SAVE OUR CITY - Stop 825 Legal Defense Fund
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SAVE OUR CITY is a recently formed coalition of residents, allies, and activists who have come together because of our deep love for Marin City. Aligned with Golden Gate Village and other equity and social justice efforts, SAVE OUR CITY is intent on protecting the historical legacy, rich cultural diversity and environmental integrity of our beloved community whose viability is being threatened by an aging and neglected infrastructure, gentrification, and development pressures. The 825 Drake Project by design will exacerbate these threats and must be stopped.
In November 2020, the Marin County Board of Supervisors voted to approve and publicly fund the 74-unit 5 story 825 Drake Avenue development without giving notice to the residents of Marin City under a state law that was adopted to fast-track affordable housing in communities that have traditionally stonewalled such development. But Pacific West, the for-profit developer, (aided by the Board of Supervisors) has instead used this law to increase housing density in the tiny Marin City community that already has a grossly disproportionate share of Marin County’s affordable housing. In March 2023, despite vehement objections of residents, the Marin County Board of Supervisors gave Pacific West $1.8 million and approved a $40 million bond to advance the construction of 825 Drake.
Save Our City is fighting for the self-determination that Black residents have been fighting for more than 80 years - the right to have a say in what is developed in our community - the right to have a voice in what is built on 825 Drake.
Save Our City is fighting because:
- Most of the proposed apartments will not be affordable to Marin City residents, thus forever changing the heartbeat of this community and excelerating the rapid gentrification that is forcing long term residents out of Marin City and out of the county
- The proposed development is located across from the only public park and playground, situated on a dangerous blind curve where more cars and traffic pose a high risk to our children and families.
- an area where existing street parking is already limited
- an area adjacent to existing senior housing blocking entirely their sunlight and limiting emergency vehicle access in an
- extremely high fire hazard zone
- a zone prone to flooding with
- only one-way in and one-way out for the entire community
- Marin City represents only 1% of Marin County (356 acres), YET it possesses 60% of the public housing units in all of Marin.
- 825 is the final nail in the coffin of the county’s attempt to eliminate the black presence in Marin City
- July 26, 2023, Save Our City v. All Person Interested filed a lawsuit to stop the developers from using tax-exempt bond money.
- On September 6, 2023 - Marin County Superior Court Judge Stephen P. Freccero entered a Limited Preliminary Injunction on behalf of a Marin City organization, Save Our City (SOC), temporarily halting public funding for this project. No excavation or foundation work is permitted until the court rules on Save Our City’s request for a preliminary injunction.
- On September 29, 2023, Golden Gate formally joined with Save Our City by filing a federal lawsuit which seeks to nullify the county’s approval of the 825 project.
WE NEED YOUR HELP TO CONTINUE OUR BATTLE!
Our goal is to fully fund the legal expenses and fees required to halt the development of 825 Drake Avenue - costs that we expect to be in excess of $150K . To date, we have raised $78,760 in gifts, checks and gofundme contributions. Any donation, no matter how small, will make a difference. We are grateful for your support and appreciate you standing with us.
Thank you for taking the time to read this and THANK YOU for caring.
To Donate:
Send contributions to the Hannah Project, 3001 Bridgeway #422, Sausalito, CA 94965 or click on STOP 825.
For Information:
Go to our website, SaveOurCity Or contact Bettie Hodges@ [email redacted]
go to https://gofund.me/555d05c6 orStop 825
For more information: Visit our website www.
or contact: Bettie Hodges or Marilyn Mackel at STOP825.org.
- Marin City
Approved in November 2020 without any consultation with Marin City residents or our governing body, the 5-story, 74-unit, 23-parking space, 825 Drake Project is a continuance of the paternalism, inequity and disregard for the interests and concerns of Marin City residents that have characterized the County’s relationship with the Marin City community for the past 80 years.
825 must be stopped.
The construction of 825 Drake will overburden Marin City which occupies only .1% of the county’s land area but already holds 44% of the total Publicly Assisted Multi-Family Rental Units and 41% of the Affordable Housing Units that exist in Marin County. The development is a perversion of the SB35 legislation that should not be applied to our community.
825 must be stopped.
The 825 development poses serious health and safety threats that are harmful and dangerous to the Marin City community. It will block sunlight to seniors living in the Village Oduduwa complex. It will have a significant impact on the parking available for residents and will impede access of emergency vehicles into the senior complex on Park Circle and adjacent streets. It will tax emergency evacuation in a community that is designated a very high fire severity zone, is a high flood occurrence area, and has one road for egress and ingress in and out.
825 must be stopped.
SAVE OUR CITY believes that the ONLY way we CAN STOP 825 is to take legal action to halt the distribution of public funds (bonds and Section 8 vouchers) that will subsidize the project. SAVE OUR CITY has recently filed a lawsuit to stop the distribution of the $40 million Tefera bonds awarded by the Board of Supervisors in March and is anticipating filing another on disparate impact grounds soon to halt the release of Section 8 vouchers slated for the development. Without this funding, SAVE OUR CITY believes the 825 cannot be built.
If SAVE OUR CITY prevails, we want the 825 parcel purchased and held by a community-friendly entity that will allow residents to determine the best use for the property. Monies from this fundraiser will go toward legal expenses and associated fees required to halt the development of 825. Any unspent funds raised will go to the Dream Keeper Scholarship Fund to support college attendance for low-income Marin City students.
SAVE OUR CITY is fiercely supportive of initiatives that increase housing options for unhoused and low-income persons. We recognize the housing crisis in California needs an urgent response. - but the solution cannot be to AGAIN force the historically black community of Marin City to shoulder Marin County’s responsibility.
Generations of Black Marin Citians have fought for voice, representation, and self -determination. We, the people of Marin City, deserve to have a voice in our community’s development. Now, we have a shot at getting it.
SAVE OUR CITY is appreciative of any gift you can give. $5, $10, $500. Give whatever you can to help us in this fight and thank you so very much for standing with the families and children of Marin City. Never underestimate what a small group of dedicated people can do.
"He who believes in freedom cannot rest until it is won." Ella Baker
Organizer
Bettie Hodges
Organizer
Sausalito, CA