Teresa Barth's "Engage Encinitas" to push high-density development Measure T

Engage Encinitas:

Housing has been in the news a lot lately. Is it a crisis? What is affordable housing? Why don't developers build housing most people can afford? Can government help? Why does it matter? As part of its Citizens Academy series, Engage Encinitas invites you to dig deeper into the topic of housing in Encinitas.

The discussion is not intended to be a 'debate' about the Ballot Measure rather an opportunity to learn more about this complex topic.

Hear from a panel of experts who will discuss what's possible or probable, the regulatory challenges and the economic, environmental and social impacts to our city and the San Diego region.

The discussion will be moderated by USD Professor Norm Miller. Panelist will be:
Keith Harrison, Encinitas resident and real estate investor
Josh Lichtman, Resident and real estate professional
Stephen Russell, San Diego Housing Federation, Executive Director

Keith Harrison is a 101 commercial property owner who would get a huge financial windfall from Measure T's upzoning to high-density 3-story buildings. We don't know Josh Lichtman, but as a self-described "real estate professional," we're pretty sure he's going to be in favor of pushing more high-density development on Encinitas.  Stephen Russell's SDHF is a high-density-pushing front group backed by SANDAG, developers, and mortgage lenders.

Conspicuously absent from from Engage Encinitas' "opportunity to learn" are any neighbors and community members opposed to the high-density development agenda.

As for the "affordable housing" in the catch line?  Read the fine print. There's nothing affordable about Measure T's high-density luxury condos.

Mayor Teresa Barth: seniors and young people want high-density development

KPBS:

But Encinitas Mayor Teresa Barth believes the Pacific Station development represents a new kind of community.

“All of the units there have sold, so obviously, people like to live in that environment,” she said. “Whole Foods is busy all the time and people are sitting there, having lunch.”

She thinks the new development represents changing trends in the way people want to live.

“Our demographics are changing,” she explained. “The fastest growing group in our region is the seniors, people who already live here, people who are going to get out of the suburban house because the kids have all gone and they’re moving into a smaller apartment or townhouse, and they all want to live downtown. They and the millennials all want the same thing.”

Barth said both the older and the younger generations want to be able to go out their door and walk or bike to a grocery store, a restaurant, the library or the beach.

Well, we now know why Barth never signed the Right to Vote petition. And we know what to expect from her vaporware alternative ballot initiative.

UPDATE: No, just because people bought them doesn't mean people want to live there. They are speculations and party pads for the out-of-town rich. How does that help stop global warming?