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Sustainability we can afford Green building’s new developments—and new developers... by Pe te r Se i d m an
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he term “green building” is moving beyond its current meaning of using recycled construction materials, environmentally friendly landscaping and renewable power sources for lights and electricity, according to planners and developers and the visionaries who have their sights set on sustainability. But big challenges lie ahead. Creating affordable homes close to jobs is the true big-picture green path, say advocates of sustainability and affordable housing. That attitude clearly is present in the Marin Community Foundation’s (MCF) recent program to promote affordable housing. The foundation has pledged to spend $2 million a year for five years on an affordable housing initiative. In the first year the foundation plans to spend about half of the allocated funds to purchase and rehabilitate foreclosed homes. The foundation, which is working with Habitat for Humanity and North Bay Family Homes on that initiative, already has contributed funds as part of other initiatives to projects for more than about 700 homes and apartments in Marin. “The truth of the matter is that for us the issues of affordable housing and environmental protection are intertwined,” says Thomas Peters, president and CEO at MCF. That attitude has been gaining ground steadily as a useful political tool among affordable housing advocates, as well as those whose chief goal is protecting the environment and promoting sustainability. Though not everyone’s on-board, the passenger list is
growing. And affordable housing advocates and sustainability proponents now have an ally in transportation advocates who are supporting construction of the SMART commuter rail that will run between Marin and Sonoma counties. Stations along the urban corridor route are ideal spots for creating mixed-use developments that can support the kind of building density that can attract opportunities for developers of affordable housing. The density stays along the rail line, which parallels Highway 101. That’s the original vision of the urban corridor—keeping development density along the corridor to protect the hills and ridges and valleys. The concept of sustainability adds a considerable punch to development. Planners know that workforce housing can have one of the most significant effects on creating a sustainable community. Providing affordable homes for local workers obviously helps satisfy the critical need for quality low-cost homes. But from a sustainability point of view it does much more: It keeps workers off the roads as they travel to and from their jobs. Reducing vehicle miles can go a long way toward satisfying carbon-reduction goals. The Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG) projects that 50 percent of the total employment growth in Marin during the next 30 years will occur in the lower-paying retail, health, education, hospitality and recreation sectors, notes Mary Murtagh president and CEO of EAH, the nonprofit housing corporation whose goal is 10 >
›› NEWSGRAMS Marin college presidents’ shuffle This week College of Marin President Frances White announced her retirement at the end of the current school year—a year before her contract is scheduled to end.The 62-year-old said her decision came from a desire to pursue other interests and spend more time with her family.White has held the position since 2004 and, despite an unresolved battle with the faculty union over instructor wages, she is being credited for helping turn the college around in leadership, financial planning, accreditation and enrollment—which has been increasing over the past year. In other college news, Dominican University of California President Joseph R. Fink has announced his retirement at the end of the 2010-2011 school year— serving an additional year beyond his original retirement date. Fink, who was appointed the university’s eighth president in 1988, is the“longest sitting president among all Bay Area institutions of higher learning,”according to a press release. During his tenure, the San Rafael campus was renovated, enrollment has quadrupled and revenues have increased eight-fold. A man, a plan, a canal: pandemonium Critics voiced concern over the Canalfront Conceptual Design Plan at a San Rafael City Council meeting Nov. 16.While councilmembers accepted the plan as a blueprint to revitalize the waterfront area—including a promenade, improved water access and bridge—some business and property owners disagreed with the plan’s removal of 25 feet along the shoreline for the public walkway. Although last week, the Pacific Sun’s Peter Seidman reported [“Bridge to the future,”Nov. 13] that one of the most requested changes from Canal residents is improved walkway access, including widened sidewalks and a water-crossing.“Building a bridge to join the two sides [across the water] was the most appealing for the whole community,” said Maite Duran, a member of the Canal Alliance and co-chair of the Canalfront Advisory Committee.“It would be helpful for about 500 kids who [walk] to school, maybe 300 families.”Even so, officials said the Canal transformative vision is many years away; that no money is budgeted yet, no private land will be seized and any development or improvements proposed would require design review and planning commission approvals. Accused wine arsonist handcrafts bold, full-bodied new plea Mark C. Anderson, a 61-year-old Sausalito man accused of setting fire to over $200 million worth of fine wines in 2005, changed his not-guilty plea as part of a plea bargain Nov. 16 in federal court. A former city parks commissioner, newspaper columnist and a UC Berkeley graduate, Anderson had been storing about 6 million bottles at the Wines Central warehouse on Vallejo’s Mare Island for collectors and Napa vintners before the Oct. 5, 2005 fire, which investigators concluded had started in Anderson’s space. Had Anderson not altered his plea and been convicted at his Nov. 17 trial, he might’ve faced life in prison on 19 criminal counts, including arson, mail fraud and tax evasion. Now, as a result of the plea bargain, his sentence could be limited to 15 years and eight months in prison. Shorts... San Rafael leaders have discovered an additional $3.2 million deficit in the city’s budget, reportedly due to a significant loss in sales tax revenue, as well as less than expected revenue from Measure S—the city services tax...Tiburon Town Council meets Nov. 18 to discuss street cameras monitoring all incoming and outgoing traffic.—Samantha Campos EXTRA! EXTRA! Post your Marin news at ›› pacificsun.com
8 PACIFIC SUN NOVEMBER 20 - NOVEMBER 26, 2009