Though Affordable Housing Week ended last week, housing is a topic always on Bay Area residents' minds. As one of the most expensive places to live in the country, below market housing is an absolute need for Redwood City residents.
Current development proposals in Redwood City include the Bair Island Renovation project, the development on the old Mel's Bowl site, and the development on the old Dodge dealership.
But, Ira said, "It's never enough."
Questions for the Mayor:
- How would you grade Redwood City's ability to provide enough affordable housing to residents?
- Do you think the proposed Cargill development project could solve the affordable housing need?
- How does the city work with developers to determine the number of affordable housing units?
- What has been the most memorable affordable housing development?
I live at City Center Plaza, a beautiful example of low income housing, and was on a waiting list for years to get into that complex. As a service worker and a resident of Woodside and Redwood City for over 50 years, I am very worried about being priced out of the area, as are my children. There is such a need for low income housing in this area, with long wait lists for buildings that are low income, and I don't see how residents that partake of the service industry (caregivers, household help, landscapers, and other service positions) expect their employees to commute in from Concord and Tracy as some I know do. I feel this will lead us to another kind of economic collapse if we don't have the foresight to provide more low income housing. Like Diana, I also urge city council members to look again at inclusionary zoning. ~Carol Wolfe