Letter by Jim Olson– [RE: Here’s what Citrus Heights candidates say about addressing homelessness; Oct. 18th] I bought my home off of Larwin Drive back in the early 90s and was not told about the issues with the riff-raff on Sayonara Drive at that time. I suffered through a good 15 to 20 years of debris being thrown in my yard, including drug paraphernalia, and the destruction of my personal property and holiday decorations by the low-life’s that lived on Sayonara as they walked through my neighborhood to get to Tempo Park.
With that said, I strongly oppose having tiny homes placed on Sayonara that will only attract similar types of people. I already see plenty of people pushing shopping carts and carrying large sacks of recyclables and riding their bikes by my house on their way to and from Tempo Park as it is! No thank you!
And I’m sorry if this sounds like “not in my backyard,” but I’ve already served my time!
Editor’s Note: The Sentinel’s policy is to publish all letters received, regardless of viewpoint. No additional letters were received on this topic as of Oct. 21, 2022. To submit a letter to the editor online, click here.
Vacant lots on Sayonara Drive are the site where Councilman Bret Daniels has proposed setting up FEMA trailers to temporarily house homeless families. // CH Sentinel
By Mike Hazlip—
Twelve vacant city-owned lots on Sayonara Drive could be the site of new duplexes or single-family homes, under a proposed partnership with Habitat for Humanity.
Once described as the most dangerous street in the city, Sayonara Drive has two rows of vacant lots after the city purchased blighted buildings from absentee landlords and leveled them more than a decade ago. Now the city is considering to work with Habitat for Humanity to build new housing on those same sites, fulfilling an obligation that the city was initially obligated to meet within five years.
In a March 10 presentation, Habitat for Humanity Sacramento President and CEO Leah Miller gave the council an overview of the potential partnership, saying the organization works with low-income individuals and families to provide home ownership options in exchange for volunteer hours known as “sweat equity.”
Alison Bermudez, of the city’s planning division, presented the council with three potential options for building housing units on the now vacant land along Sayonara Drive.
One option includes 12 duplex units that would be individually owned as half-plex homes and a community garden. Another option Bermudez presented would be 12 single-family homes with a community garden. Bermudez also presented two options with a mix of duplex units and single-family homes.
Homes would range from 3-4 bedrooms and 1,100 to 1,200 square feet.
Under all three scenarios, the city would be expected to contribute $1.4 million to the project, according to the presentation. The figures assume the city sells the lots to Habitat for Humanity for “a nominal amount” and that the organization is able to secure Cal-Home funding.
The presentation showed funding could come from a mix of sources including $735,000 from a Public Local Housing Allocation, $350,000 from the city’s affordable housing funds, $292,000 from Home Funds, plus permit fee waivers.
While the meeting was only preliminary and no final decisions were made, Mayor Porsche Middleton said she favored maximizing the land with as many units as possible, as did Vice Mayor Tim Schaefer.
Councilwoman Jeannie Bruins, who was on the council when the city purchased the land, said all or a majority of single-family homes would most closely represent the original intent of the effort to transform Sayonara Drive by lowering housing density. Councilman Bret Daniels also said he favored single-family homes, while Councilman Steve Miller said he leaned towards “maximizing opportunities for housing folks” with duplexes.
Due to the city’s prior use of redevelopment funds, the city is required to replace the occupied units demolished during the 2008 through 2010 effort to reduce blight and crime in the area. The city received a 23-unit credit for the low income Sunrise Pointe Apartments currently under construction on Sunrise Boulevard, but the city still needs to build a total of 12 units to fulfill its obligation to replace units that were demolished.
In order to meet the city’s obligations, the council will need to declare the land exempt surplus and submit findings to the California Department of Housing and Community Development. Additionally, the council will need to amend a replacement plan, initiate a transfer agreement, finalize and approve funding, and issue project entitlements by Sept. 22 of this year.
The council is slated to consider formal action to declare the 2.25-acres as surplus property during its March 24 council meeting. The proposed action does not name Habitat for Humanity, but says the city “will sell the land to a nonprofit housing organization who will develop the properties with 100 percent of the units restricted to for-sale units to persons and families of very low and low incomes.”
Want to share your thoughts on plans for Sayonara Drive? The Sentinel welcomes letter to the editors or opinion columns for publication. To submit one online, click here.
[box]Jan. 16, 2015 update — The shooting is still under investigation and no arrest has been made so far, according to police spokesperson Anthony Boehle.[/box]
A Friday night shooting in Citrus Heights has left one man dead after police say his vehicle was struck by gunfire and collided with a light pole near Sayonara Drive and Lialana Way, according to a police department press release sent out today.
“The Citrus Heights Police Department and our community will not tolerate such violent crime in our neighborhoods,” said Lieutenant Ryan Kinnan. “We believe someone has information concerning this crime and are asking those individuals to come forward.”
Around 11:22 p.m. last night, officers were dispatched in response to a report of shots fired and later reports of a vehicle collision, according to police. Upon arrival, they located the vehicle and “performed life saving measures” on the unidentified unconscious male driver, until paramedics arrived and transported him to a local hospital where police say he was pronounced deceased.
A preliminary investigation indicates the shooting was not a random act and police are asking residents in the area with outdoor security cameras are asked to review their video footage to identify if they may have captured any details related to the incident.
Police say witnesses reported the shots were fired from a vehicle last seen heading west on Sayonara Drive, but are seeking more information.
The details involving the suspect and suspect vehicle are still under investigation, and anyone who may have information related to the incident is encouraged to contact the Investigative Service Division at 916-727-5500.
