Happy New Year
I wish all my readers a wonderful and prosperous 2008.
As usual, it's difficult to pick a topic to write about. There are a lot of things. One issue that I would like to talk about is the CEDC farmworker housing project.
This was approved by the City Council a few weeks ago - but I've still had some lingering concerns about the project.
My biggest concern(as always) is the cost of the project. It is my understanding that CEDC is a non-profit organization. It seems strange that their costs for this project are so astronomical when they don't have to provide a profit margin or pay taxes.
They have stated that they require $8.5 million in funding to build 29 units. That's $293,000 per unit in construction costs!
Folks in the construction business that I have talked to think that is high for multi-family or even single family residential property.
Here are some comparisons of current construction costs per unit for multi-family. You can get this data from www.census.gov 2007 building permits tables.
Santa Paula = $169,194
Camarillo = 92,437
Oxnard = 93,800
Even SunCal's average unit building cost for North Fillmore's feasibility analysis shows a range from $115,000 to $185,500 (multi-family to single family).
CEDC sued the City to force us to build farmworker housing. Santa Paula rejected their application so now they are being sued.
There are other companies that build low income housing. I think HUD can do it between $125,000 and $150,000 per unit.
Perhaps there is another reason for these high costs that I am not aware of. If you have any insight please share with us.
Stay dry with all the rain...
posted by Gayle Washburn @ 10:37 PM
14 Comments
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14 Comments:
Happy New Year Gayle!!!
This project, is this the one off Mountain View next to the Railroad tracks?
If so, I worry about the children.
I believe our Council past this project without a complete investigation on safety.
If a child gets hurt or worse killed on the tracks, who will be responsible?
Will the City ever be liable?
If so that will be a reflection on all of us.
These are active tracks, very worrisome.
Why can't cities call CEDC what they are? They appear to be the Pimps of poverty.They make their living shaking down City after City.They are no better than Jessie Jackson or Al Sharpton.
so i take it you didn't like my opinion?
Buzz:
Sorry, I failed to check in this weekend, my apologies.
Is it true the City is starting this unnecessary storm drain project on Central? Did you know the real reason for this project is to install the pipe that puts turd water on the school grounds?How can this be safe for school grounds,when it's not safe to discharge in the river?Won't it go there eventually?I didn't think the school signed on for this to begin with.And if the soil is mostly clay,how can this be beneficial? When a source asked BERT he didn't know!Isn't he the head of these projects? It sounds to me this whole project is fishy.Is Roy Jamming this project through for HIS own financial benefit?Can somebody ask at the meeting tomorrow?(I can't) Hope to hear from you soon!
This is exactly what I expect from this blog. Theory after theory,
blame Bert this, patronize Roy that. Gayle, since this is your blog, can you please set the record straight? I appreciate it.
I thought people like you didn't believe in Gayle's knowledge.So when it's convenient for you then you want Gayle to "set the record straight"? Any other time you just dismiss her?
anonymous: Yes, it is at Mtn View next to RR. The railway owner was concerned about the proximity of the tracks and the "attractive nuisance" that the slow moving train might create. They will now be surrounded on both sides.
buzz: love the outfit...
other anonymous: Yes, the storm drain project is moving forward. I am not convinced of the necessity of the expense either. I've heard that it was to relieve flooding on Central, then on Mountain View, then in North Fillmore.
Can anyone tell me where the dangerous flooding is occurring? Was there any with the last storms? What about 2005?
2005 was the most damage I've seen south of 126 since 1978 flooding. I don't remember hearing of too much in town though.
As far as the effluent disposal at the school, it seems to be extremely expensive.
The grant application showed a 1% cost/benefit at a cost of $11 million; according to City documents though the cost is actually around $26 million.
The school has approved the agreement with the City.
As far as the clay, I would have to review the Boyle presentation again but I believe they acknowledged some of it and reduced or reconfigured the space that they were using for the SDI and I don't remember Bert's comments about that.
As far as Roy Payne's involvement, I don't know of any financial benefit other than consulting fees for special projects management.
The bottom line is that Fillmore will soon have a gold plated, rock solid, oversized infrastructure to accommodate the coming growth that will change Fillmore to a much larger city.
last anonymous: I have tried to set the record straight. Can you specify what theory?
I suppose there are a lot of theories but what are citizens to think when our City seems bent on bankrupting us with expensive overbuilt infrastructure?
Whose idea was it to sell the public the Vision 2020 "slow, controlled growth" and market Fillmore as the "last, best small town in Southern California", when the intention was really to "change the character of Fillmore" (not a theory - this is in the General Plan)?
What a sneaky thing to do. And then when the community becomes aware of this and protests and speaks out, the usual "small minority" speech is rolled out. Actually there are a lot of people who aren’t even aware of this yet.
But you’ll find very few who support this growth. There are signatures from thousands of citizens on petitions on different issues, yet the City shows no regard for how the community wants to see our City develop.
Can you blame the citizens here for being angry? Can you blame them for theorizing on why THEIR city government would build out the City without regard for what the community wants?
It’s sad to see the degradation of the environment, the negative health effects, the destruction of a rural community, and the irreversible loss of the most productive farmland in the world so quickly occur.
Sorry to go on a rant here. I was overdue…
…now back to work. I’ve gone through three laptops in the last month; two of them with Vista…that will set anybody off!
Wow what a difference sentance structure makes! I could not have said it any better myself.
I even spelled sentence wrong!
Re: "Can anyone tell me where the dangerous flooding is occurring? Was there any with the last storms? What about 2005?"
Via Rodeo Condos, 2nd Street between Lemon Way and B Street - Several homes on the South side of the sub-division become flooded during major rain events. On average, this occurs at least once a year. Sandbags are very popular with these folks.
VCFD, Station 27 on Old Telegraph RD. - Becomes flooded on a regular basis, at times under 3 feet of water.
Bike Path / Old Telegraph Rd - Requires road closure during heavy rains
RE: "last anonymous: I have tried to set the record straight. Can you specify what theory?"
You explained it well, thank you Gayle.
Anonymous 1/7/08 10:25 PM said, "It sounds to me this whole project is fishy.Is Roy Jamming this project through for HIS own financial benefit?"
If you ask me, this project is benefiting the people of Fillmore for the better.
RE: "Can you blame them for theorizing on why THEIR city government would build out the City without regard for what the community wants?"
The people want good restaurants, jobs, improvements to dilapidated roads, storm drains that actually drain water, a supermarket that sells high quality products, services and amenities that usually cater to "larger cities" with attractive demographics. If you ask me, the city is doing just fine.
Didn't we just put a storm drain on B STreet by Old Telegraph to stop that flooding?
anonymous: Didn't we just spend a few million on the B Street RR crossing project to address that area? I'm not sure.
What do you mean by good restaurants? I don't consider Chili's a good restaurant. Le Provencal was a good restaurant but is long gone. Henry's was a good restaurant. Somehow they were renowned for years when we just had 8,000 population. Maybe they couldn't compete when all of the fast food restaurants came to town.
I think Von's makes a good effort to provide high quality items. They have made some wonderful improvements.
Maybe the amenities you want are in Moorpark or Santa Clarita. There's a lot of good restaurants in LA and Ventura Blvd. too. But, I sure don't want to live there just for the restaurants and Gelson's.
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