The promoters of Measure O have stated that there will be no construction boom or unchecked housing with Measure O. They say that Measure O opposition has exaggerated and professed that the sky is falling.
Take a look at near term construction plans of multi-family units and you decide.
Without Measure O: 48 units Saggio Hills 58 units Dry Creek Commons 53 units Comstock North Village Mill District condominiums, 99 over six years (see attached photo).
With Measure O: If measure O passes the first multi-family housing likely to be built will be luxury condos at the Mill District. The Mill District was originally approved for 138 units. Because of our GMO, only 39 have been built and construction is to be staggered until 2030. The Mill District falls in one of the designated underutilized areas, and since condos are multi-family housing the Mill District would be able to immediately start construction on 99 luxury condominiums.
Healdsburg would not be able to contest this because the Housing Accountability Act restricts the abilities of cities to deny an application to build housing that complies with city standards.
Healdsburg has also recommended construction of 458 units on five downtown sites and another 394 units on five other vacant or underutilized parcels in the downtown area. This was published in the March 29, 2024, Downtown Housing and Capacity Study Recommendations Memo (see attached).
If Measure O passes there are already plans for more than 1,100 housing units on the drawing board. This does not include the train station area and south entry. The train station area has several acres which could be developed with multi-family housing right next to single-family dwellings on Hudson Street even though promoters have stated that Measure O will not affect neighborhoods.
The old Healdsburg Lumber Company parcel is probably the largest. It’s easy to spot. It has a large “Yes on O” sign in front of it. Seems like they might be banking on the property appreciating in the near future. And if you think the land speculators aren’t salivating over Measure O passing, I contacted the agent handling the sale of the 88-acre, riverfront Syar property, and was told it was already in contract.
Look where you see large Yes on O signs and ask yourself "Does the person here really care about middle-class housing, or just making a huge profit on their property?" We are a town of barely 11,000 people. Our infrastructure cannot handle this type of growth. So please, look at the numbers before you vote on Measure O. Also, read the measure. It does not guarantee affordable housing, it only “encourages” it. It will guarantee large-scale development.
Please Vote No on O
