Housing project should be more diverse, more relevant

Forty-nine affordable rental units are planned for a lot at 20269 Broadway, just at the boundary of Sonoma’s Gateway District and main entrance into the South Sonoma neighborhood. Affordable housing is needed in Sonoma and we hope to influence a more unique approach to new development and to this project in particular.

In December neighbors formed a working group to share ideas and responsibilities in researching the proposed Broadway housing project. The group expanded to 50 people and is now called the South Sonoma Group. Everyone is concerned about the ways a large project will impact a neighborhood that already experiences heavy traffic because of the location of Train Town and the busy loading dock at the Lodge. Residents are often caught in traffic and blocked by jackknifed trucks parked at the dock on Clay Street. The dock doesn’t meet acceptable planning standards and the width of Clay is needed to allow for loading/unloading activities. Train Town does not have adequate parking and its visitors park on Clay, making matters worse.

There are likely to be more problems in the future and we feel only an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) is capable of conducting a thorough assessment of the new project. It would inform City decision-makers, other agencies, and the public of the potential consequences of building this project. For example, an EIR would confirm or deny there are problems with the City’s water and sewer systems. If problems exist they need to be mitigated before another large construction project goes online.

I mentioned our desire for a more unique approach to development. In our opinion, a “multigenerational community” concept could be embraced by developers and the City because of benefits to residents and the community at large. Multigenerational communities can provide support to families and children while allowing elders to feel they have a purpose. This approach could also help other vulnerable people, including wounded veterans and developmentally disabled adults.

We believe it’s in everyone’s best interest to intentionally include apartments for seniors for two reasons: 1) Senior housing was identified as the first priority in the Housing Needs Assessment, and 2) A strong number of seniors could create a more stable community.

Regarding this project, the developer plans to offer housing to people from just one income bracket, when, in contrast, HUD has recommended a mixed-income strategy to support diversity and eliminate the effects of concentrated poverty. It seems like a common sense idea.

Another common sense idea is to rent to Sonoma residents, but unless the City creates that preference, residents will likely come from other towns in Sonoma County.

The Sonoma Group supports new affordable housing and we want to see the Broadway project succeed by being more diverse, more relevant to the needs of Sonoma, and taking care not to exacerbate the frustrating conditions that already exist in this part of town.

Lynn Fiske Watts, Sonoma