From: mark
To: City Council Public Comments
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Public commend on item 13.3 -- May 7th City Council Meeting Date: Monday, May 6, 2024 3:41:33 PM
Dear Santa Rosa City Council,
I am writing in support of the development of Garage 5 for housing, and in support of the resolution being considered under item 13.3.
There is nearly universal agreement that downtown Santa Rosa is dull and needs to be revitalized. That will never happen so long as it remains The Wasteland of Parking Lots and Garages. Instead downtown needs lots of new residents and the energy and vitality they bring.
Businesses will benefit as these will be customers who are present seven days a week and who don’t vanish after 5PM. In addition, they are people who are highly motivated to patronize downtown business because of the convenience factor of not having to get in a car.
I urge you to ignore the usual NIMBY pearl clutching over parking spaces in Garage 5. There are six underutilized city lots or garages all within a two block radius of Garage 5, parking will not be a problem! Furthermore, the city has NO obligation to subsidize the choice to drive, especially during a climate crisis. There is however, a moral obligation to foster the creation of housing. After decades of underproduction of housing, people can no longer afford rents in
Santa Rosa.
This is a golden opportunity to create housing in an area where people are not forced into car dependency. Downtown has a transit mall, regional rail, a grocery store (Grocery Outlet) and numerous shops and eateries within easy walking distance. This is exactly the type of development we should be doing if we are serious about reaching that 2030 goal of being carbon neutral.
So I urge you to choose people over cars, and approve Resolution 13.3.
Sincerely,
Mark Franaszek
From: Christine franaszek-gann
To: City Council Public Comments
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Public Comment May 7, City Council Meeting ,Item 13.3 Date: Monday, May 6, 2024 4:38:51 PM
If public spaces brought in customers, downtown would be swimming in business.
Downtown Santa Rosa has so much parking that 3/4 of it sits empty even at peak times.
Yet, the prosperity that was supposed to come from the city subsidizing parking and devoting its most valuable real estate to car storage never came.
I recommend the city change course
and start selling off these derelict garages and lots starting with garage Five. The city desperately needs more housing, and by pursuing the agreement Rogal Projects can add much needed housing in an area that is well served by public transit.
In short, tear down the garage and create new housing for people! Sincerely
Christine Gann