HomeMy WebLinkAbout11/14/2023 Item 6b, Ginn
Delaney Ginn <
To:E-mail Council Website
Subject:11/14/23 Item 6b: 1166 Higuera Street
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Hello Council members,
I am a SLO resident, renter, and member of the local SloCo YIMBY org and I am writing to let you know that I
am opposed to the City’s plan to purchase 1166 higuera Street for the use of more surface parking downtown.
I know things are hard with parking right now, really I do. I’m not writing to be cruel, I’m confused, concerned,
and disappointed by this new plan to create more surface parking downtown. As I have seen others say, many
people have garages but are choosing to park on the street instead. Owning and driving a car is a private
responsibility and a privilege, not a right. Using this public space to address a private matter is not the solution.
More parking will not solve our parking problem. Frequent, reliable, and consistent transit might though, just a
thought!
This plan to prioritizes parking over all else is not consistent with the city’s carbon neutrality goals and is not
consistent with our housing goals. The creation of more surface parking at this location will be a step
backwards. SLO city council speaks a lot about climate change policy and I want to see actions that match
those words and actions that are consistent with the housing and climate goals we have set forward.
The City’s plan at this site.
1. The Housing Element explicitly identifies 1166 Higuera Street as an "underdeveloped and blighted
property that can accommodate new or additional high-density development". Mixed-use is allowed by-
right here, meaning a relatively straightforward process to entitling a mix of retail/service commercial
and homes.
2. This is one of few parcels zoned for the new Flexible Density Program, where C-R and C-D properties
in the Downtown Core are eligible for increased density. This Program was touted as evidence that the
City wants to address its housing crisis, but we have yet to see fruit from it. That's because many of
the properties in the Downtown Core are already highly productive with owners uninterested in
redevelopment. So this property presents a rare opportunity in that respect.
3. The Land Use Element identified the Upper Monterey Area as being ripe for redevelopment of housing
and mixed-use development.
Nowhere do I see parking as the highest priority or best use of space, so what gives? What are we doing here?
They say insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results, and this
complete omission of evidence-based practices is maddening. We know the answers, I know there is so much
research done to ensure our plans are progressive and evidence based, so why are we abandoning all that
work, just for some quick fix solution that won’t actually fix the problem?
We are a cool city with great plans, so please listen to your residents and the research and do not commit
millions dollars to another parking lot that won’t actually solve anything.
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Best,
Delaney Ginn
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