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I want to share a My Word I wrote last week, to bring forward the idea that while we
may build some apartments in the Gateway Region, we should think broader and
really consider the environment, the investment, and the experience we are
promoting. I hope you will also consider a local housing program that will spread out
students across Arcata, and help the town to grow in a more beautiful manner.
Duplexes in the neighborhoods could be designed to compliment the surrounds, and
add beauty to the housing stock. Also, housing spread into the neighborhoods could
provide a better chance for equity growth for new families.

My Word –
Housing in Humboldt. It’s on everyone’s mind, and Arcata may be a focal point. Cal
Poly Humboldt (CPH) is projecting a 50% growth within 3 years, and a 100% growth
within 7 years. With about 6,000 students today, we are looking to add 3-6,000
people to the local population. And this doesn’t consider all the climate change
migrants that will happen upon Humboldt County. So beautiful and cool, we were
bound to be discovered.
The City of Arcata has been studying the ‘Gateway’ project -the redevelopment of
important properties in the City, properties close to downtown, reasonably close to
the university. I support some element of this development idea, I see that we could
use our property better, for greater uses – and like the idea of retail on the first floor,
and apartments above. Gaudi did it beautifully in Barcelona, Spain. Can we be as
creative? Eight stories on a mudflat? Probably not.
Maybe we can think wider. I’m thinking about all of Arcata, and beyond.
Last year, California passed Senate Bill 9. This bill allows for single family lot-owners
to build 2 primary units, and two accessory dwelling units on their property, plus they
have the right to subdivide a single-family lot.
“Senate Bill 9 – the California Housing Opportunity and More Efficiency (HOME) Act
streamlines the process for a homeowner to create a duplex or subdivide an existing lot. To
be eligible for the streamlining provided by this bill, a parcel must meet a specific list of
qualifications that protects historic districts, preserves the environmental quality and the
look of communities, and prevents tenants from being displaced. Homeowners must
comply with local zoning requirements when developing a duplex (height, floor area ratios,
lot coverage, etc.) as long as they do not physically preclude a duplex.”
Let’s imagine that Arcata homeowners and CPH embrace this idea. Instead of over bidding
on property (5.4 million for 16 acres of undeveloped land) to build big apartment
structures, we could have a local housing program. I’m playing with numbers here for
illustration, but imagine the University had a program that offered local single family lot
owners $50,000 to build a duplex on their property. CPH could have a few architect-designed options to fit into the local neighborhoods. This would be a legally agreed upon
relationship between the landowner and the University that these duplexes are for CPH
students for some given number of years.
I live in Sunnybrae, and as I walk around it’s crosses my mind that this neighborhood could
have double the population. If students lived in duplexes spread around the town, they
would be integrated into the population. Their vehicles, if they bring them, could more
easily be parked in the neighborhoods. The local bus system would be more robust, as there
are more people to ride.
Moving students into big apartment buildings in Arcata, surrounded by many people from
big cities will not allow young people to truly experience the beauty and culture of the North
Coast. Cultural differences in a concentrated form will be more difficult to appreciate,
whereas cultural differences in small measures will add color and vibrancy to the
neighborhoods.
For more information on SB 9: https://focus.senate.ca.gov/sb9
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I am attending a Farm Dinner for the CR Agriculture program tonight, or I would be at your
council meeting for public comment. Please don’t fear SB 9. It is a more egalitarian
method to develop housing stock, and as I mentioned – opens up opportunity for equity
development.
Thank you for your service to the City.
Susan Ornelas