We strongly oppose the proposed construction of (16) tiny houses for the homeless
at Asbury Church on East Avenue in Livermore for these reasons:
1. Wrong Location
2. Increase in Crime
3. Extremely Expensive
4. Threat to Health, Safety & Welfare of the Community
5. The majority of the Community Opposes
Dear Neighbors-
Thank you to all who have joined our opposition and to those who attended Wednesday night. I know we all share frustrations about the meeting and our inability to speak or have concerns answered. The public meeting on Wednesday, in which the presenters dominated the meeting time and filtered questions, cherry-picked their answers, and minimized the concerns of the community, only increased our doubts.
Our opposition is growing. Together, we will continue to fight this proposal.
Updates & How to Help:
1) Continue to spread the word to your neighbors, and surrounding schools and businesses in the area.
2) It is critical that everyone send an email which summarizes your concerns, objections and experience thus far and send it to: Livermore Planning Committee, Livermore City Council, Livermore Mayor, Asbury Church Leadership Team and local media outlets (Independent, East Bay Times, Pleasanton Weekly and The Vine). I have listed all of these email addresses at the end of this message so you can simply copy and paste them for your convenience. Please take the time to do this.
3) Visit our facebook page here, and our Nextdoor feed here. Please follow, comment and like the content!
4) Emails listed for your convenience (copy and paste):
planning@cityoflivermore.net; LivermoreCityCouncil@LivermoreCA.gov; kathyl@asburylive.org; bradb@asburylive.org; jhhammer@comcast.net; office@asburylive.org; facilitiesmgr@asburylive.org; alainah@asburylive.org; fernandav@asburylive.org; jmbraun804@gmail.com; editor@independentnews.com; editor@bayareanewsgroup.com; editor@PleasantonWeekly.com; editor@livermorevine.com
The housing first model is broken, and clearly does not work.
But, yet, San Francisco, Seattle and Los Angeles continue to
pour billions at the problem. It's not working...
Help us preserve our safe, family oriented community. Wrong location!
We received this letter from Asbury Church in May of 2022 stating that they are reviewing an idea to build up to 15 Tiny homes for the homeless in the field behind their church at 4743 East Avenue, Livermore. We all unanimously acknowledge the fact there is a large need to help the homeless community within Livermore and we support this. However, the establishment of TINY HOUSES on this property is a terrible location. This is based on that fact that it has the highest concentration of schools, the community center and is primarily a family community. It is a direct threat to the health, safety and welfare of our community. See the police report (obtained from public records), that shows that 76.6% of the reported crime at the property address in the last 2 years occurred on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday (the exact same days that the church offers shower and laundry services to the homeless). It must be stopped immediately, it is not the right place for this!
We have researched many of the tiny house developments within the Bay Area and throughout California, Utah and Texas. The vast majority of the Tiny Home developments that we located were outside of residential areas. Those that were located near residential areas or schools are experiencing many negative issues. These tiny houses will not likely shelter families, or single mothers, or single fathers due to size. Instead, they will provide transitional, short-term housing for the chronically homeless. Which mainly consist of individuals that struggle with a disabling condition such as serious mental illness or substance abuse. Asbury Church already provides services to the homeless, via their "Livermore Homeless Refuge" program, and the nearby residents have already experienced these difficult problems listed below (see the police report here). The nearby community has already personally experienced all of these issues so we know first-hand that this is the wrong location. There WILL be a significant increase in:
Drug and alcohol abuse, drug distribution and drug paraphernalia
Theft and vandalism
Harassment, verbal and physical
Public nudity and sanitation risks
Littering and defecating on private property
Disturbing the peace at all hours of the day and night, causing Police disturbance calls to this location - significant cost to the taxpayers and the city
Threats of fire damage
Trespassing on nearby residential property
Emotional and physical safety concerns
Unsafe conditions for children at the nearby parks and community center resulting in always having a parental escort or having to avoid these areas for fear of negative encounters with transients.
Individuals having to change their walking/running route in this area for fear of personal safety
All of these factors poses a significant risk to the health and safety of members of the local community. We strongly oppose of this proposed location due to the fact:
Dangerously close to children's centers, schools and the community center
The vast majority of the community nearby has not been informed. We started a Nextdoor feed and there is a strong opposition because this is absolutely not the right location. 90% of the respondents opposed to the proposal.
Would increase drug abuse & trafficking, mentally disturbed persons, loitering, trespassing, theft, breaking and entering (see the police report here) There have already been hundreds of police disturbance calls to this location in the last 2 years! (And they haven't even been built yet!)
Increased trash and rubbish throughout our community
This land was zoned as suburban residential district. One of the purposes it was zoned this way was to regulate development within the district as to preserve and protect the residential character of the district. The intent of the city legislature was to designate this area for a single-family residential housing type character. Their plan does not consider this.
Many Tiny Home developments have a negative environmental impact
See this shocking letter describing what happens when tiny homes are placed near schools
Below is their proposed location. This area has the highest concentration of schools and with the community center children's activities (Soccer, Baseball, Summer Camps, Basketball, Swim, Tennis, Volleyball, Dance, Senior activities, Weddings and other social gathering events to name a few) making this one of the top family residential areas in Livermore. It is located, mere short walking distances to schools, community centers, daycare centers:
Proposed location (4373 East Avenue, Livermore, CA) :
https://goo.gl/maps/FyqfqvZApeYXJmFUA
0.2 miles away from Livermore Playschool: https://goo.gl/maps/kD7SKUEpHhXjhBYg6
0.3 miles from Robert Livermore Community Center: https://goo.gl/maps/qK8x2RtvasnXAPvLA
0.4 miles from LLESA Children Center: https://goo.gl/maps/PQ9zuFo2q8qnbXUn8
0.8 miles from East Avenue Middle School: https://goo.gl/maps/aqPAJv5WdQ8Z4PFX6
0.4 miles from CAPE, Inc. (preschool): https://goo.gl/maps/PQ9zuFo2q8qnbXUn8
0.4 miles from Vineyard High School: https://goo.gl/maps/PQ9zuFo2q8qnbXUn8
0.4 miles from Livermore Valley Adult Education: https://goo.gl/maps/PQ9zuFo2q8qnbXUn8
0.5 miles from The Arc (preschool): https://goo.gl/maps/bD2WTGKZhJecipsQ8
0.5 miles from The Learning Tree Preschool: https://goo.gl/maps/hxauiTN61UyMHyD57
0.7 miles Jackson Elementary School: https://goo.gl/maps/8SDQ16Q6ocagDLNG6
0.8 miles from Arroyo Seco Elementary School: https://goo.gl/maps/dJGi3YZCkGDwABBu5
WE JUST WANT TO KEEP OUR CHILDREN AND FAMILY MEMBERS SAFE!
Join the opposition! Email us your contact information (Name, email and address) at : stopeastavetinyhomes@gmail.com
We will update you on upcoming critical meetings with the Church and City of Livermore Planning Dept. to help oppose this. Please spread the word.
We need to act now before it's too late.
These efforts to stop the Tiny Homes on East Ave is completely lead by the concerned residents of Livermore
Our efforts and facts we have gathered so far….
After receiving the letter from Asbury in May 2022, we had began researching Tiny Homes for the Homeless and their effectiveness and negative effects in the surrounding community.
The residents on Almond Circle who back-up directly to the location for these proposed Tiny Homes for the Homeless delivered a petition to the Asbury Church and City of Livermore with our concerns and opposition on this project.
We received this letter response from Asbury Church stating that they are still in the process of gathering information and no decision has been made. When the time is appropriate, they would invite us to a meeting to discuss the details of their proposal and receive any input we might wish to share. What this indicates is they have no desire, nor have they made any attempts to ask the surrounding community for input during their planning process in gathering information before making decisions to proceed. This is not acting in good faith. Once the plan is determined then they will present this plan but it would be too late. This church claims they “Service others with love and celebrate the community” If this was the case, we the community should be HEARD prior to making this decision. Especially, since it will drastically affect the surrounding community is a negative way. This is not the case!
Even though the Church provided a place to sleep with their current program, the "Livermore Homeless Refuge," the nearby residents encountered lots of problems with homeless people still ended up at the nearby parks, community center and at residential properties and their common area. We found drug needles and lots of trash at the local park during our cleanup day. Other local residents had homeless dump trash on their front lawns, and trespass on their properties. It was captured on Ring footage. The same will happen with Tiny Homes, and will get significantly worse.
We have reached out to different City of Livermore government bodies. The City Manager passed us off to her assistant, who then passed us off to the Community Development Director & Housing Service Manager. Finally, the Assistant Community Development Director & Housing Service Manager met with us. During this meeting we discovered that even though plans have not been submitted by Asbury Church to the City of Livermore Planning Department, they have in fact been seeking council (and receiving council and advice) from the City's Planning Dept on how to successfully execute their proposal for Tiny Homes for the Homeless. Including how to design the homes so that they will be considered permanent rental housing so they will not have to apply for a zoning variance.
They have indicated to us there isn't much we can do to alter Asbury Church's plan for Tiny Homes since they own this property. No petition, no concerned citizen has any say. This all lies in the hands of the Church's board members to decide to move forward with this project. That it is more important to help those 15 homeless individuals at all cost. Even if it affects hundreds of tax paying citizens, families, children, senior citizens and individuals, schools, small business and so many more.
We are trying diligently to find a City of Livermore representative that will help us as a community to see that this is a terrible locate for these Tiny Homes and to help preserve the health and safety of this community.
This property at the church has already been surveyed for this project.
Once the church has their approved plan, it will only take 1 year from submission of the plan to be fully operational.
Just because the church may donate this land, making the land aspect a cheat option. These sites are expensive to maintain. Not to mention the Church is then deferring liability. The City is also deferring liability since it is considered private property. There lies a huge Health and Safety risk…Liability. Who will be liable if someone were to be injured or worse, killed? This need to be an important consideration.
Will Tiny Homes Work? This is a current trend and social justice experiment. See the attached letter from Oakland School District about their experience. What happens 5 years down the road when the city scraps this idea as non-successful in helping with the homeless issue? Studies have already shown a low success rate. Millions wasted! Not to mention the negative effects it will have on our community.
Firm Foundation Community Housing, Inc. is the Non Profit organization that Asbury Church is working with. They were established in 2017, not a long time. They advertise how these projects can be completed in 5 easy steps. Step 2 shows how they will receive financial benefit. They completed the other Tiny Home development in Livermore, Goodness Village; 34 Units in San Leandro and 1-2 units in other locations. These sites were mainly in non-residential areas.
"There are five shelters in the Tri-Valley — all in Livermore." (article, The Independent). Livermore simply cannot be the depository for the Tri-Valley's unhoused. Currently, Pleasanton and Dublin are sending their homeless to our city. Where do we draw the line with this social justice experiment?
The City of Livermore has always attracted families from other cities and returning generations that want to raise their families here because of its safe and family oriented environment. If Asbury church proceeds with this plan for Tiny Homes it could open a "Pandora's Box"! Who in Livermore will be next??? This Non Profit is approaching many other churches about donating their land for Tiny Homes as they did at Crosswinds and now Asbury. The following Churches have similar RS zoning designations ("suburban residential") - according to Livermore City, which the City will permit Tiny Homes near these residences and are at at risk for homeless developments in these other Residential Areas. THE CHURCH NEARBY YOUR HOUSE MAY BE NEXT!
St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church, 1315 Lomitas Ave., Livermore Ca (they are currently approaching them)
Sunset Community Church, 2200 Arroyo Road, Livermore Ca
Holy Cross Lutheran Church, 1020 Mocho St., Livermore Ca
Tri Valley Church of Christ, 4481 East Ave., Livermore Ca
Health and Safety FIRST, NOT LAST! At this time, neither the Church nor the City can comment on any concerns listed above (Health & Safety, liability, security, support services, guidelines, funding etc). This is very alarming. These concerns and risk factors should be considered the first step in this process and not the last. That alone should be a huge "Red Flag" showing evidence that this is the first of many issues to come. It further provides proof that this is not the right location for this project.
Email us with your support before it's too late:
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