I hope San Mateo County, as well cities and other County housing-related entities will speed up the process of making affordable housing available to seniors. I am 76 years old, and a heartbeat away from becoming homeless because the new owner of the apartment building I've lived in for over 15 years raised my rent by $675/month!!! My fixed monthly income of $2,278 has remained the same these past three years, so suddenly having to pay monthly rent of $2,000, with $278 "left over" to live on each month is impossible. As I say, I will soon be homeless unless I can find affordable housing in the very near future. Thank you to everyone who is trying to remedy this unfortunate situation.

Thank You Dave Boyce for this story and properly identifying the Measure A funds continue until 2023.
Measure K was simply a 20 year extension on Measure A starting in year 2023.
Who's idea was it to start calling Measure A money Measure K money?
Measure A was promoted dishonestly (Deficit) to maintain critical services
The backers of Measure K are all lined up for the money, Why can't they wait the 6 years until K funds start.

Web Link

Pearl,

Did you see this? Applications for below market rate housing are due on Monday, May 8. Maybe this would help you.

Joan:

I did. Thank you!!! Appreciate your posting that information!!! I'm sure there are others who are interested, as well.

pearl

Pearl,

There are many of us who would build small second units on our property to help ease the housing shortage if MP would waive the enormous fees. Construction costs are extremely high and adding all of the city fees on top of that make it financially difficult. Waiving the fees and perhaps assisting with the cost would help both seniors who need income and seniors who need housing. There are solutions if you can get anyone to listen.

Hi, Joan,

Thanks for that information. It's very discouraging. I can't understand why the city of Menlo Park (as well as other Peninsula cities) doesn't remedy this unfortunate situation for the benefit of all. For the past two years, I have been writing letters re the shortage of affordable housing here on the Peninsula, to our County BOS, various legislators and other "leaders", but for the most part, no one seems to be willing to tackle the problem...I think because it involves politics, as well as money.

Thanks, again, for the information, as well as for your concern. Hopefully some day this unfortunate situation will be resolved for the benefit of everyone.

Pearl

" I can't understand why the city of Menlo Park (as well as other Peninsula cities) doesn't remedy this unfortunate situation for the benefit of all."

Because, in the case of Menlo Park, a property with a "granny flat" doesn't have enough off street parking. And Menlo Park doesn't allow overnight parking on the street, except in special areas. They don't want to encourage housing that creates parking "problems."

Menlo Voter,

Oh, good, I would be the perfect candidate then because I don't drive and I don't have a car! But, if I had a car and someone said you can move in here but there's no parking available. I would say o.k., and get rid of my car in a heartbeat. ; )

Pearl

Pearl:

I really wish it was that simple!

Because, in the case of Menlo Park, a property with a "granny flat" doesn't have enough off street parking. And Menlo Park doesn't allow overnight parking on the street, except in special areas. They don't want to encourage housing that creates parking "problems."

Menlo Voter, that is simply not true. Many of us who would build these units have plenty of off street parking and I believe that is a requirement for second units. The real problem is excessive fees, excessive red tape, and high construction costs.

Joan:

the high fees are the city's way of discouraging secondary dwelling units. The city doesn't want them. If they really did, they'd do something about making it more affordable.

Then retirees need to mobilize and vote the the council out of office unless they do something. Fast.

Sadly our council is funded by the luxury developer crowd.

"the high fees are the city's way of discouraging secondary dwelling units. The city doesn't want them. If they really did, they'd do something about making it more affordable."

You are correct Menlo Voter. The city does not want them. My neighborhood has many illegal second units and there is no problem with parking or the tenants. Portland, OR encourages these units by waiving fees and it has been enormously successful. Everyone wins. Seniors and young people get income, seniors and shop workers get housing.

Where are our young people and our seniors supposed to live? Unless they work at Google or Facebook, the rents here are more than their total income. Granny flats would help both yet there doesn't seem to be any progress on this. Is there anyone out there who could help seniors build these units at an affordable cost?