupt traffic and affect the health of residents in Village Oduduwa, a nearby senior housing community. Specifically, organizers said the building would block essential sunlight for older residents, many of whom are disabled and unable to get outside regularly.
“We’re really here to support them, because they have to be here every day,” said Mackel. “We have to be there for them.”
Protesters hoped to disrupt plans to begin site preparation on Monday but no heavy equipment arrived at the site. Developer Caleb Roope could not be reached for comment.
“It was a good morning, because we don’t have equipment here,” said Liz Talley, a member of Save Our City and resident of Marin City. “The plan is to sit all week.”
Two court cases are pending challenging the project, and a hearing is set for Tuesday in Marin Superior Court. Hodges said the group planned to return to the site daily through at least this week, depending on the outcome of this week’s hearing.
