City of Healdsburg to Host Workshop on More Housing

Last week I shared a piece from KRCB news radio on the various options Healdsburg city leaders are considering to solve what they believe to be a shortage of market-rate housing available in town. One of the big issues, they told the station, is getting the community on board with building more housing. To that end, the city will be hosting an “interactive workshop” for residents a few weeks from now, where everyone will discuss a study the city commissioned recently on Healdsburg’s “housing needs” and “downtown capacity.” In the words of our new mayor, David Hagele: “The study investigated five downtown sites, (which aren’t proposed for development right now), but will serve as examples for the types of housing that COULD be built on vacant or underutilized properties. The goal is to provide the community with something we can all visualize is possible, what that housing might look like at different sizes/styles & most importantly, what the community likes and what the community wants improved.” The five sites they looked at are 505-535 Healdsburg Ave., where the Rite Aid shopping center lives now; 502 Healdsburg Ave., where Bank of America lives now; 456 Healdsburg Ave., the vacant lot across from Bank of America; and 2 North St., aka the West Plaza parking lot, home of the farmers market. If you want to learn more or get involved, the workshop will be held at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 22, at the community center. (Source: David Hagele via Facebook & KRCB)