From: Lulu Mickelso
To: Alex Stillman; Meredith Matthews; Sarah Schaefer; Stacy Atkins-Salazar; Kimberley White Cc: David Loya
Subject: Support – Roger"s Garage Affordable Housing Development Date: Wednesday, June 18, 2025 2:21:26 PM
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Dear Mayor and Councilmembers,
I am writing in regards to the Roger's Garage Affordable Housing Development. As a renter in Arcata and the Co-Director of the Redwood Coalition for Climate and Environmental Responsibility (RCCER), I am excited to see this project moving forward. Our region has a housing crisis and the construction of new affordable housing is critical to making our city and neighborhoods more inclusive.
This project is located in Bayside near a high-performing school and within a short bike ride of the center of Arcata. Hopefully, as the plans for the project develop, new public transit opportunities can also be added to the area to better serve new and longtime residents. In addition, the development provides the opportunity to responsibly mitigate long standing contamination of the project site, which has been unaddressed for decades.
Looking at some of the comments from the May 21st meeting, it feels important to address misleading claims that affordable housing increases crime or negatively impacts the character of a neighborhood. Research on affordable housing shows that the development of affordable housing can actually decrease crime and increase surrounding property values:
UC Irvine: Affordable housing decreases crime, increases property values CA Housing Partnership: Examining the Argument that Building Affordable Housing Increases Crime
Bell Policy Center: Dispelling Common Myths About Affordable Housing Furthermore, the families moving into the housing are likely working people from our community that we interact with everyday – medical assistants, artists, cashiers, and teachers – many of whom currently struggle to find affordable housing in Arcata.
I encourage the City to continue to move forward with this project, which would help make a highly desirable neighborhood accessible for more deserving families in our community.
Thanks,
Lulu
Lulu Mickelson (she/her)
RCCER Co-Director
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