SOME FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:

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Who is SHARE?

SHARE is fiscally sponsored by Southern Humboldt Youth and Community Services, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, which operates the Teen Center in the old school building. We are partnered in our acquisition and housing effort with Southern Humboldt Working Together (SHWT). Current board members are Charley Custer, Bob Harris, Nonae Sears, Stephen Quiggle and John Schmidt. We are actively recruiting board members.

What governance would manage the school building for public use? Who will hold title?

SHARE’s longstanding plan is to expand our board to include four service organizations in our area and other core user groups such as artists and performers, as soon as ownership is settled and restoration can begin. This SHARE board will hold title to the building and oversee its renewal for community use.

 

What are the results of the public meetings?

First, opinions expressed at the three public meetings on January 17 and 20 were unanimously in favor of saving the school building for public use.

People agreed that the need for all kinds of housing is urgent. Senior housing was given a lower priority, especially as two different developers of federally subsidized housing stated that they would have to raze the school in order to make a minimally profitable development.

Highest interest was in housing for lower-income professionals—nurses, teachers, etc.–who are priced out of the Southern Humboldt market and make too much to qualify for workforce housing. A mixed development that would create rentals and moderately priced starter homes received the most support, followed by federally funded workforce housing.

For a more in depth look at the meetings click HERE.

 

Who will make the decision about this acquisition and how? What is the School Board’s role?

The School Board will ultimately decide whether to accept or reject our offer to buy their suplus property in Garberville—the school building and grounds. We in SHARE and SHWT are working to create the best plan for the future of this critical site that addresses the economic and planning needs of our area for years to come. We strive to achieve the goals given us by our public meetings, surveys and discussions.

I would like to express my ideas for housing and about the potential Community Center. Whom do I contact and how?
You can download the community survey and mail it to:

SHWT, c/o Redwoods Rural Health Center, P.O. Box 769, Redway, CA 95560.

Or you can write a letter and mail it to the above, or email it to: SHWT, dmbaker@saber.net.

Please send copies to the School Board president, Barbara Lindsay, buzzarb@hughes.net P.O. Box 129, Garberville 95560, and to SHARE, Charley Custer, charley@asis.com, PO Box 1003, Redway 95560

 

How will you make the choice as to whether to proceed with workforce housing or private housing development?

Time and money, those precious resources, will influence the final bid SHARE presents to the board. The School Board has set a June deadline for bids. This puts a significant time crunch on efforts to raise capital for a private development. Danco Builders would need to begin funding applications by April in order to meet the 2008 funding cycle for workforce housing, an even tighter deadline.

 

Haven’t we built workforce and senior housing projects in Redway and Garberville?

Yes. 20 units of senior housing on Cedar Street in Garberville are fully occupied, with 30 names on a waiting list for apartments there. 20 units of workforce housing opened last year in Redway which are also fully occupied, with 37 names already on the waiting list.

 

Who are eligible for workforce housing? Will it be available for teachers?

Unfortunately, federal funding programs limit the income of tenants in workforce housing to 50 to 80 percent of the county median income. This disqualifies from workforce housing all but entry-level, single teachers.

 

I heard that it will take nearly $2 million to repair the building. Where will that kind of money come from?

Jeff Haas of the School Board stated at Thursday evening’s meeting that $1.7 million was a figure the school board had calculated a number of years ago, based upon projected costs to restore the building as a school. The enormous sum comes from a combination of school codes and building requirements, among the strictest codes in the nation, and state ‘prevailing wage’ requirements made upon schools. Restoration will definitely take some work—a new roof, ADA access ramp and heating system, as well as paint and plaster—but at far less cost than restoring it as a school. Donations of materials and volunteer labor will also help offset costs. Costs are more likely to be on the order of $300,000, with much of that dedicated to theater restoration.

 

What about the Garberville Sanitary District’s moratorium on hookups?

Herb Schwartz of the GSD reports that modernization efforts are on schedule and the moratorium should be lifted within the escrow period before construction would begin in two years. There should be no problem with water and sewer. We do hope to incorporate low-impact sewage and water systems into our design.

 

I’ve heard there is an opportunity to invest in the eco/green development aspects. How?

An investment tool has just been written into tax codes that enables private investors to pay for installation of renewal-energy equipment on third-party property, and essentially act as a lower-cost power company that sells its energy to building tenants at a discount while retaining profit to repay the investment. This structure has been immediately popular as a no-cost way to incorporate green and decentralized energy planning into all sorts of new and existing buildings.

 

What about the idea of a swimming pool?

Pool advocates want a regulation-sized indoor pool with disabled and elder access, rather than the outdoor recreational pool that was proposed in the mixed-use development. The area available for housing cannot easily be shared with a full-size pool. It was suggested in discussion that such a pool should be its own project, separate from SHARE, to keep focused on the school building and its associated housing. It was also suggested that the pool advocates look at the Community Park, where space limits are not an issue. Nothing further has been decided at this time.

If you have any questions that are not answered there feel free to contact Charley Custer, charley@asis.com, PO Box 1003, Redway 95560