Fact Checking - Housing
Claim From Opponents
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This initiative will prevent the 100-125 affordable housing units from being built.
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You are blocking housing!
Fact Check
The initiative specifically allows for affordable housing to be built on Lot 4, the location of the Mixed-Use Proposal.
Claim From Opponents
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You are encouraging housing on Lot 7, which is a pipe dream.
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We have the funding for housing on Lot 4 and it will be built fast.
Fact Check
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The Mixed-Use Proposal is complicated by each element needing to be both funded & constructed before housing is move-in ready.
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The City currently does not have grants awarded for funding the housing.
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The bond debt for funding the garage would take decades to pay.
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Let's house people - not cars!
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The excess parking revenue slated to pay the bond debt would be put in an affordable housing fund.
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2 spaces in a parking garage equates to a 2 bedroom unit.
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The Lot 4 housing can still be built with this initiative, once it is funded.
Claim From Opponents
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Even if the initiative "says" affordable housing can be built on Lot 4, there's no way there is enough room for both the Farmers' Market & housing.
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There is no way to save the heritage trees and still build housing here.
Fact Check
The housing can be built exactly where planned.
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With ground level underneath being "sheltered", interior Farmers' Market/Downtown Commons space for events and community use.
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More housing possible than current plan
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Without 3 levels of parking garage
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Keep 1 level of sheltered open space for market/commons
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Freeing up 2 levels for more housing
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Provides infrastructure for Farmers' Market.
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This would also save most of the big heritage trees
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They are on the opposite side of the lot.
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The housing development's articulation design can also accommodate some of the ones on that side of the lot.
Housing Works W/ ODOF Initiative
Sharing Space on Lot 4
Mixed-Use Proposal Components
Add 1-2 more levels of housing
Ground Level -Sheltered Downtown Commons Infrastructure
Mixed-Use Proposal
Side View