(UNION CITY, CA.) – Residents of 2nd Street find many faults with the upcoming construction of the Lazuli Landing project.
Representing the 2nd Street neighborhood is Michelle Parnala, who steps up to the podium at the Jan. 15 Planning Commission meeting following a lengthy discussion by the Planning Committee. This discussion overlooks almost every aspect Parnala covers in her criticism of the project.
Photo Credit: Granicus.com / Union City
The Lazuli Landing project is an affordable housing project that, upon completion, will include 80 apartments and an office within two four-story buildings. It is located on a city-owned block at Mission Boulevard and D Street, with E and 2nd Street on its other sides.
Though affordable housing can be a good addition to a city, the construction process of these buildings will lead to numerous inconveniences and problems for residents of 2nd street, who collectively disapprove of the project.
Anyone who has driven down Mission Boulevard will know that it is a very busy road; even more so during peak hours. The Lazuli Landing project would require two lanes on that busy road to be closed for twelve days over the months of March through May.
Prior to Parnala’s hearing, Leslie Carmichael from Urban Planning Partners makes a request to change the construction hours to be longer during the weekdays.
Photo Credit: Granicus.com / Union City
This combined with the lane closures creates very strong concern for Parnala and other 2nd Street residents.
“These hours, not only are they peak, but there are limited routes in and out of my neighborhood. And these are during school hours. March, April, May, school is still in session, [and we] don’t have bussing,” she states.
Alongside causing problems and delays for residents trying to get their children to school or themselves to work, she argues that closing lanes on Mission will cause traffic to use D and E street to get to the freeway. This further congests the streets surrounding her neighborhood, making routes in and out even slower and more limited.
Additionally, Parnala makes the point that it would be less detrimental to extend weekend hours when school is not in session and most do not have to work.
Continuing to challenge plans for construction, Parnala shares her experience with parking during construction hours.
“[Construction workers are] taking up parking in our neighborhood, we're limited on our parking. We don't have garages, we park on the street. On street sweeping days, we alternate sides of the street.”
With drivers already detouring using 2nd, D, or E street, adding extra cars parked along the sides will only make traffic slower. This makes it more inconvenient and difficult for residents to find parking outside of their own home and to travel to work or school.
Parnala closes her three-minute statement period by pointing out that the commission likely would have never considered the problems she addresses as a resident of 2nd Street.
In response to the criticisms Parnala makes, Project Manager Michelle Kim acknowledges the concerned comments residents made about traffic. She expresses that extending weekend hours rather than weekday hours is something that can be discussed.
Photo Credit: Granicus.com / Union City
Even with these acknowledgements, many of Parnala’s concerns go uncommented on by Kim.
Commissioner Jo Ann Lew addresses the parking problem, asserting that contractors can find many alternatives to parking in resident parking spots.
"I think that the people who live there should have the parking spaces that they're accustomed to. The contractors can either park farther out, take public transportation, or share a ride. They don't need to be parking in the neighborhood.”
To conclude the meeting, Carmichael’s proposed hours are accepted. But thanks to Parnala’s three minute speech, many problems had the chance to be addressed that likely would have been overlooked otherwise.
As stated previously, affordable housing projects can be very beneficial to the public, much like the River Grove project in West Sacramento, CA.
If you have any questions, please email me at madison.v@lead4earth.org or comment below.
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