San Rafael, CA – More than 200 people participated in an April 2018 community meeting about the County of Marin’s efforts to convert a former U.S. Coast Guard property in Point Reyes Station into affordable housing. In response to requests for a second meeting, a listening session to hear more from the community is set for 6:30 p.m. July 12 at West Marin School’s large gymnasium.
An aerial view of the former U.S. Coast Guard facility in Point Reyes Station.The Coast Guard site, located on Commodore Webster Drive, is a half mile east of downtown Point Reyes Station. The Coast Guard designated the facility as surplus in 2014. The County’s goal is to gather community feedback to help inform proposals to convert the existing facilities to affordable homes in the next few years.
The July 12 meeting, hosted by the Coast Guard Advisory Working Group and the Marin County Community Development Agency (DCA), will be dedicated primarily to listening to ideas and answering questions. A short presentation addressing questions from the previous meeting will be included. Participation in both Spanish and English is encouraged, and interpretation services will be available.
The West Marin community successfully advocated for the passage of federal legislation to require that the property be sold to the County of Marin for use as affordable housing. The property remains under federal ownership while the County negotiates a purchase based on a fair-market appraisal for the eventual transition to affordable homes.
The County plans to issue a request for proposals this summer to select a nonprofit housing developer to renovate and manage the affordable homes. The purchase of the property from the Coast Guard is expected to be completed in late 2019 or 2020. However, because of required environmental review and needed renovate, it will be several years before families can move into the homes.
The critical need for workforce housing in West Marin particularly effects people who work in tourism, local services, and in ranching and farming. County Housing Planning Manager Leelee Thomas said West Marin communities face high costs for buildable land and a demanding regulatory environment, both of which serve as significant barriers in the development of affordable housing.
“At the April community meeting and past communications, we have heard the community express a positive and emphatic interest in exploring how fair housing and civil rights laws relate to affordable housing opportunities,” she said. “It’s clear to us that there is strong support for us to move forward with this rare opportunity to transform this property into homes for people who need them the most.”
West Marin School is at 11550 State Route 1 in Point Reyes Station. Light snacks and child care will be provided.
Anyone may subscribe to receive e-mailed updates from Marin CDA about the Coast Guard property. More information can be found at www.marincounty.org/coastguard.
All public meetings and events sponsored or conducted by the County of Marin are held at accessible sites. If you are a person with a disability and require information or materials in alternative formats – or if you require accommodation to participate in a county program, service or activity – please contact department staff at (415) 473-7331 or (415) 473-4381 (voice/TTY) or e-mail disabilityaccess@marincounty.org.