Sunday, May 31, 2015

Google coming to Novato?



Unconfirmed reports are flying that Google has rented the Fireman's Fund Campus in Novato.

If this is true, it probably has something to do with Googles partnership with the Buck Institute on Aging as reported in the Marin IJ in April 2015 HERE.

This is good news for the North Bay after seeing another major employer leave Marin.  It means that more bio tech firms are bound to follow.  It also may mean that satellite operations of Bay Area companies may locate here.  It makes sense with the ridiculously high home prices in San Francisco and Silicon Valley that Marin has suddenly become "affordable housing".

As we have long stated, Marinwood-Lucas Valley is one of the few "affordable" neighborhoods in the San Francisco for middle class families.

What will this mean to our plans to build MIDDLE CLASS homes?  Will there only be two classes of people, the RICH and the people pushed to live in tax subsidized housing?

We need a sane policy for housing growth.  We must Save Marin Again!
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Editors Note: Received this note concerning Google from a friend:

1)  The growth of jobs in the south bay has been large and it is projected to continue
to be large, growing faster than the rest of the economy.
2)  Even in the south bay, housing hasn't kept pace.   No one says no to Google.  
But many communities (yes in the south bay too)  say no to housing
Google workers.
3) The imbalances in the south bay are growing now affecting more northern communities.
(e.g, San Francisco).    But like billiard balls, the reverberations are now being
felt in Marin's rental market.  (I'm doing some research on this.)
4)  Stepping into the process are the regional planners.    Well, the workers
have to live somewhere.     And  housing "requirements" must be
distributed "fairly."     [the nature of JPAs is to get along.]
5)  We love our open spaces.    And we're not the only ones.  Western San Mateo County and the
hills of the east bay, are being preserved too.   So is Napa and lands in Contra Costa.   (See the workers
living in Tracy and commuting to Santa Clara County jobs.)    
6)  So, the simple math:   we're going to have to put more housing units on less land.    Well, if we're
going to do that, shouldn't we  put the high density housing next to transit nodes?
Note:  I'm not in favor of TODs in Marin.
7)   The point:  We ought to be prepared.  This is going to be a strategic ongoing struggle for
Marin because of our proximity to SF.   If the south bay continues to grow (and I expect it will)
and the communities there continue down the path of taking in jobs without building housing
for the workers,  their problem is going to worsen and so is ours.
8)  The sooner we have some politicians that recognize this is going to be an ongoing
issue for Marin and that we do have a choice, but it comes with consequences:
it'll drive up the price of land (and, therefore housing).   And it'll involve pushing back
within the JPAs set up for everyone to get along.  
Yes, Google is great.   But, given what's coming, it'll be a double edged sword.



25 comments:

  1. North Marin is about to get a nice Google welcome. Say goodbye Terra Linda/Lucas Valley/Novato to the middle class. You are soon to see what happen when global entities and global corporations come to your region.

    Good luck.

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  2. So is it true? Is Google really coming to Novato? It's not just a rumor?

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  3. No. I only have heard the rumors from several sources. This story from the Marin IJ seems to confirm that it is indeed a strong possibility.

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  4. I hope somebody has the balls to bring up the Giant elephant in the room. There is a limited amount of housing in Marin, right. There is a limited amount of affordable housing in marin right, I am talking about the cheapest of the cheap, you know one or two bedroom apts in the caall or novato ect. Guess who is occupying all that affordable housing that our teachers and firemen ect would rent legally I would say at least 85% is taken up by illegals. What say you people.

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    1. Oh ya....right. I'm a teacher and this is NOT true. The illegals live in run down spaces with several people in one room. Where do you think your house cleaners and landscapers live? There's no housing in Marin for anyone but the rich. It's awful.

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    2. all the illegal hispanics live in san rafael canal

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    3. all the illegals live in the canal (san rafael) I live an hour away

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  5. I don't know who you are referring to when you say "illegal". I assume you are talking about people from Central America many of whom are not documented. If this is the case, I can assure you that many of them rent apartments at MARKET PRICES and pay cash to their landlords because of the shortage of tax subsidized apartments. They bring down their rent by having lots of roomates-sometimes two per room (including the living room and kitchen). A friend who owned apartments told me that they were the best tenants because they always paid rent on time, in cash and never complained or caused trouble. On the other hand, I have friends who are from Central America that have endured harassment from property managers who were on a campaign to "upgrade" the tenants from workers to young professionals.

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    1. Legal is legal.we are a country of laws I have lived in Marin since the early 60s.it has changed because of this sanctuary attitude.

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    2. Legal is legal.we are a country of laws I have lived in Marin since the early 60s.it has changed because of this sanctuary attitude.

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    3. When is Illegal OK???????????????????? their breaking the law and shame on the USA for not shipping them out TO: re-apply and come back!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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    4. Illegal, for those who have trouble understanding PLAIN ENGLISH, means those who are in our country ILLEGALLY. In other words, they are not American citizens. They have not through the process of becoming citizens. They are breaking our laws by being illegslly. Again, illegal neans NOT LEGAL..

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  6. Correct! Undocumented immigrants pay market rate, always pay on time, and are great tenants, in general. Intolerance and prejudice are the causes of problems. At the end, everyone needs to have a shelter, even undocumented immigrants, who are humans, too, and who quite often are doing the most intimate jobs in the households of those who despise them, such as gardening, cooking, cleaning, babysitting, just to mention a few.

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    Replies
    1. I agree with you Thinker. Not to mention they work tirelessly, humbly and honestly.

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  7. Marin already drove out Lucas (and 1000s of jobs) why not Google as well! LOL

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    1. Bad example as Google would be coming IN. However, the pompous Marin attitude is what drove out Firemans Fund as well. Good luck with that. The commercial renters in Marin have no clue.

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    2. Marin attitude has nothing to do with why Fireman's Fund closed... check your facts!

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  8. i would't worry about housing.
    they will live in the city and take google bus to work

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  9. Dear Larry, low income hosing is given to US citizens that qualify for it. They may be Unocumented (not illegal) but they have US citizen children that have the same right just like you to apply for this type of help. I'm undocument, I was brought to the USA by my single mom when I was 16.5 years old. My mom has worked two jobs to support us and we have never lived in affordable housing or taken any governmental help. My mom is most hard working women I know.

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  10. Google is currently building a new building in Petaluma on the East side off of South McDowell BLVD.

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    1. How do you know this? Exactly where?

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  11. Looking forward to Google moving in! Welcome google and young professionals, this area is overdue for gentrification.

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    1. Google is not moving in, that was just an early rumor spinning.

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  12. Yes a rumor that has north bay housing market going crazy. I went to see the new houses right in front SSU in rohnert park and I heard people talking about it and how the real state market has been being hot as a result of those rumors.

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  13. I don't understand why a community, such Marin County, should sacrifice our way of living to accommodate lower housing costs. If you can't afford to live here then relocate further north or rent something you can afford. Everyone has a choice, if you want to live in Marin suck it up and live within your means, work hard so you can afford to live in a community such as Marin or live somewhere else. I worked too damn hard all of my life and pulled myself out of a crime ridden community in order to have the means to live in a community that is safer than most in terms of violence, drugs and other illegal activity. I welcome the businesses, such as Google, that decide to open a campus in this lovely community. They pay well, they will attract decent human beings who work hard for what they have and it will drive property values up! Currently, we have a very low crime rate, I can leave my car and home unlocked, leave my bike on my vehicle and when I return my stuff is still there. (Unless in the Canal or Marin City where Section 8 housing as been built) Everyone deserves to live in a safe community and everyone deserves the same opportunities to succeed. Work hard, set a goal and go after it! Don't pull a whole community down in order to get what you want.

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