Sebastopol Plaza Gazebo dedicated to Michael Black

[Barry]

The Gazebo in the Sebastopol Plaza was dedicated to Michael Black who passed a year ago. Michael was instrumental in the redevelopment of downtown Sebastopol including the helping make the plaza happen, along with the creation of some of the first co-housing developments in the county.

It was a sweet ceremony that brought a tear to my eye.

I invite anybody who attended the ceremony and/or knew Michael to share your comments here. Some photos would be nice too!

Barry

[bodegahead]

I did not know Michael Black. I didn`t even know of Michael Black. But I spent a good four hours yesterday walking around Sebastopol. Parked the car once and walked. Safeway, town square , Gravenstein Station, Thai restaurant and as I walked I marvelled (as often I do when walking Sebastopol), especially around the square, how well laid out the town center was. And how it was being enjoyed by all kinds of people of all different ages.When it comes to city planning, it seems Michael was very gifted, he shared that gift and it will live on. Thanks Barry for the insight of what is a wonderful downtown, intown, Sebastopol. And especially, thank you to Michael Black.

[raines]

I knew Michael and even saw him a few days before his passing. I had visited him at his cohousing home in Sebastopol, and his later home in Yulupa cohousing in Santa Rosa, and participated in national cohousing conferences and workshops with him.

I really appreciated his deep background in community design and the spirit he brought to the cohousing movement. I was impressed to see Sebastopol embrace affordable cohousing in two nearly-completed projects (one of which he designed), which I believe happened because of his leadership on the Planning Commission.

I miss Michael and I can only dream of following in his footsteps, working on the same goals, creating community all around us.

Raines Cohen, Cohousing Coach
Co-Author, Audacious Aging
Berkeley, CA


I invite anybody who attended the ceremony and/or knew Michael to share your comments here. Some photos would be nice too!