Thread by @KariPickles

Hi everyone I have some thoughts on this. #surprise

https://twitter.com/Stocktonopolis/status/1029825807416549379

First and let's just get this out of the way, I'm against the City expanding North of 8 Mile Road and I will admit a large part of that is agricultural sentimentality. But there are other reasons I think reserving this land for a "transformative project" is dangerous.

Second. The area really isn't suited for the type of industrial development ala Tesla that would meet the major jobs generator criteria. The infrastructure for goods movement is much stronger in other parts of the City/County where freeway, freight, port, air access are better.

It would require major changes to roadway and freeway infrastructure, meaning major $$$ invested, which means money coming from away from something else (especially if SB1 gets repealed then we're all screwed, but that's for another thread)

Third. Let's say we finally get investment in a CSU Stockton. AWESOME. But this would locate it as far as possible w/in the City from a big population of residents (south stockton) it's hoped would actually be able to take advantage of it.

At that point, it'd be located slightly closer to Downtown Lodi than it would be to Downtown Stockton.

Plus, anyone been to UC Merced? It operates mostly autonomously from the City of Merced, was greenfield development, has its own independent transit system etc. My guess is that existing housing in the area would see a huge uptick in rent and in student occupied homes.

Why not look at areas where it could be an integrated urban campus? Or the San Joaquin County Fairgrounds would be a great option too. Caltrans D10 is adjacent and could use new headquarters... and would make great additional classroom space.

Fourthly & I'm getting tired of myself so yes we're almost done. Adding 26k housing units up there shifts the geo center of the City. It's ain't downtown or midtown anymore, it's Lincoln Center. Residents would be far from services and City resources would be thinly stretched

Fifthly andiswearimdone WE GOT SUED FOR THIS LAST TIME. WE WENT INTO BANKRUPTCY FROM SPRAWL. IT KINDA SUCKED. Let's avoid a repeat and exercise an overabundance of growth-related caution, shall we?

(that doesn't mean we don't need to look at tenant protections and options for our existing residents bc there are hardly any on the books. rents are going up and wages aren't and we need to get ahead of this/we're already behind on this)

Ok that's the end for now thank you for existing and allowing me this space to breathe.

@threadreaderapp unroll please!