Cheap fixes and a "take the money and run" mentality
The November 19th issue of the Sonoma County Gazette contains an article by Denis Judd that talks about three of his projects: Center Way, Russian River, and Rio Nido. I know very little about Mr. Judd, but I do know about the Center Way project.
The article by Mr. Judd is self-serving and contains many inaccuracies regarding the Center Way project and especially his interaction with the community. If Mr Judd's version of the facts is any indication, then the good people of Rio Nido are in trouble.
For the record
No one in the community supports his efforts
The community proposed a compromise duplex position which Mr. Judd rejected
Mr. Judd proposed a bamboo sight screen to hide his proposed 35 foot tall building -- nothing like a cheap, invasive, non-native solution to cover up an ugly building.
The project will result in a housing density that is ten times that of the surrounding neighborhoodWatch out Rio Nido
csell
11-29-2009, 07:47 AM
Thank you, BobB, for at least a second opinion. I'm a Berkeley transplant who has seen rabbit-warren development take over what was once my home town and favorite city. Not that Mr. Judd proposes anything remotely like what has happened to Berkeley--but part of what makes life in this community so appealing is the very fact that we have single family dwellings surrounded by lots of open space, where we don't eyeball our neighbors when we get up in the morning. I'm hoping life at the River will stay this way.
--Carolyn
Cheap fixes and a "take the money and run" mentality
The November 19th issue of the Sonoma County Gazette contains an article by Denis Judd that talks about three of his projects: Center Way, Russian River, and Rio Nido. I know very little about Mr. Judd, but I do know about the Center Way project.
The article by Mr. Judd is self-serving and contains many inaccuracies regarding the Center Way project and especially his interaction with the community. If Mr Judd's version of the facts is any indication, then the good people of Rio Nido are in trouble.
For the record
No one in the community supports his efforts
The community proposed a compromise duplex position which Mr. Judd rejected
Mr. Judd proposed a bamboo sight screen to hide his proposed 35 foot tall building -- nothing like a cheap, invasive, non-native solution to cover up an ugly building.
The project will result in a housing density that is ten times that of the surrounding neighborhoodWatch out Rio Nido
BobB
11-29-2009, 08:53 AM
Hi Carolyn, in fairness to Mr. Judd, I have heard good things about him. The problem that I have is that his public statements are so self-serving and deceitful, that they call into question his basic integrity. I can forgive a person making an exaggerated statement in the heat of an argument, but Mr Judd's statements in the Gazette are unforgivable.
Take for example, his statement <title></title> <meta name="GENERATOR" content="OpenOffice.org 2.4 (Linux)"> <style type="text/css"> <!-- @page { size: 8.5in 11in; margin: 0.79in } P { margin-bottom: 0.08in } --></style>"... many neighbors expressed happiness ... some neighbors were very upset.". I know from personal experience that one household in the community expressed neutrality. No one expressed support. Over thirty households expressed opposition. We raised over $5,000 from the neighborhood to appeal the Building Department decision.
Another fabrication is Mr. Judd's assertion that <meta http-equiv="CONTENT-TYPE" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"> <title></title> <meta name="GENERATOR" content="OpenOffice.org 2.4 (Linux)"> <style type="text/css"> <!-- @page { size: 8.5in 11in; margin: 0.79in } P { margin-bottom: 0.08in } --></style>the neighborhood wanted the fourplex to revert to a single family home. The fact is that the community initiated a meeting and suggested a duplex with two affordable housing units. We repeated our offer during the appeal process and it is part of the public record.
My concern for Rio Nido is that Mr. Judd is putting on a show of community involvement and will, in the end, do whatever is in his financial best interest. I hope I'm wrong.
I have two other observations that are relevant to his Rio Nido project, although not easily substantiated in the public record.
1. Mr Judd adopts the mantle of affordable housing as a way to get around building restrictions and overcome community opposition.
2. Mr Judd has strong political ties to our Supervisor, Efren Carrillo.
It is my belief that Mr. Judd will, at some point, show his true nature and the residents of Rio Nido will not be happy.
Thank you, BobB, for at least a second opinion <meta http-equiv="CONTENT-TYPE" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"> <title></title> <meta name="GENERATOR" content="OpenOffice.org 2.4 (Linux)"> <style type="text/css"> <!-- @page { size: 8.5in 11in; margin: 0.79in } P { margin-bottom: 0.08in } --> </style> the neighborhood wanted the fourplex to revert to a single family home
. I'm a Berkeley transplant who has seen rabbit-warren development take over what was once my home town and favorite city. Not that Mr. Judd proposes anything remotely like what has happened to Berkeley--but part of what makes life in this community so appealing is the very fact that we have single family dwellings surrounded by lots of open space, where we don't eyeball our neighbors when we get up in the morning. I'm hoping life at the River will stay this way.