Parking lot at Fifth and D streets | Google Earth

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Press release from Security National:

The Citizens for a Better Eureka coalition filed a second lawsuit against the City of Eureka today. Like the initial suit filed April 6, 2023, in California Superior Court, the petitioners are asking the court to stop the city from further actions on the public parking lot located at 5th and D, in Eureka. The city approved moving forward with seeking proposals from interested companies to develop the public parking lot into low- and very-low-income apartments at their meeting April 4. 2023.

The more than 50 members of the coalition claim the city failed to meet the requirements under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) to properly assess the environmental impacts of the housing development proposed for the site. It is the city’s responsibility to comply with CEQA and analyze appropriately the impacts on pedestrian and public safety, air quality, neighborhood compatibility, and traffic.

The City of Eureka is planning to eliminate about 640 public parking spaces from the downtown area and put in low- and very-low-income housing. There is no plan to provide parking for visitors, tourists, shoppers, and downtown workers. In addition, the new housing developments will not provide parking for the residents of the apartment buildings.

The Citizens for a Better Eureka support the development of housing but not at the expense of local businesses and the waterfront. Taking away more than 600 parking spaces will limit access to downtown shops, restaurants, and businesses – the very heart of the downtown culture and environment. These parking lots are critical to keeping customers, tourists, and employees coming downtown. Alternative sites, such as the former Jacobs Middle School property, are much better suited for community housing, the coalition believes.

The Citizens for a Better Eureka is a coalition of concerned residents and business owners seeking to have the City of Eureka step back from turning downtown parking lots into low- and very-low-income housing developments. CBE is asking the city officials to work collaboratively with business owners, special interest groups, and residents on a sustainable downtown redevelopment plan and consider other viable options for housing developments.

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DOCUMENT: Petition and Complaint, Citizens for a Better Eureka v. City of Eureka

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