BY BRADEN CARTWRIGHT
Daily Post Staff Writer
Residents of Buena Vista Mobile Home Park in Palo Alto said tonight (March 4) that they are getting poor offers and unclear communication from the Santa Clara County Housing Authority ahead of plans to redevelop the property with 44 new coaches and 61 apartments.
“For some people, it might be a project,” said Liney Barella, a resident of 21 years. “But for me, it’s my home. It’s my family that’s (on the) journey, and it’s very stressful. So please take (into) consideration our needs.”
Flaherty Ward, director of real estate for the Housing Authority, presented the latest plans to council tonight for “a new Buena Vista.”
Everyone can stay, rents will remain affordable and the park’s utilities and amenities will be improved, Ward said.
For example, a playground and field will go in the middle of the property, and there will be a “teen room” for doing homework, architect Fred Pollack said.
Council liked the new plans, but they also wanted to make sure residents were OK.
“Everyone is excited about the end result we’re aiming at, but I just want people to feel like they’re fairly treated and can move in there in an optimistic way,” Councilwoman Vicki Veenker said.
About 20 Buena Vista residents were at their meeting, and six of them spoke during public comment.
One resident said she was excited to have better insulation, and another said he wanted a three-bedroom coach but was only getting offered two bedrooms.
“The needs of the residents are not being met,” said Naomi Guzman, an advocate from the Law Foundation of Silicon Valley.
Ward said she couldn’t talk about individual situations, which are handled in one-on-one meetings. The Housing Authority is limited by space and finances, she said.
“There is a budget, and it can only be pushed so far,” Ward said.
Two-thirds of the 72 households remaining have made a decision about their future, Ward told council.
Residents who haven’t decided are waiting to hear about the relocation plan, coming in the next 60 to 90 days, Ward said.
Everyone will be allowed to stay in Palo Alto during construction, but they may have to move into different school boundaries, Ward said.
Construction will begin in spring of next year and finish at the end of 2026, Ward said.
Councilwoman Lydia Kou said the relocation plan should be urgent. She wanted the Housing Authority to have someone available to residents during all business hours and sometimes on weekends too.
“I have received phone calls from residents in Buena Vista in complete distress, and it distresses me too,” Kou said.
Buena Vista has been in a state of flux for over 10 years now, when the old owner made plans to sell the park.
The Housing Authority purchased the property in September 2017 with $14.5 million each from Santa Clara County and the city.
The state gave the project a boost in December with a $24 million grant to rebuild the mobile home portion of the park. The apartment building is still short $10 million, Ward said.