Outback victory advances affordable housing

The Northern Alameda County Group scored a significant victory for affordable housing when a three-judge appellate panel ruled decisively in our favor in Bowman vs. Berkeley. The unanimous opinion, issued Sep. 20, specifically cited an amicus brief filed by the Sierra Club in support of the city.

The court chose to publish the portion of the brief addressing the Club's concerns and hence has established a precedent that will improve the environment for infill development throughout the state.

After more than a year of delay, this ruling finally gives a green light to a project by Affordable Housing Associates, a prominent Berkeley-based affordable-housing developer.

The project will occupy the site of the former Outback clothing store on Sacramento Street in Berkeley. It will bring 39 affordable homes for seniors to a location served by three major bus routes and within walking distance of the Ashby BART station. It will include small shops on the ground floor and homes above.

In suburban and lower-density urban areas this sort of project can help transform neighborhoods to make them more environmentally efficient.

In addition to decreasing reliance on the automobile, compact projects such as this require far smaller quantities of building materials to construct and less energy to operate than lower-density construction. According to Dr. John Holtzclaw, a senior analyst for the Sierra Club's Challenge to Sprawl Campaign, the difference can be dramatic. "Choosing compact conveniently located housing is the single most important decision a consumer can make to help the environment," he said.

A century ago, mixed-use projects of this scale were common along the major thoroughfares of even small towns all over America. Reviving this classic form of development is an important priority of the Sierra Club's anti-sprawl campaign. To see more examples of how good development can improve neighborhoods, look on the Club's web site at www.sierraclub.org/sprawl/community/transformations/index.asp

Tim Frank, senior policy advisor, Sierra Club Challenge to Sprawl Campaign