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With the current emphasis on affordable housing and transit-oriented development (TOD), projects are proliferating throughout our cities. To answer the call at all governmental levels and provide more of each, Fremont recently received a multi-million dollar state grant for an affordable housing project (390 Thornton). Another development in the Centerville district (Veranda Project) promises mixed-use housing, including some affordable units,under the umbrella of TOD. These projects are laudable in respect to adding housing, but the addition of commercial space is minor.
This emphasis on transit and additional affordable housing (is it really affordable?) assumes a basic premise of a complete community that offers a wide range of products and services within its borders. Centerville has a train station and bus stops but lacks many retail opportunities for residents. In the far past, a supermarket s was promised and even signage debated, but never materialized. As more and more housing is projected with TOD relaxation of building restrictions, will we end up creating housing islands?
The idea of TOD makes sense in a community that offers a plethora of goods and services within easy walking distance, especially if many residents use mass transit to commute to their workplace. However, in the current post-pandemic transition, this paradigm has been challenged and may not present the same appeal as in previous years. Also, to expect all residents including elderly to walk or bike long distances for community support services is unrealistic
Those in need of affordable housing, whether mass transit commuters or not, require a complete – what the state calls “sustainable” – community. Building islands of housing that continues to promote automobile travel even for short, shopping trips, defeats the premise. In the rush to fill every vacant space with housing, are we forgetting a larger dynamic? More housing means more people that leads to a greater need for supporting goods and services. If this balance is not addressed, advantages may be lost. Large scale low-income housing projects in some large cities that have become crime-ridden deserts are a testament to how wrong such developments can go. Low-income families cannot and should not be isolated.
The affordable housing shortage is real and immediate. However, the definition of “affordable” is problematic. Economic classes have been sharply divided, stretching moderate incomes toward and above six-figures. Low and very low-income families have been left behind. We currently face labor strikes and narrowly averted a federal government shutdown that would exacerbate the situation. Let’s hope we are heading in the right direction and can emerge from the current turmoil with an equitable system that supports low-income workers, rebuilds the middle class – employees and employers – and moderates excesses of the ultra-wealthy.
As Yogi Berra said, “It’s tough to make predictions, especially about the future.” Although its hard to argue with Yogi’s wisdom, we can, at least, evaluate our past and present actions to eliminate past failures. Along with an emphasis on affordable housing and transit-oriented development, equal value should be place on complete, sustainable communities (districts) within our cities.
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