Citizen Comments from Second Workshop
Group Number Three - Housing
Facilitator: Donya Maria Twyman Recorder: Virginia Ferriday
Session 1
Note: Group Number Three only met during the first session.
Question: In
Alternative I (the linear alternative), new multi-family housing is located above retail along the 7th and 9th street corridors. Strengths? Downsides?
Strengths:
- Multi-family housing is desirable
- Housing above retail would enhance streets after hours
- Returns to historical building type
Downsides:
- People will not walk more than 10 minutes to shop
- 11th Street ground-floor retail should be retained
- If encourage retail on 7th and 9th where there is now housing will displace some units
General Comments:
- Need to look at zoning again, find out what zoning says now, how it needs to be changed
- Need to plan strategically where 650 new residential units will be located
- Estimate of market demand for 650 new units is too low
- Utilize CRA to develop more housing
- In final report should have targets for family housing, senior housing and affordable housing
- Should encourage professional offices on upper floors
- Need to think in terms of restaurant/bar type retail as distinct from mom-and-pop stores and professional offices. Different locations are appropriate for the two categories.
Question: In
Alternative II (the nodal alternative) new multi-family housing is concentrated in commercial nodes. Strengths? Downsides?
Strengths:
- Like having residences in commercial areas
General Comments:
- Would like more housing on 11th Street.
- Would like more mom-and-pop and neighborhood service stores on 11th.
Question: In Alternative III ( the dispersed alternative) new multi-family housing is dispersed throughout the neighborhood. Strengths? Downsides?
Strengths:
- Parking could be more easily accommodated
- Disperses traffic
- Does not add stress to utilities
- Easier to use financial tools to make sure it happens
Downsides:
- Political disadvantage to diversity
- Neighborhood less attractive. Won’t be able to attract destination retail. Won’t see big things.
General Comments:
- What percentage of 650 new units should be affordable?
- Need to define “affordable”; $65,000/year income is not appropriate
- Have plenty of affordable housing now; issue is how long it will remain affordable
- NCRC is supposed to be watchdog for amount of new affordable housing in abandoned buildings, etc.
Question: From the housing perspective, which of the alternatives do you prefer?
- Alternative I – 4
- Alternative III – 1
Some participants did not express a preference
