Last night (April 11) the city council deliberated on the proposed implementation Chapters on funding Amenities for the Little Portugal and Roosevelt Park urban villages. These chapters supplement the village plans with procedures for funding amenities, including parks, trails, streetscape improvements, public art and affordable housing. Without this we would just get higher density development and none of the things that actually pull together a community and make it a village.

The mayor and four council colleagues, including Raul Peralez and Magdalena Carrasco in whose districts these villages lie, rejected the staff proposal for funding (basically by negotiating with developers) and came up with an alternative of their own (basically a fee). The council agreed that the options need study. The decision was to refer the proposal to staff, which will report on progress in late May and probably not come back with a revised plan until late summer.

So, we are in limbo at the moment, but of course we’ll keep an eye on it and keep you informed.

Dayana Salazar (CommUniverCity) and Davide Vieira and Bob Van Cleef (BARTTVA and FWBT NAC) spoke to urge the council to adopt a funding system that would be sufficient for the necessary amenities and that would involve the community in the spending decisions.

The council also cleared two affordable housing projects (King and Alum Rock and N. 21st Street) in the villages, allowing them to move forward. Community meetings on these projects will be coming up. We’ll let you know when/where.

In Community,

Terry