Trent Diamanti indicated (Oct. 9 Leader) community park lands are perfect for “affordable” housing.  Indeed, many communities are converting and selling assets such as parks lands to help supplement municipal budgets — public assets sold into private ownership and development; investment practices favoring large corporations. The golf park rezone proposal would yield big profits; housing with water views and golf course access — in high demand by deep pockets . The mayor has eliminated the word “affordable” from this proposal.

Diamanti suggests that the City go into the housing business with the concomitant staffing. More appropriate would be the waiving of city fees for non profit projects. Likely, if Faber et al succeed in their rezone idea, the property would be sold as high end real estate; the subsequent housing would not be for waitresses and ship carpenters. The profits would go into the city bank account — salaries perhaps?

It would be a great help if the City would provide an inventory of publicly owned lands and convene community meetings to discuss future options for truly affordable and low income housing. During the Comp Plan open house it became clear the community is not favorable to building housing on the golf lands.

However, the School District is researching its future needs including uses of the Mt. View property. The tennis court land is centrally located and next to a multi use zone, the parcels bounded by Blaine, Kearny, and Gaines streets with affordable and subsidized apartments on one side. This corner has ready access to infrastructure and transit. 

This type of publicly owned real estate is appropriate for critically needed studio, one and two bedroom apartments; essential housing for high school graduates who want to stay in this community and  join the local workforce. This is where rezoning should happen — not park land open space.

Julie Jaman

Quimper Peninsula