tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8394711926853801811.post5841943419865328895..comments2024-03-28T16:00:23.455-07:00Comments on The Emeryville Tattler: Re-negotiate Approved Lofts: Build Family HousingUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8394711926853801811.post-67544980032142593302011-12-27T13:13:55.843-08:002011-12-27T13:13:55.843-08:00Nice article Brian. Good points.
Lofts are defin...Nice article Brian. Good points. <br /><br />Lofts are definitely not kid friendly, especially with those open staircases (not just open to the sides, but also between the steps).<br /><br />We ended up moving into Andante Emeryville, where our experience has been mostly good, but the main problem we have encountered there is the poor building standards that allow way too much sound transmission from out unit to the unit under us (despite our use of thick carpeting and padding) - there isn't any transmission of radio or tv noise, but the kids steps go straight downstairs. <br /><br />If Emeryville wants to encourage families, it needs to look at its building code and adopt an overlay mandating better control of sound transmission through floors.<br /><br />Also, if Emeryville wants to be more family-friendly, it needs to learn how to coordinate housing with the school system and even with the day care center and after school programs (and library - we do have a public library, right?).<br /><br />It seems to me that there's got to be a market for "urban friendly" parents who can see the value in Emeryville's excellent location and good public safety record, provided the City can aim it's housing policy in the right direction and re-position the Emeryville Center for Community Life.<br /><br />I support the Emeryville Center for Community Life in so far as it promises to build us a library and refurbish the badly dilapidated Emery Secondary Campus. But I think moving Anna Yate, the crown jewel in the Emeryville school system, over the the same campus as the high school is a big mistake.<br /><br />Right now the popular East Bay wisdom is that Anna Yates is excellent, but then move out or put your kids in private school, not Emery Secondary.<br /><br />Once Emery Secondary is spruced up, gets a REAL library, and has adequate science and computer services, I think it has a shot at winning over reluctant families. However, moving Anna Yates over there isn't going to upgrade Emery Secondary, it's going to downgrade (in many parent's eyes) Anna Yates.<br /><br />A city is complicated, interrelated urban ecology. You can't have family friendly housing without good schools, you can't have good schools without families.<br /><br />The door is mostly (but not completely, as you point out) closed on reversing the "loft" mistake in Emeryville.<br /><br />But I think we should direct more of our efforts to the most immediately pressing problem, which is re-thinking the Emeryville Center of Community Life before we start looking back on it as yet another mistake ....Michael Webberhttp://conditionemeryville.tumblr.comnoreply@blogger.com