Calum Weeks, policy director for Generation Housing. [Photo courtesy Calum Weeks]
A group of graduates of the 2022 NextGen Trades Academy at their graduation ceremony. [Photo courtesy The Lime Foundation]
“This is a logistical issue when it comes to building public housing. These projects need to be occupied before they are allotted final funding. The developer has had to power the buildings with temporary panels until the switchgear arrives,” says Roger Nelson. Monica Nelson is the vice president of marketing and business development for Midstate Construction. She says the majority of projects now include installation of solar panels or preparation for solar panels. “We also are now installing electric vehicle chargers or prepping for chargers and installing generators or prepping for generators.
This is good for the environment and residents in the long run. It allows for electric vehicle options and preparation for potential power outages,” says Monica Nelson. It is a plus for Burbank Housing and other similar developers that the conversion of older motels to residential units is often faster and less expensive than to build new construction. This is particularly true when units are in good condition. Such work is being undertaken with funds from the State of California’s Homekey program. Part of the money for Homekey projects goes to renovations of units for people with disabilities. By law, the state requires that a certain number of the units are Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant. Steps include installing entrance ramps, making
Wishing You Peace and Happiness in Your New Home
sure a doorway is level with the floor behind it, putting grab bars in showers and bathtubs and replacing traditional locks and knob handles with accessible alternatives like levers. Despite all the progress, more could be done to increase the amount of affordable and permanent supportive housing. Calum Weeks is the policy director for Generation Housing, a Santa Rosa-based nonprofit that aims to increase the amount and diversity of housing in the North Bay. The organization has crafted the North Bay NEXT initiative, a set of recommended policy changes for development. One of the suggestions is to consolidate design review authorities into planning commissions. The step would cut down on the number of meetings developers need to attend. “This step would reduce uncertainty and accelerate housing project timelines while still ensuring transparency and accountability in decision-making,” says Weeks. Weeks also advocates for North Bay counties, particularly Sonoma County, to waive impact fees for at least three years
General Building Contractors – LIC. #790931 (707) 836-1315 HarkeyConstruction.com
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2022-2023 YEARS 2
24 NorthBaybiz
April 2024
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