I am an architect writing in response to the recently published IJ article about the San Rafael Planning Commission study session on plans for Northgate mall (“San Rafael nears pivotal votes on mall housing plan,” Sept. 27). The public has done well to raise significant questions about traffic, schools, emergency egress and issues of public safety left unresolved by the developer.
During the meeting, I was part of a group of five residents from Villa Marin, a retirement community overlooking Northgate. We raised fundamental questions about the quality of the developer’s design, showing models to illustrate their points.
I believe that developers, such as Merlone Geier, are motivated by turning a profit for their company. They are accustomed to solving any planning problem by plunking down big boxes containing whatever they like (in this case market-rate apartments) and then building roads and drive-up parking structures to connect them.
It is only a matter of time before the state recognizes the fallacy of allowing developers to have their way in exchange for a paltry number of affordable housing units. I agree that we desperately need affordable housing, but it’s going to take subsidies to provide it in a meaningful way. Let’s hope our beautiful Terra Linda neighborhood is not a casualty of this process.
It is not too late for the Planning Commission and City Council to stand firm and insist that basic principles of good design be followed in this project. First, get the cars out of sight; second, provide generous open space; third, trade the theater and fast-food joints for businesses serving our true needs; fourth, arrange the buildings so that they are faceted and views are opened up; and, fifth, step the taller buildings back away from the neighbors and surrounding streets.
— Alan Jones, San Rafael
Hoo-boy, we just finished yet another lost season for the San Francisco Giants. Ownership and management bear full responsibility as they have clearly forgotten that their primary role is fielding a top level baseball team.
Instead, it seems that their focus has been on real estate development and assisting in ushering the Oakland A’s out of town. Baseball seems to be an afterthought — very sad.
— Steven Levine, Mill Valley
Several months ago, the IJ published my letter expressing concern for the wildly overburdened construction industry. I predicted that the current mania for “build, baby, build” legislation would make a bad situation far worse. Sure enough, it appears to me that’s exactly what we are seeing. And it’s not just “affordable” projects, which, to their credit, were actually meant to be affordable.
Nevertheless, it is no surprise to me to read that Marin workforce housing plans are coming in at a much higher price (“Costs balloon for Marin workforce housing projects,” Sept. 30). I have seen housing that could have been used to help the workforce being used for more senior housing, likely because the workforce housing plan didn’t pencil out. That’s a bad sign.
I read that the administrators involved with the plan to build housing for educators think that, given the reasonable assumption that interest rates will come down in the near future, the bottom line for their teacher housing will improve. But that’s a case of whistling past the graveyard. Lower interest rates will (generally) accelerate price and cost increases.
— Guy Palmer, Mill Valley
Recently, it was reported that more than 13,000 immigrants convicted of homicide — either in the United States or abroad — are living outside of Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention, according to data provided to Congress by ICE.
With the grace of God, we in Marin, to my knowledge, have not been seriously impacted by these convicted criminals. However, I believe that people in many cities and towns throughout America have. Some families have endured life-changing events as victims of crimes by people who are not supposed to be here.
Some Marin officials have advocated for sanctuary to those crossing the border. They offer far too few restrictions. I think it is time to wake up to reality. The Marin County Board of Supervisors needs to continue to reject proposals to make Marin a sanctuary county.
— Joe Haraburda, Tiburon
