I also would love to see small transit routes within Marin - for our kids. There is a generation of 11-16 year old who grow up depending on their parents/nannies for transportation. My kids are still young but I am terrified thinking how this dependence will last for almost 2 decades - that is wrong!

Diane

There’s an Open House on August 14th that we’re planning to crash …

Details:

http://www.pamshouseblend.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=6364

http://www.theliberaloc.com/2008/08/05/some-proposition-8-updates/

Cheers.

Most of you have seen recent IJ articles about new Peets Coffee and Toast Café at Hamilton, as well as about the remodel of Pacheco Plaza which will most likely include an upscale grocer. Novato is on the move. Our two Northgate malls are under renovation and reinvention.

Meanwhile, we sit with the continuing deterioration of the derelict Marinwood Plaza. We all agree on this: we want a renovated plaza with a nice grocery store and gathering place in our neighborhood. We meet, we discuss, we agree, we disagree. We have ideas, the practical, the impractical, the idealistic. This has been going on for years. Yet nothing will happen there until the owner, Jerry Hoytt, is ready to sell for a fair price.

I suggest that we each communicate to our county representatives in writing with our concerns and complaints about the litter, the dumping, the graffiti, the weeds, the drug deals, and other law enforcement issues. Let’s expect our county code enforcers, supervisors, and sheriff’s office to take continuing proactive action. I suggest including pictures and documentation of specific incidents.

Regards, Kathie Gaines
Quietwood Drive

On behalf of the Marinwood Village Task Force I want to thank you for attending the July 14th Community Meeting and for expressing your views and ideas.

The turnout and the support for the Task Force and for moving the process forward to bring a market to the community is just what the doctor ordered.

At the end of the day this is not a “he said she said” exercise.

Creating a viable project is not rocket science—it is a function of economics and community acceptance.

What the evidence to date suggests (from two developers and community feed back) is that a 70/20 plan (total of 70 units with 20% affordable included) meets the two key criteria for a successful project.
Two crucial variables for the Marinwood Village project are the price of the land and the % of affordable housing—because these affect the economics of the project.

The best thing you can do to help move the project forward and get us closer to a market is to write to the Supervisor requesting that the county and/or the developer provide the rationale for increasing the 70/20 numbers. If the rationale holds up under scrutiny then there is a reason to revisit a 70/20 plan.
Engaging in other topics before these two numbers are resolved only serves to further delay the project.

Supervisor Susan Adams can be reached by email at SAdams@co.marin.ca.us

Thanks again for your support of the Task Force and your continued interest in bringing a market to the community. As long as you continue to provide support we shall continue our efforts to bring a market back to the community.

Frank Nelson, Chair, Marinwood Village Task Force

___________________
Discuss.