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Michael O'Brien, 601 Cedar, advised Council he owns or manages six properties in the area and opposed the Praxis development as the area is no place to raise children with no schools or parks, and the look of the building is out of place in the historic neighborhood. Nita Spangler, 970 Edgewood, stated a project like this involves the whole City, that there are good people in place and the developer should work with them. Mrs. Spangler advised the community has had input and the Council should support their decision. Barry Willbanks, 1256 Westwood Street, Realtor for the subject property, asked Council to show good faith and work with the developer to support affordable housing. Council expressed concern that people understand the City is working hard to provide quality affordable housing, that the City does waive requirements when appropriate, and that everyone should be aware of the social consequences of injecting large developments on the community. Mayor La Berge asked if anyone else wished to speak. No one else wished to speak. M/S: Bury/Stangel to close the Public Hearing. Carried by unanimous voice vote and the Hearing closed at 9:32 p.m. In response to Council questions, City Attorney Schricker advised that if a project not in compliance with building codes was approved it could lead to significant exposure and liability to the City. That also holds true with respect to the finding regarding the non-compliance with Section 504, the Americans with Disabilities Act, which would place the City in violation of federal government laws. In response to Council questions, Mr. Levin advised he changed the architectural design because he thought the previously approved D.E.C. design was ugly and did not want his name associated with it, and that balconies or decks could become repositories of junk. Further, Mr. Levin advised he did not contact any other non-profit affordable housing developers as he wished to establish his own, and that he had not asked his contractor if the units would be available at cost, but assured Council they would be substantially less than the contractor normally charged. In response to Council questions, Planning Director Patterson described the significant changes to the interior facades and windows, and problems with stairways and the elevator in the Praxis design. Further, Mr. Patterson stated the City has approved affordable housing developments such as Heron Court, and more recently, the Curran condominiums at Hilton and Chestnut, and continues its efforts to support quality projects. In response to Council questions, Housing Director Church described efforts of the City to work with non-profit housing developers such as the Human Investment Project, Midpeninsula Housing and the Ecumenical Housing Project, and the private sector. Regular Meeting Minutes January 20, 1992 MINUTE BOOK NO. 50 Page 7 Page No. 439 ~...._'-~ ~-.'.' - >'. ~.".....~_.."-.._,-,-----"",,,...,- I I I