The Burlingame Voice

"Mill housing" for B'game teachers?

Bad ideas tend to spread here in the Bay Area especially when the time horizon for revealing the flaws is years away.  "Mill housing" was a common approach to subsidizing employees' rents especially back in Massachusetts (my home state) in the 1800's.  Now we have the idea that the B'game School District can and should build subsidized housing for teachers.  A sample of 31% of BSD employees found plenty of interest in subsidized housing.  And why not?  You can find lots of support for subsidized anything when you are using OPM.  That doesn't make it a good idea.  The Daily Journal piece doesn't get to any of the flaws--just the cheerleading:

Workforce housing could be one of Burlingame School District’s next big projects but only if community members show support for financially backing the initiative, school board trustees agreed during a meeting last week.

Three sites were identified as being potentially feasible for housing, the 0.3-acre district office site at 1825 Trousdale Drive, a 2.8-acre lot of land between Burlingame Intermediate School and Franklin Elementary and a 4.5-acre undeveloped hillside above Hoover Elementary.  But after further review, only the first two would be developable, Jennings said, noting that the hillside plot is greatly sloped and has access constraints.  (Ed:  that's an understatement). Despite the substantial lot size differences between the Trousdale and BIS sites, Jennings said both could only welcome a 22-unit project.

At the Trousdale site, Jennings said units would be incorporated into a six-story apartment building with underground parking. Initial estimates show the development could cost the district more than $17.8 million.  Alternatively, about $15 million would be needed to develop 12 townhomes and a two-floor flat stacked apartment building with 10 units at the BIS housing site. That configuration would maximize the land use while adhering to single-family zoning policies in the residential neighborhood.

Funny how endangered the concept of "single-family zoning" has become in such a short time.  You can click through to the whole article if you want to read about the various funding options--none of which are realistic.  Instead, let's ask a few basic questions.  Why isn't the giant subsidized housing project wrapped in black netting on Park Rd. enough to handle the less-tenured teachers?  I thought that was the motivation.  Or we could take the view of this resident (whom I don't know) in a letter to the DJ:

Instead, let’s focus on ensuring district employees are paid enough to live here (if they choose) at market rate. They deserve the autonomy to make their own living choices. Let’s pay them a much better rate and stay out of the housing business.

Esther Kim,  Burlingame

Good idea especially with the Inflation Production Act about to kick in and construction and/or financing costs skyrocketing.  The Fed will make those million-dollar estimates look small soon.  Does the District really want to get into the prevailing wage debate?  Are they remotely capable of managing this without more high-priced consultants on board?  Heck, the election campaign to raise the funding probably costs more than it takes to assist a lot of teachers for a couple of years.  The last time I looked at the data (in 2020) it wasn't clear that staff turnover was much worse than it's been for the prior decade.

Lastly, what new wrinkles would school-subsidized housing add to school administration?  Who are the lucky 22?  If you remove an underperforming teacher, are you also making them homeless?  Who's got the huevos to do that?  Who is doing income verification?  Does a significant other's income count?  What about summer income?  Do we think all teachers sit by the pool all summer?  Is it ever smart to do what EssEff does?  I doubt it.  How about working on student achievement and figuring out where we will put all the new students in town while staying out of the housing business. 

North End tsunami still coming hard and fast

We noted that a Density Tsunami Approaches eighteen months ago here.  One of the elements was the old Peninsula Museum of Art space at 1766 ECR on the north end.  The original, approved plan fell through and a new developer is back with an eight-story all residential proposal that is getting positive vibrations from the Planning Commission according to the Daily Journal piece:

A proposed eight-story north Burlingame apartment building with 311 units received a mostly positive review from the city’s Planning Commission this week, advancing the plans to replace a vacant building at 1766 El Camino Real.  The project would include 37 studio units, 137 one-bedroom units, 120 two-bedroom units and 17 three-bedroom units.  The (22) affordable units would be provided in exchange for the building’s density exceeding that otherwise allowed by the city, per the state’s density bonus law. The law in this case allows the developer to add 72 units on top of the maximum allowed by local zoning.

That seems like a deal.  I'll do the math here.  That mixture equals 465 bedrooms and a bunch of baths.  Then we read

The 504,000-square-foot project would occupy a 1.7-acre parcel, with a partially below ground two-story parking garage providing 319 spots.

Just by chance I was talking to a neighbor of the Summerhill development now known as the Anson Apartments on Carolan who recalled how the neighbors were told there would be no overflow parking problems.  Well, that hasn't played out too well.  The single-family neighborhood around Toyon, Linden, Azalea, etc is apparently learning differently to their distress.

But it's not just parking.  One wonders if the parents and future parents of kids at Franklin school are paying attention?  Is BSD paying attention to this and all the other projects moving forward in Buildingame?  Does anyone know of a portable classroom company I can buy stock in?  Let's all keep these hulking monsters in mind when we are told to skip a few showers and stop watering our lawns.  I choose not to participate in the Collective Amnesia.  Here's a rendering of the proposed building that some seem to think is Eichler-esque.

Say Goodbye to an Old Friend

I haven't railed about any home demolitions lately since it doesn't seem to do much good.  My little patch of B'game at least requires a home historical evaluation before the claw arrives.  There is a bit of movement in that direction elsewhere in town as noted here.  And there has been at least one successful move (on Oak Grove).

Long-timers in town will recall the ruckus years ago over a nice old house on Carmelita on a big lot that was going to be demo'ed.  There was enough space on one side of the lot to add a new house and that calmed folks down.  Now a resident in the Easton Addition has passed along this photo of its demise.  Say goodbye to an old friend.

 

Hoover: When an Island Isn't.

I happened to drive past the nicely upgraded Hoover School recently.  As the elementary kids start thinking about returning to class, pedestrian (and vehicle) safety will be on people's minds.  Hoover has a bit of a past in this regard which you can read about here from two and a half years ago.

What caught my eye as year 3 is about to start at Hoover were the tire tracks on the roundabout island right in front.  It seems odd to me that there would be an island that is so easy to drive over.  What's the point really?  Does it engender some false sense of security?  Is it a challenge for thrill-seekers?  Or is it just a poor design?  Seems like if you are going to put in an island, it should really be an island instead of a little sand bar.

Easton Project, Yes -- Nada on El Camino

If the size of the sign is indicative of the size of the project, the Easton Addition sewer and drainage project will be huuuuuge.  Phase 1 which the city site shows as completed was about a mile of pipe.  Phase 2 which is under construction is about a half a mile 

Project Scope: The work shall consist of constructing approximately 2,600 LF of new 6-inch and 8-inch sanitary sewer pipe and 15-inch storm drain pipe throughout the City using open cut, pipe bursting, and pipe reaming in the public right-of-way, along easement areas, and in private properties. Other related work includes installation and replacement of manholes, cleanouts and laterals by pipe bursting or open cut, rehabilitation of manholes, temporary bypass pumping, connecting all laterals, and other related miscellaneous work.

Phase 3 is out to bid for another 0.6 of a mile.  Here is the sign that catches the eye

I just can't help but contrast this work to the non-work not happening on our State highway, El Camino Real.  The "Flooded" signs have reappeared and may very well be with us all winter.  When I downloaded the photo below, I happened to name it the same way as one I took FIVE YEARS ago.  Unbelievable that we can blow billions on a medium-speed train to no where, but for decades we can't get decent drainage on El Camino.

Incoming Mayor Michael Brownrigg (due to be installed on Monday, Dec. 18th) made a campaign issue of getting it fixed.  This will be his chance.

Tom Jr Reaching Adolescence

The replacement eucalyptus tree in front of the Easton Addition library is growing in slowly.  We last checked in on him five years ago here.  He is fondly referred to as Tommy Jr. by friends of his dad who was known far and wide as Tom the Tree and met his demise about ten years ago.  Here is his slender profile today.

Historic on Drake

Every once in awhile things do work out well for those of us who care about recognizing and preserving B'game's history, especially its historic homes.  Finally, after a lot of effort by the homeowners, B'game has it first National Historic Registered residence.  The Daily Journal has this piece along with some nice interior photos that were not in the print edition, noting

The only person architect William Whifler intended to impress when he designed the unique and stylish home tucked away at the end of a quiet Burlingame street was his mother.  But through the tireless efforts of his son Graeme Whifler, the family’s property on Drake Avenue received widespread recognition after recently being added to the National Register of Historic Places.

William Whifler, who designed homes across the Peninsula between 1950 and 1970, was honored by the federal agency for his creative approach to the mid-century modern home template featuring expansive windows and ranging, open interiors.  Despite his reluctance to seek attention, William Whifler’s work established a long legacy in his native community, as he designed Burlingame City Hall and co-founded the College of San Mateo’s department of architecture.

Many kudos to Graeme who noted that "his father deserved accolades similar to colleagues of his era such as developer Joseph Eichler, despite never seeking out such attention while working."  My wife, Cathy Baylock, recalls speaking to Graeme's sister about how to go about getting started back in about 2013 while Cathy was advocating for historic preservation as a city councilwoman.

This so gratifying to see and a great addition to Kohl Mansion's status.  I have now added a photo taken from the sidewalk.  My guess is the plaque is the Historic Landmark marker, but didn't want to just walk in to look.  Very serene setting at the end of the street.

 

B'game Plaza Parking

I had high hopes that the update to the parking lot at Burlingame Plaza would include some trees.  It wasn't a big thing back in the '50's (or was it the '40's?) when the plaza was built, but these days trees are admired as a welcome addition in parking lots.  Barring any trees, some shade arbors with or without solar panels would be welcome as well.  But perusing the work in progress, it doesn't appear that we will get any trees that shade cars.  The ends of the aisles might get a tree, but I did not see irrigation lines being laid when I was up there this week.  The longer fenced off area was just for storing equipment.  Missed opportunity?

New Mills Canyon

There has been some good upgrades and maintenance recently in Mills Canyon.  The DJ is reporting the story here and notes

Weeks of work refining the secluded and narrow trail culminated Tuesday, April 19, as workers with the California Conservation Corps cleared brush from the path which spans a little over a mile in the Burlingame hills east of Skyline Boulevard, near Arguello Drive.

The final day of trimming put a finishing touch on the work which began last month that included building new stairs, regrading the trail for storm drainage, adding more steps, reducing erosion threats, widening the trail, implementing new retaining walls and more.

This part was interesting to me also since kids are sometimes in there at night partying

The dirt trail is open daily for free to members of the public to enjoy, along with their leashed dogs. No camping is allowed on the property, which closes at nightfall.

Outside of the recent beautification efforts, Holtz said volunteers are often responsible for clearing non-native species which may grow along the trail, as well as cleaning out the rare occurrence of litter being left behind.

I thought I would take a look at the Crime Map (that you can find here) for the last two weeks and see how it's been going.  It's been quiet in the canyon so we will see how it goes as the school year comes to an end.

 

 

Hoover Traffic Planning (and Paying)

School capacity - really the lack of school capacity - is a hot button in town.  The District estimated the available capacity in the five existing schools to be 102 seats back in the summer.  Development in town - really over-development in town - will exacerbate this even with the re-opening of Hoover School.  That saga can be reviewed here and here for newcomers (of which there are some).  Today's Daily Journal notes that tonight is when the money meets the road on traffic/pedestrian improvements that need to be made to

Officials are expecting a crush of cars and students flocking to the area near the campus at 2200 Summit Drive when 200 kindergartners through fifth-graders start classes at the school in August.

In advance of the school reopening its doors, officials will collaborate on developing an agreement over how the cost of building new sidewalks, painting crosswalks, making the site compliant with Americans with Disabilities Act standards and other improvements will be financed.

Officials project the variety of improvements are slated to cost as much as $3.5 million, when considering long-term projects such as building new sidewalks along Summit and Easton drives, as well as widening the roads and other efforts, according to a city report.

This is the first meeting of the full bodies (new Council and School Board) and they need to collaborate since

...school officials and neighborhood residents arrived at a settlement in February, after the district committed to installing a variety of alterations along Summit Drive, such as designating student drop-off and pick-up areas and realigning the school driveway, among other improvements.

This incremental capacity of 200 kids is a start, but I believe there will be more demand coming soon so the two bodies might as well get to know each other's concerns.