The following article, written by Winter Dellenbach, was published in the Spring 2013 issue of the Barron Park Newsletter. It is being posted here to provide information to all Barron Park residents about the human costs if the closure of the Buena Vista Mobile Home Park proceeds, to remind us all about the people who live in Buena Vista and what is at stake for them.
The City of Palo Alto announced on February 20th, 2014 that they have accepted the Relocation Impact Report (RIR) provided by the owner and deemed it to be complete. The next step in the process towards closure, as defined by the ordinances of the City of Palo Alto, is a hearing by a City appointed Hearing Officer within 60 days of the acceptance of the RIR.
The hearing on the closure application that was previously set for Monday, April 21, 2014 10:00 AM-12:00 PM has been CANCELLED.
The hearing has been re-scheduled to the following dates and times:
1. Monday, May 12, 2014, 6:30 PM -9:30 PM
2. Tuesday, May 13, 2014, 6:30 PM-9:30 PM
3. Wednesday, May 14, 2014, 6:30 PM-9:30 PM
The hearings will take place at Avenidas located at 450 Bryant St., Palo Alto, CA 94301. Parking is available directly across the street at the Bryant/Lytton Parking Garage located at 445 Bryant St., Palo Alto, CA 94301.
You can find out more information about the issue and view other documents on the City’s webpage City of Palo Alto/Buena Vista and read a companion post recently published on our site, Buena Vista Mobile Home Park RIR Deemed Complete”
Editor’s Note: The Board of the Barron Park Association has been closely following the closure and planning process for the Buena Vista Mobile Home Park, but has not taken a formal position. As of March, 2013, a relocation specialist is preparing a Relocation Impact Report (RIR) that involves interviewing the individual households (as required by an ordinance adopted 10 years ago after considerable debate and discussion). There has been no action on the developer’s plans for a 180-rental apartment project since the Winter 2012-13 BPA newsletter article. Winter Dellenbach lives in Barron Park.
By Winter Dellenbach, Friends of Buena Vista
Seldom has a Palo Alto land use issue had the power to move nearly 400 people out of Palo Alto, redefining our neighborhood and city in the process. Yet that may happen in Barron Park. The 86-year old Buena Vista (BV) is in the early stage of closure, to be sold by the owner. The closure process will likely go well into 2014. A developer quietly waits in the wings. Residents will be the collateral damage of redevelopment and will lose everything. We neighbors know little about our Buena Vista neighbors. This is an introduction to them and the issues they face (names changed for privacy).
Why Live at Buena Vista?
For all the same reasons we live here. BV offers affordable space-rent for residents’ homes. Our safe community, with its high quality medical and elder care, offers needed services, and children get to go to good schools.
To Quote Bruce Springsteen ~ “We take care of our own”.
There are over 60 elders at Buena Vista, several of whom are disabled and dependant on extended family’s support and care. An example is Angela, a Gunn graduate who moved to BV when she was 14. She now owns a home there, as does her sister, and both help support their elderly parents, longtime BV residents. Angela works at the Palo Alto Medical Foundation and her husband is a produce manager at Whole Foods, while their son attends Barron Park Elementary. Angela’s brother is able to pay college tuition because he lives with their parents, sharing expenses. Everyone helps with childcare. BV’s affordable housing makes this critical mutual support possible.
Residents Consider Buena Vista to Be the Land of Opportunity.
Of the 125 children living at BV, 104 are students attending Gunn, Terman, Juana Briones, and Barron Park schools. They comprise 12% of Barron Park Elementary’s enrollment.
Two autistic students are thriving in high quality programs they will not find elsewhere – a boy at Terman and a girl at Gunn.
Stanford professors and students are working with BV families. An education professor and pediatrician cite studies that repeatedly show the quality of a child’s educational experience is a principal determinant of that child’s life course as an adult, including both socioeconomic wellbeing and health status. Losing the opportunity provided by Palo Alto schools could irreversibly alter the trajectory of these children’s entire lives.
If BV neighbors are forced to leave town, some of us may think, “Oh good, more room in our schools”, while others may think, “Oh no, there go lots of nice families and my children’s friends.” BV parents will think, “This is a disaster.”
What Faces Buena Vista Residents if They Have to Leave?
Required relocation payments will not go far to mitigate the loss of homes left behind that can’t be moved – nearly all at BV. For those that are moveable, area mobile home parks have few empty spaces. Like many Palo Altans, most BV residents can afford below-market-rate rents but not market-rate rent. Residents will lose everything – homes, jobs, good schools, elder and medical care, friends, and a safe neighborhood – as they are forced to leave the Bay Area.
What Impact Will Job Loss Have on Residents and Us?
Residents’ loss is our loss. They work in our stores, construction sites, health clinics, and restaurants. They are our home care providers, gardeners, office administrators, and small businesses owners. Lisa is a janitor at Juana Briones, Rose cleans houses, Alberto works at a local church, and Marie helps to support her three children and elderly mother by making sandwiches at a neighborhood market.
How Does Palo Alto Recover from the Loss of 108 Units of Affordable Housing?
Not well. The City’s Housing Element recognizes Buena Vista’s affordable housing as “essential”. ABAG tells us to build ever more affordable housing, yet the developer currently has no plan to build any, adding to our deficit.
What Value Do We Gain from Economic and Ethnic Diversity?
There is a rich mix of ethnic origins at BV, mostly from Europe, Tonga, China, and Latin America. Most residents are low-income. Sociologists stress that economic and ethnic diversity make a community smarter and more agile in adapting quickly and effectively to changing circumstances. Our Palo Alto bubble of affluence is a blessing and a curse to overcome. We will be poorer as a neighborhood and city if we lose Buena Vista residents.
Is There an Answer?
Yes, if there is the will. Our Housing Element states the City has a duty to mitigate loss of affordable housing and do all that is feasible to preserve Buena Vista. We have a lot of smart, talented, experienced people working on a solution – BV residents and supporters, Community Working Group (Opportunity Center, 801 Alma), Palo Alto Housing Corporation, City staff, and elected officials. The owner and developer have the responsibility and resources to help to solve the problem. You can too – email dellwinter@gmail.com.