The Sunnyvale Sun

Letters & Opinions

Time now to dump a deadbeat developer

By Carol Bogart

Boy, talk about your rock and a hard place. That's just where Sunnyvale city officials find themselves these days.

The state says cities have to have a housing ratio linked to the number of jobs. Condos count.

Meantime, residents have zero interest in adding new neighbors who may bring with them traffic congestion, demand for already stretched-thin services, even crime.

Sunnyvale struggles with the perception that the wheels of government here seem to grind at dial-up pace when it comes to creating an inviting downtown. Our system of government, however, requires public input: second and third council readings before action is taken that affects the stakeholders: residents, businesses. You.

And rightfully so. Arbitrary decisions made behind closed doors are the antithesis of the democratic process.

Now, in the 11th hour, along comes out-of-state developer Fourth Quarter, demanding to add more housing, with a tidy profit of as much as $500,000 per unit. This, after a plan for a retail-intense redone downtown had finally been approved. Any such change would no doubt result in high-pitched shrieks from those who are dead-set against "high density" housing (condominiums).

The city has in hand a lovely plan for a pedestrian-friendly retail center, anchored by Macy's and Target, with plenty of rooftop parking and a central courtyard complete with sundial and inviting plantings: a place to shop, to stroll, to sit and visit with friends.

But, according to knowledgeable sources, Fourth Quarter did an end-run around the city, meeting privately with Target and Macy's to get their approval to hold the city up for more of the kind of housing few want. Target, meantime, my source says, has threatened to "go dark" if something doesn't start in a hurry.

Locally, there are others who would develop the area just the way the city OK'd after the stakeholders approved. But it would mean more public hearings, and more delay.

To be a real community, any city should want to provide housing its nurses, teachers, firefighters and police officers can afford. No city should give in to the sort of blackmail Fourth Quarter is dishing out. Although taking it to court for breaching the agreement is an option, who knows how long it would take even to get a court date? Or how much such a suit would ultimately cost the taxpayers, even if the city won?

Kick 'em to the curb. Bite the bullet on another two years. And give the business to a local developer who won't cut and run once it's made its money.

Carol Bogart is the new editor of the Sunnyvale Sun. Contact her at cbogart@community-newspapers.com or call 408.200.1055.