How's that working out?
Here's the entire frontage of Pacific Station at 7pm on a recent weeknight. Lots of dark windows. Where are all those working families cooking dinner after hopping off the Coaster?
In fact, only one unit across the entire frontage showed any sign of life at all, the faint glow of a TV screen.
Then again, when you're selling 2-bedroom condos for $945,000, the bus-riding working class isn't really your target market. More likely they're owned as speculation and second homes for the rich from LA, Arizona, and beyond, who burn ungodly amounts of fossil fuels every time they visit!
Ever get the feeling this whole Smart Growth thing is just a scam to create big profits for developers?
To be fair, the cheaper units in back overlooking the railroad tracks appeared better-occupied. If the city really cared about Global Warming and "affordable housing," maybe they'd work with the state to require all units in density bonus projects to be affordable on median household incomes. Didn't some of the new council members pay some lip service to pushing back on density bonuses?
DUMB GROWTH.
ReplyDeleteYou hate Pacific Station because it is high density. You hate high density because you hate people. But, Pacific Station is empty so why are you upset? Pacific Station Whole Foods is a huge success. Maybe Pacific Station residential is not. Either way you hate Pacific Station.
DeleteResidential above mainstreet retail has existed in Encinitas since the 1920's.
I like Pacific Station. I wouldn't want more of the same downtown though. Besides, Prop A wouldn't allow more of the same without majority support. The huge uninviting tin barn it replaced is a welcome addition and connects the merchants better downtown - not to mention the successful businesses it created on the ground floor. The old Coast Dispatch building was always aesthetically a big ugly gray dead zone for the town. Before it was a dead zone. From one friend of mine who bought three condos there, I'm assuming most tennants are there infrequently as per the dark windows. Coming from Glendale CA in 1961, I've seen the perils of over development, so I don't like congestion but people in small doses.
DeleteBeauty is in the eye of the beholder. One man's "dead zone," is another's community character/charm/classic.
DeleteThe Coast Dispatch was a good paper, and created local jobs, that weren't at bars. Most of the jobs created, and much of the "revitalization," involves attracting crowds, tourists, besides locals, especially to bars, at night.
Pacific Station was given an award by the City for being "green," but never were there studies to determine if people were/are living there year round, and driving less.
Consider all the tax incentives also granted to developer John DeWald, past president of what was DEMA, now Encinitas Mainstreet Association. That name change was machinated by Peder Norby, with the subsidization of City through inside connections with Council Members, including Stocks and Barth,.
Considering all the incentives, tax breaks, and special awards given to DeWald, there should have been more affordable housing required, at Pacific Station. The City could have subsidized these, as well, as it did for Moonlight Lofts, where the in-lieu fees funded DeWald et all (Encinitas Preservation Association) aquisition of the Boathouses property, with pre-existing affordable housing already in place, but apparently not previously counted as "legal."
Because someone doesn't appreciate the challenges imposed by Pacific Station, including losing eight parking spots on the street, with not enough parking for all the residential units, all the offices and Whole Foods, doesn't mean that person is a hater. We're just calling a spade a spade.
Pacific Station looks ugly from the train, from my perspective, including while on board. I appreciate the history of our town, and appreciate slowing growth. New growth has to be primarily in-fill development, as that's all we've got left.
All of the old timers here, are experincing future shock, to one extent or another. All those who voted Yes on Prop A should understand enough to vote no on the Housing Element Update measure(s), as proposed. I will be voting no on all/any maps because I don't want to allow more than two stories/thirty feet houses/mixed use structures.
Many of us know for a fact that the City hasn't done its best to count exisiting affordable housing, putting it "on the books" by offering individual homeowners tax incentives, or other incentives, just as it has big developers, including John DeWald. Also, the City has to require a more accurate projection of our population, which hasn't increased as much as projected by regional non-elected SANDAG reps. They have too much power over us, just as the County did before we incorporated.
Unfortuantely, although the city was incorporated to slow growth, there have been an awful lot of foxes running amok in our hen houses.
Builder's revenue growth
ReplyDeleteYes, a couple of council members expressed interest in pushing back on density bonus. But that was before Gus Vina sprinkled his fairy dust over them. Now the city's budget gaps demands as much development and density as possible. Gus wants the revenue.
ReplyDeleteFor those who persist in not retaining the facts, Pacific Station was not a Density Bonus project, although it did have to include some below market rate units to qualify for the 33 feet. You may believe the result is the same but Density Bonus is up to the applicant and Pacific Station didn't request it.
ReplyDeleteThere are 58 counties and some 482 cities in California and many of them are low density and I haven't heard of any who like Density Bonus. I think it's a fair guess that many, if not all, have contacted their state representatives to try to change the Density Bonus legislation and it's only gotten worse over the years. If you think you can get a better result up in Sacramento then please be my guest.
The "fairy dust" is clueless. The Density Bonus legislation is quite explicit and if the City rejects a project, the likelihood of losing in court is quite high and the City will have to pay the legal fees of the applicant. Density Bonus project approval has nothing to do with the City budget. No amount of repeating it is going to make it so.
Given our city attorney you lose on arrival.
DeleteI disagree about density bonus having no effect on the city budget. Each additional unit will bring in additional property taxes, and each additional resident living in a density bonus unit will pay additional sales tax. The result -- more revenue, which affects the budget.
DeleteThere is a way to challenge a density bonus project, and that is on environmental grounds, but then our city would have to hire outside legal help because of our hapless city attorney..
3:07 proves they don't know shit or just flat out lie.
DeleteMore units to sell to owner at current market rate equals much more property tax which is revenue to the City.
Density Bonus and all higher redevelopment equals to hire revenue which is 1/2 the equation in the Budget.
Geeze are people really that stupid? I bet its the City's new mouthpiece PR person. who is it anyway and what is their background and responsibilities at the City?
3:07 PM
DeleteSame lame old tune used by the current council - we'll be sued and lose.
The council doesn't want to investigate the manipulation of measurement numbers going on behind closed planning department doors. Manipulating the property measurements to get a 0.01 acre that the city planner will round up to an acre. That acre is then used to increase housing density over and above what is allowed.
Vina sprinkles the fairy dust. Planning sprinkles the fairy dust.
Inhaling the dust, the clueless council presents a united front as bobbleheads.
This comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteThey will be sued and lose because the legal council Encinitas has kept has been the weak link for many years.
DeleteMy senile understanding is that It's not the state that sues cities for building moratoriums, but housing groups like HUD. The way around that problem is to show SOME effort to build affordable housing (as Chuck DuVivier once told me and I think he was right). A city doesn't get sued until they forbid all new developments. I read that a city up north completely blocked new construction and was sued by two housing organizations. What disturbs me is that in the last 18 years, Encinitas' population has only increased 8% while the state requirement for affordable housing since then has risen over 200%. Is that balanced? No. WHO is behind such increases? We all know. But no one's telling the state that the SANDAG and the development industry have no clothes on.
DeleteIt's the affordable housing advocates that take advantage of the state (HCD) and federal (HUD) regulations that bring lawsuits against cities or counties. The problem in Encinitas is that affordable housing always turns into market rate housing unless it is subsidized. This doesn't stop the lawyers and developers from continuing to seek to make more money, even though the low-income housing problem is not any closer to a solution.
DeleteAdd to the list the self-labeled "affordable housing advocates" who sue when their projects don't "pencil out" the way they'd like. They're first in line to sue, but not because they give a rat's bum about actually providing affordable housing...just "planning for it," to meet the state mandates. They claim density bonus, trade the unit away for some sardine can on the wrong side of the tracks - or buy their way out of the obligation altogether - then sell the affordable unit at market rate.
DeleteThe state allows what the developers put in place, leaving out of character crap in communities and screwing the lower income wage owners into the bargain. It's a beautiful racket developers have set up for themselves, at community expense.
We don't need the prop A people, we need to hire lobbyists to combat what the BIA influences in Sacramento.
Gee, being accused of not knowing shit or just flat out lying I take as SOP here. There seems to be some confusion between the affordable housing requirements of the General Plan Housing Element and Density Bonus. They are separate legislation.
DeleteDensity Bonus is available to any developer by right irrespective of the Housing Element. Even if a City has the most generous of programs in its Housing Element, any developer of a project over a minimum size may request a density bonus. The legislation requires the city to give it them. Basically, the only way a city can decline the request is over health and safety issues which aren't easy to prove.
When I said that Density Bonus projects weren't approved based on the budget, I didn't say they didn't have an effect on the budget, both positive and negative. I said that those effects had nothing to do with the approval.
As a few have mentioned above, our lack of having an approved Housing Element exposes us to lawsuits which frequently are initiated by housing affordability groups who can recoup all their legal fees if they are successful. The State doesn't sue but it can withhold certain funds/grants if the City doesn't have a certified Housing Element. As of September 1 the City hasn't had a certified Housing Element in over two cycles.
Why take the above comments so personally? Nothing is said by 10:32 about the GP housing element vs. density bonus legislation.
DeleteThe point is a general statement that the developers wrote the law that allows them to force the sham affordability on cities. The cities get to point to the same state law and oft-voiced "affordable housing advocate" threats of lawsuits as an excuse for sitting on their hands and claiming they're tied.
They are tied, but not entirely. When the planning commission turned down the Desert Rose developer's plans, the council did not need to overturn the planning commission. When Lisa voted to abstain, knowing her abstention would count as a "yes" vote to overturn the planning commission, that too was unnecessary. It was Marco's histrionics and threat of suit that freaked the willing council.
That whole "exposure to lawsuit" threat is real...only now it's residents suing the city, not "affordable housing" developers.
I didn't take 10:32 personally. That was in response to 11/9 @ 7:01PM. I do believe 10:32 is entangling the Housing Element RHNA requirements and Density Bonus legislation as were some of the comments before it. I would agree that most of the Density Bonus projects are not rooted in improving affordable housing in Encinitas but in getting a better return on their development. I also agree that developers influenced the law with support from affordable housing advocates.
DeleteThe Council is required to fairly interpret the law as is the Planning Commission. If the Council reaches a different conclusion then it is obligated to vote that way not how the Planning Commission has voted. In the past, the Council has sided and disagreed with the Planning Commission on a number of appeals.
The main point is that Density Bonus is available to developers by right and can only be rejected using very narrow criteria. If you're going to risk a law suit then you should feel pretty strongly that the law is on your side. A lawyer threatening to sue should not influence the decision.
The density bonus calculations are being cooked in the planning department.
Delete11:37 AM
DeleteAs of November 10, 2013 the city hasn't had a council worth squat.
8:15 is absolutely right. The council was downright negligent when it did not use the main reason to deny a density bonus project: on the basis of safety.
DeleteThey can also deny a project when it is environmentally harmful. The Desert Rose project is both unsafe and bad for the environment.
DeleteIT HAD TO QUALIFY FOR THE 33 FEET BY ADDING LOW INCOME!!!
DeleteThat is DENSITY BONUS!!!!
It is not state mandated density bonus!!! It is City Council endorsed density bonus!!! No current council member lifted a finger to bring that to the attention of the public or attempted to put an end to it.
There was no "the State made me do" excuse.
Thanks for reminding everyone that this was not a STATE MANDATED density bonus and that our current council is dishonest.
Well you got one thing right... Global warming is a scam.
ReplyDelete3:45
ReplyDeleteYou mean earth is flat warming?
Fred, the artic ice cap is growing, the earth over the last decade has cooled. These are facts. You can ignore the facts to fit your worldview but don't ask the rest of us to join you. That is why we never hear about 'global warming' anymore......it ain't happening. what is happening is al gore and his cronies are getting rich! Gore left office worth 2M now he's worth 250 million, an inconveinet truth the ny times won't report on. another fact is the UN agenda 21 is to control populations, and then regionalism controls democracy. Should we be surprised obamacare creates health care based at a county by county basis, to control and govern citizen choice. If you like your communtiy character you can keep your community character, until socilist engineers decide you can't.
DeleteGuess you didn't get my joke, 1:08. I know the ice cap is 60% larger this year than last and how inconvenient that truth is for some.
DeleteAlright, now we have a global warming denier conversation, my dream has been realized. Every politician gets richer after they leave office, Bush, Reagan, etc, etc. As the heat gets higher every year and we have less and less water every year, and the storms get more severe, maybe that will keep you warm. Weather patterns change, we get that. Dumping lots of C02 in the air, that has an effect to. Why does everything has to be a conspiracy. And FYI, Gore was born a rich guy, like most every other big time politician in this country...
DeleteGore uses 10x's the electricity per sq foot in his Tennessee home than I do in mine and yet he thinks he can tell me how to live.... Fuck him!!!
Delete7:10 you did not refute the facts. 1. The earth is cooling 2. The ice cap is growing 3. All GORE left office worth $2M . Ow after investing in Solyndra, A123, Fiske and others he is worth more than 250M. It is possible to want to protect the environment yet not be bullised or shamed into beliehaving things that are not true.
Delete9:58 - a "fact" taken out of context loses it's significance as a "fact". Just as a stone can cause a ripple in the lake, man has forever altered the earth. That "fact" is irrefutable. Where most differ is in the analysis. Your comment seems to imply that you have no problem with the concept that humans have altered the earth's ecosystem, but you have a big problem on how to address it. As for Al Gore - who cares? The only international figure that I know of that is untainted by innuendo such as this is Mother Teresa. Get over it......
Delete- The Sculpin
Without Al Gore rhythms, there would be no internet.
DeleteScuplin your logic is illogical. A fact is not a fact? really. Because you might ignore facts to suit your worldview don't expect us to join you.
DeleteAs an aside neither of the two Bush Presidents are on in the public eye calling attention to themselves and making money after leaving office. They quietly retired to let our newly elected leaders lead.
On the other hand Bill Clinton can't seem to get enough of himself or his Clinton Initiative raising hundreds of millions funding his life of luxury. Likewise Al Gore has today been revealed to be associated with an Obama bundler and the two of the are positioned to profit from the Obamacare disaster that has cost more than 1 million Californians their private health insurance.........
Just another fact that can't be taken out of context, try as the Manhattan socialites and NY times might try.
2:34 - re-read the post. I never said a fact is not a fact - and that's a fact!
Delete- The Sculpin
Scuplin- you claim a fact loses it's significance. The truth is the truth and a fact is a fact. That you see it another way is significant
Delete8:03 - there are relevant facts, and there are irrelevant facts. There are signinficant facts, and there are insignificant facts. I would expect any libertarian worth their salt to understand this. But a "fact" can also be an agreement among parties as to the underlying premises in preparation for a debate. Outside of the debate they are assumptions. Within the debate they are facts. These would be referred to as relative facts. The best illustration of this would be the facts contained within the bible. Why some people treat allegory as fact is beyond me, but that's another topic. All that said, I have to admire your absolutist vision of the world....it sure makes waking up in the morning easier, eh?
Delete- The Sculpin
3:45
ReplyDeleteTrish convinced me. .
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LKPyU5x2JPc
Well then it's gotta be true.
DeleteTitillating presentation, for sure!!
DeleteTo Dr. Lori-Did you really think you would be able to make a difference when you spoke against our City Attorney. Don't you know the game is rigged? Thank you for trying. I am sorry for our loss.
ReplyDeleteWe need an elected city atty. where are the propA people to push this??
DeleteI agree with 8:13. But I don't think we need to have to rely on the Prop. A people. And this isn't an initiative type of thing, since the City Attorney works for the Council, and not for us. I think everyone has forgotten who pays the bills in this town. I can't help wonder what Sabin knows that he seems to be unreplaceable. Did you hear that the City Manager in Carlsbad was put on administrate leave? Maybe their council has more guts than ours.
DeleteIf their council had any guts the next guy will get paid $89K and that's it. And he pays for his own car, healthcare and retirement.
DeleteWe need people to run for office an participate when the time comes, we need people at meetings, not the same 10 folks who come every time for the last 10 years.
DeleteCarlsbad's Council definitely has more smarts than I. They understand that its City Council who leads the City and the City Manager. Not vice versa. Especially when everyone can see Sad Sac selling out Encinitas future just to bide time until he retires. Our City Council should now better.
ReplyDeleteI can't wait to vote in some new blood.
Apparently there are plenty of people smarter than you, it's know not now....our city council show (k)now better.
DeleteBut I do appreciate you care. Bang your pots, drive them out.
I wish that the last 2 City Managers in Carlsbad that they got rid of in the past 9 months would take Gus Vina with them.
ReplyDeleteOne guy was the caretaker city manager, and they did the same thing Enc did with Phil Cotton, promote the head of parks and rec instead of the asst. City Manager. I don't know if I'd hold C-bad up as a beacon of good gov. This is a city that had Bud Lewis on the council for 40 years.
DeleteAccording to today's U-T, Shaffer wants to eliminate recyclable water bottles from city events. How about eliminating useless employees?? Eliminating outrageous pensions and salaries.
ReplyDeleteEncinitas deserves these type of idiot council people, elected by idiot voters. The lack of leadership in govt continues in Encinitas.
Anyone know where she lives?? I'll bring all my empty water bottles and dump them on her lawn......
Here's a hint: not in some sustainable, "smart-growth" micro matchbox from which she bicycled or walked to work at UCSD for how many years? You know, not in the sort of situation and conditions she would like to force on the rest of us.
DeleteIt seems like Barth and Shaffer are forcing their own agenda for a bike friendly community for all. While some people like the idea, in practice, it is not that easy for people who have young children who attend various schools or low income people who must drive long distances to work.
DeleteIt is a different story when people have the luxury to bike to work at City Hall, but most of us have to drive a long way to work or schlep kids around.
This vision is beginning to sound more and more like Jerome's dream of watching his kids play in a taxpayer-funded sports park.
The council should make recommendations based on the actual needs of Encinitas residents, not personal hobbies and recreational activities for themselves.
I am sadden that you paint this as an either/or proposition. Improving the infrastructure to make it easier to bike around town doesn't mean it's going to be harder to drive. Cars are going to be the principal form of transportation for many, many years to come. There aren't "some" people in Encinitas who would like to be able to bike more. There are a lot of people. Also, I would hope you would want your kids to feel safe using their bikes whether they bike to school, the store, or just tooling around.
DeleteMore social engineering by the political elitists. Vote the bitch out of office come election time.
DeleteHey Shaffer want to do something good for Enc??? Fix the roads.
7:20 PM
DeleteWe are all saddened by a council that doesn't listen to residents. The council isn't improving infrastructure crowding more people onto already crowded streets. Children riding their bikes to school is a quaint thought, but the reality is that the street isn't safe for them.
Ok, so Shaffer is going on record as saying, "Individuals are free to buy bottled water and bring their plastic bottles to city hall......". So here's what she really saying, I Council woman Shafer am giving you permission to excercise your freedom and rights to buy the beverage of your choice. As if we need her permission. This woman is unbalanced to such a point she really believes YOUR freedoms eminate from HER .
DeleteThis is the thinking of a political elitist. She is dangerous. God help those that must deal with her and that's all of us.
She is alienating her base and everyone else by focusing on trivial issues. It was shocking that she spoke about not leaving pets in the car, and she made a big deal about how her neighborhood did not fit into any of the 5 communities. These issues qualify as Duhhh!
DeleteThe water bottle thing will not make a measurable difference in anything, but Gus loves it since he can save money on another line item and pretend he is doing something meaningful. We elected this council to investigate pension reform, make city staff do their jobs, do an audit of the books, and look into other significant issues.
These things are just distractions. Why are we paying people 6-figures at the city to look into this type of minutia?
Shaffer doesn't have a base. People were fed up with Stocks, Dalager and Bond. Now people are fed up with Barth, Shaffer, Muir, Gaspar and Kranz. The test is will people spread the news to their neighbors and go to the polls.
DeleteIf fuck fuck fuck... Wow, hey I Understand why the COE can ban plastic bottles. You see, all other things work perfectly in Enc. I mean the city even went to the trouble to restripe Santa Fe dr near SDA. Wow, I mean such a great job. Fresh paint. The worst street in the city but they gave us a fresh paint job, nooooooo new asphalt or repaving, but hey we have more important things to worry about, like if someone recycles a plastic bottle. But sense we can't be assured of that let's just ban the fucking things.
ReplyDeleteNice job Lisa, you have your priorities figured out.
How does the cost of banning plastic bottles interfere with funds for infrastucture improvement?
ReplyDelete3:05 PM
ReplyDeleteGood question. Consumers pay sales tax on the crv refund? City council bans the selling of all plastic bottles in Encinitas. Amount of sales tax collected is reduced. Amount of sales tax going into the Encinitas General Fund is reduced. Less money in the General Fund.
3:28
ReplyDeleteExcluding LeucaiART Walk of course where Captain Keno's donates all botted water for the event.
OMG. I just found out that Dr. Lorri is Lorri Greene and her dad is the old movie actor Lorne Greene of Bonanza, I think. I don't why why but I thought it was kind of cool. Anyone know if it is true cause I don't really know her and I don't want her to think this changes my opinion of her, which I never stated anyway, or I don't think I did. I wonder if he is still alive? Someone ask her.
ReplyDeleteI think Lorne went to the big Ponderossa in the sky a long time ago. And BTW, he was Canadian...
DeleteTrue story -
ReplyDeleteCouncil promotes solar panels to get residents off SDG&E grid. SDG&E revenue decreases. For years city makes additional income by charging franchise tax to SDG&E. Money goes into the general fund. Next week on council agenda -Year end budget report. As in previous years
SDG&E revenue continues to decline ($185,228 below projections). Lower than projected revenue in this category is likely due to decrease in
consumption.
Same as the gas tax. As cars get more efficient, they use less gas which means lower gas receipts to fix the roads. All electric cars don't pay any gas taxes yet they create wear and tear on the roads just like any car.
Delete2:30am.
DeleteElectric Cars contribute very little wear on the road. They are light. 90% of the wear comes from heavy trucks. Garbage Trucks, delivery trucks, repair trucks create the wear.
the lower energy use is a great thing. Anybody that doesn't believe in man made eliminate change is ignorant in my opinion. watch 180 South and you will see what humans and developers are about. profit without regard to Mother Earth is the name of the game.
DeleteI don't think the % of electric cars on the road is very high, can't be even a half of %. It's big trucks, that we need, that cause the wear.
DeletePer Wikipedia, electric is currently .60% in the U.S.
Deletehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electric_car_use_by_country#United_States
should have read, " man made climate change" my spell check is out of control.
ReplyDeleteAs electricity consumption is reduced, the money going into the city's general plan is reduced. Money that is used to keep up the parks and beaches, repair the roads, and pay other general fund expenses. Is it a good tradeoff?
ReplyDeleteThat's money going into the general fund.
DeleteHilarious comments. Shaffer was a shill - an academic with no real world experience - she is wandering off on tangents of insignificance.. Barth has imploded to the aspects of the Peter Principle. Kranz is looking at kitchen appliances with Dan. Muir is counting his pension bounty and Gaspar is having her fingernails done..... Encinitas is burning....
ReplyDeleteAnd our highly paid, highly housed fire fighters let everything burn to the ground.
DeleteCan't interfere with their Von's shopping runs...
DeleteOr their visits to Ace hardware where it takes 3 guys each with a radio to buy a broom.
DeleteHappy Veterans Day. Thank you for your service.
ReplyDeleteThe molehill into a mountain bottled water council agenda item:
ReplyDeleteThis is a new Council that doesn't understand that they don't have to debate whether or not to provide the bottled water at city events. Thirteen years ago a new city manager decided to provide food, water, and drinks at workshops. The city departments then decided to provide the same when they had public meetings. Now this Council thinks it is policy.
Council - say no more providing free bottled water or food.
Bonde!
DeleteDarn, I like the cookies!!
DeleteWCV
ReplyDeleteYou support your libertarian agenda with conclusions that are ABSURD more F work.A good education wasted .
Alias $$$tock$$$$$
Delete1) What does a libertarian agenda have anything to do with this?
Delete2) Who said I was educated?
WCV
WCV is a libertarian light. I think he is more socialistic than most libertarians I know.
DeleteYou the F work commenter haven't shown any comment worth remembering, only spew that means nothing.
Geez WC,
DeleteDeleting comments at will now hugh. WTH?
Why did you delete the last comment about you being a moderate to liberal libertarian and the
F work commenter being nothing but a waste of time with nothing to offer.
You seem to be quick with the edits. What happened to free speech?
I know - you'll delete this one too.
User error. Nothing deleted.
DeleteWCV
good. my bad i guess
DeleteThis is kind of funny but the project is sold out yes full occupancy I don't get it WC
ReplyDeleteObviously there is a lot you don't get.
DeleteObviously there is a lot you don't get.
Deleteyes, all those cobblers now living above their shoe repair store, and the seamstress living above her bridal store, and the tailor haberdasher living above his suit store, oh and let us not forget the clock repairer living above his clock shop, and the blacksmith above his foundry..............ah yes, all those local business work/love owners able to spend $1m to live next to the tracks.
DeleteI think if they were work/love lofts they would have sold quicker.
DeleteBut yes, good point about these type of places not living up to their promoted intention to work where you live. As a result, few if any who live there work there and visa versa. That creates twice the traffic to and from work and home and twice the parking problem. But hey, in a perfect world it would have been a good idea!
DeleteRight, but you can't believe the "hype". I mean, a developer will telll you anything to sell a place. The places behind La Especial in Leucadia are beach heaven, if you read the materials. They're not going to mention the smell of empy beer bottles or the rats from the retired dump next door. This IS Southern California 2013. The only time the developers will leave us alone in this town is once all the developable land is gone. Real estate will continue to be a big investment by rich folks, as is their right, don't want the ol class warfare argument, until rates go up/cheap money ends. That's another discussion, but let's face it, houses aren't just to live in anymore, it's a place to park your dough.
DeleteYou assume to much and prove nothing SMART BLOG FAIL F WORKyrt again
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like Jerome S. It is 'too much,' not 'to much.'
DeleteEven though our former mayor was not a great writer, compared to what we have now, he comes off looking better in terms of willingness to listen to the public.
And I say that as a person who voted against Jerome and voted for Teresa.
Barth was never that approachable - at a forum, she barely took the time to address an issue I brought up. Kranz seemed uncomfortable with the public and didn't "mix" Shaffer is in la-la land. Muir and Gaspar don't even count. YIKES - we're in trouble!
Delete7:42 - I'd phrase it slightly differently: Stocks PRETENDED to listen, but still I take your point . He didn't campaign on caring about constituent issues, the other three certainly seemed to...and the other two of course don't count.
DeleteBRING BACK STOCKS!!!
ReplyDeleteHe has my vote! I'm sorry I didn't vote for him during the last election. I will this time!
ReplyDeleteWow, smoke another doobie....
DeleteYeah right. He was still the biggest disaster although he has competition now.
ReplyDeleteMuir's comment: "BURP"
DeleteGaspar's comment "O MA GOD!"
Barth's: ARE THE CAMERAS ON?"
Kranz's: "WHEN DO I GET MY ROLEX?"
Shaffer's: "E=MC?" "I HATE PLASTIC!"
Yea, bring back $tock$ - we forgot to tar and feather the crook.
ReplyDeleteThere is another problem that we may not be considering. We live in a desert. Encinitas, as well of most of So. Cal is desert land with water coming from the northern part of the State or the Colorado River. What happens when we run out? Developers don't really care about that, as many of them don't live here. When we build bigger and bigger homes, or other things, does anyone ever consider how much water is this place going to use? How do they estimate how many dwellings and businesses will it take to know we are very short of water to contain them all. Just a thought.
ReplyDeleteThere's a whole fuckin' ocean of water .... Desalinate.
Delete500 million gallons of water is piped to the ocean in Leucadia every good day of rainfall. Cisterns.
DeleteI agree with 8:13. If they are going to throw around the word 'sustainable,' they need to use it with respect to water--not pensions and city jobs!
DeleteGrey water systems, every new house should have one. No lawns = no watering. Reduce as far as we can, then see what we need. Water is the biggest issue we face, and every development should have to account for it's water needs before being built. That big project on the LA/Ventura border should have been defeated just on the lack of water alone. It's the Newhall Ranch:
Deletehttp://la.curbed.com/archives/2012/05/newhall_ranch_megadevelopment_now_fully_approved.php#more
Good points. But I'd like to interject that I was up at the Library the other night and walked by the public water fountain and thought I'd take a big drink. I would guess it tasted just as bad as water filtered through a pot of geraniums. Smells about the same too. Our tap water locally sucks. My mom sells a water purifyer for the home. She also has a water tester which has two electrodes that hang downward in a clear glass. Ya fill it up with regular Leucadia tap water, plug it in and wait 10 minutes. After 10 min. the water turns into 8 layers of dingy colored muck. the metals from the electrodes attach themselves to chemicals, minerals and who knows what else. But you do the same test on filtered water (be it her machine or most water purifiers in front of local stores) and the water stays crystal clear. Guess which one tastes better? There's different stories about purfied water vs tap, but I'll take my chances with the liquid closest to rain.
DeleteFred, according to an inside source, SDWD's water is horrible because of bad management at Lake Hodges. They let trees and brush grow at the edge of the reservoir in low years, and then in high years all that plant matter decays under water.
DeleteThat rotten taste is decaying plants and trees.
Totally agree about the filter.
You mean Carlsbad doesn't get their tap water from Lake Hodges?
DeleteThe Olivenhain Water District is now getting some of its water from Lake Hodges. Phooey! Worst smelling and tasting water in San Diego.
Delete8:20- Even if the public wanted desalination, where would we get the money to build such a facility? And how would that impact the ocean, as I really don't know.
ReplyDeleteThe power plant in Carlsbad has been converted and it ready to operate. They await approval from the Commies at the CCC. The CCC objects because the "Surfrider" foundation objects. It's a lost cause at this point.
DeleteMaking water super expensive through costly desal doesn't make the cost of living go down. The poor are the ones most impacted by the coming high cost of water. Whey won't be able to afford to grow $64 dollar tomatoes in their backyard like this bro
Deletehttp://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5360768
The rich won't change their lifestyle. They will have glamor gardens tended by for hire veggie gardeners, like they do today. Their gardens will become a status symbol of the luxury life.
Desal as the answer is really just the answer for developers and Ms Polly Anna.
Surfrider Nazis are a bunch of disgruntled hypocrites. They ride waves on styrofoam/plastic boards derived from fossil fuels and wear wet-suits made of similar petrol-based components. They resist every effort of homeowners to protect their properties, mainly out of jealously. They claim eroding bluffs replenish the sand, when in fact, it is the restricted rivers that once supplied the sand. Surfriders are wannabe environmentalists, but really represent misguided misconceptions.
DeleteRather a broad statement. I would agree that the Surfrider Foundation has never really followed up on the env strength of their victory over the pulp mill in No Cal over 20 years ago. On an individual level, I'm sure there's some good work being done. And yes, their boards and suits are petrol based, but hey, I just drove my car to the library...
DeleteIf they want to address the shortage of affordable housing, they need to try to identify units that are already built and being rented out and bring them into the Affordable Housing Program. Density Bonus projects result in fewer houses for low income residents, not more.
ReplyDeleteAgree, the density bonus is a sham as currently operated. Is there any template or programs in action in other cities where existing units are being identified and brought into the affordable housing programs in other cities?
DeleteNearly $300,000 for the "park" at the south end of town. Unless gold plated trees are going in, look at what we got for all the dinero.
ReplyDeleteWe got 10 less parking places, and the Java Hut got screwed, is what we got.
ReplyDeleteIT HAD TO QUALIFY FOR THE 33 FEET BY ADDING LOW INCOME!!!
ReplyDeleteThat is DENSITY BONUS!!!!
It is not state mandated density bonus!!! It is City Council endorsed density bonus!!! No current council member lifted a finger to bring that to the attention of the public or attempted to put an end to it.
There was no "the State made me do" excuse.
Thanks for reminding everyone that this was not a STATE MANDATED density bonus and that our current council is dishonest.
And so ugly. New blight, imagine that.
ReplyDeleteJoin me as I toss hundred and hundreds of Calif poppy seeds there. Force the city to allow them to grow. They are native species and drought resistant.
DeleteAsk Marco to sue the city when the city sprays poison to kill them. I always wonder why he doesn't sue to stop the spraying of poison in the medians. All that poison ends up in the ocean. Where are the Surfrider hypocrites???
What park are you speaking of?
ReplyDeleteIt's the fucking bus stop at SRF! Taxpayers ripped off again.
DeleteDesert Hot Spring in financial crisis due to high salaries and outrageous pensions. Google it.......
ReplyDeleteCity of Encinitas you are next.
They will keep it hidden as long as possible and continue on this distructive path. People have been asking about this for years. Will Gus Vina continue to cover the truth like he did with the golf course? Is Encinitas a Baby Bell in the making, or a Stockton on a smaller level?
ReplyDeletePeople involved in this misrepresentation should have to suffer consequences.
Isn't Desert Hot Springs out in Methert, I mean Desert by Palm Springs? Not sure if Encinitas is that bad off. Ok, I know we're not, but that doesn't mean it wouldn't be good to have some staff turnover down at city hall.
ReplyDelete3:07- you are whistling past the grave yard....
DeleteDamn those lawsuits.
DeleteFrom Bloomberg:
...
Desert Hot Springs has $18 million in debt: $8 million in certificates of participation and $10 million in bonds to repay the legal judgment that drove the city to seek protection from creditors 12 years ago.
...
Desert Hot Springs last filed for bankruptcy in 2001, saying it couldn’t pay a legal judgment of almost $6 million awarded to a mobile-home-park developer that had been denied permits for a project in the city.
...
I was never much of a whistler. I get the gist of the point, but I think it's hard to make a comparison between Encinitas and Desert Hot Springs. How about Encinitas vs. Carlsbad or Oceanside. Avoids the apples to oranges comparison.
Deletehttp://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-11-13/california-s-desert-hot-springs-holds-short-of-bankruptcy.html
Delete"Aguer said nearly 70 percent of the city's budget was consumed by police costs, most of which were spent on salaries and pension payments to the California Public Employees' Retirement System, or Calpers. "
http://www.nbcnews.com/business/another-city-mulls-bankruptcy-blaming-wages-pensions-2D11586020
Park next to freeway = noisy. Brilliant.
ReplyDeleteAnything next to the freeway is noise. YMCA is next to the freeway… so is cottonwood creek park.
ReplyDeleteThe solution is to quiet the freeway.
Trench and cover the freeway. Problem solved.
ReplyDeleteInterestingly I have advocated for this very solution for Los Angeles traffic for years. A series of tunnels to allow the traveler to avoid the LA traffic nightmare. Sadly california is no longer the " here's a problem, here's the solution now get it done", state we used to be. That title has been taken by the Chinese.
DeleteI thought the Chinese had take the smog and pollution title, as well as the Damns on every river title.
Delete6:14
DeleteGood. But why stop there? Let's trench and cover everything but the beach.
I'm for trenching and covering city hall.
DeleteThose tunnels in LA now hold the subway....
Deletenot bad, but lets start with the railroad first.
ReplyDeleteOh wow, The Encinitas Chimp has another one of their deep analysis of roundabouts. Lynn, Sheila and Bob, also know as see no evil, hear to evil and speak no evil of Leucadia jump up and applaud.
ReplyDeleteKeeping it crappy. And now they have a mascot, The Encinitas Chimp.
www.encinitassimian.com?
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteChimp.
DeleteEncinitas Guerilla!
ReplyDeleteA funny and relevant new post. Thanks for alerting us to it Chimp 9:15, lol.
Hey, I'm trying to get the hyperlink to work, thanks for your patience:
DeleteEncinitas Guerilla
Thanks, WC, for sharing a great place for us to figure out how to hyperlink our comments :)
Encinitas Guerilla
DeleteThanks for being so quick to find my error. At least the "hyperlink" DOES work, above, if you click on hyperlink, in blue. So you're wrong about that, Fredo.
I think I had an extra quotation mark in my previous attempt re Encinitas Guerilla. Fixed it, now, though. It's worth a little trial and error to learn something new.
Congratulations, Lynny. I think if EG allowed comments it would stir more creativity. I think I figured out who it is.
DeleteDumbass,
DeleteThere is a hyperlink on the left of this page. Man- you are clueless.
Whatever that means.
DeleteC. And the links don't work.
ReplyDeleteMaybe cause it's spelled wrong. In the French language, "la guerre" is "the war" as in "C'est la vie, c'est la guerre," which literally means "That's life, that's war." Surely, it means more than the literal translation. My guess is the word is rooted in Latin. I should check on that.
DeleteAs for our local guerrilla, I sometimes find it hard to get his or her point. For instance, what was that long-ago post on a pastry monster eating Encinitas about?
"hyperlink" worked before, above, to take interested readers to the webpage that explains how to write the code for sharing links.
DeleteEncinitas Guerilla works now; why don't you try if you're so smart?
lol
The link works aside from the fact you misspelled the second word. See the Aug 7 post.
DeleteSorry I kept misspelling guerilla. Still, as you noted, I took the time to get the link to work, DESPITE remarks from the "peanut gallery" about typos.
DeleteKranz gives the finger salute to you all!
ReplyDeleteIn every sense of the phrase.
DeleteLynn,
ReplyDeleteThere is a lot more of your thoughts and actions "don't work" besides your hyperlink.
In every population, you always have a small segment of the population that are clueless.
In Encinitas we have you, Sheila and KLCC….
Thanks for being that segment. As they say….ignorance is bliss.
Enjoy your bliss.
Bliss is the majority of the city who have no idea anything's rotten in Encinitas. That is bliss.
ReplyDelete