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Amy Gahran

A Piece of the Pie: Statistics show that Oakland's FHA buyers are having big problems compe... - 0 views

apieceofthepie.typepad.com/...ng-big-problems-competing.html

ideas housing data economy problems

shared by Amy Gahran on 31 Aug 09 - Snapshot
  • After a summer of writing FHA offers with no success and talking to other Realtors who are having the same problems with their FHA clients, I decided to run some statistics to find out how FHA buyers fared generally in Oakland.  The statistics confirmed what we all suspected, sellers, especially in the lower price ranges, are overwhelmingly preferring cash and conventional (loan) buyers even though there are many buyers with FHA in those price ranges
  • What these numbers show is that low to medium income first time buyers have not, to the same extent as investors and higher income buyers.  FHA
  • This seller preference is furthering the negative affects of the housing crisis.  One positive possible outcome of the devastation of so many families losing their homes is that the low prices could enable many individuals and families who could not otherwise afford to safely purchase a home to achieve their dream of owning a home with a manageable mortgage payment.  The fact that so many neighborhoods are losing owner occupants to investors and renters is a shame since so many buyers who would live in those houses are trying to buy them.
  • Amy Gahran
    Amy Gahran on 31 Aug 09
     
    Ooooh, sounds like something we could highlight and dig into further:

    "After a summer of writing FHA offers with no success and talking to other Realtors who are having the same problems with their FHA clients, I decided to run some statistics to find out how FHA buyers fared generally in Oakland. The statistics confirmed what we all suspected, sellers, especially in the lower price ranges, are overwhelmingly preferring cash and conventional (loan) buyers even though there are many buyers with FHA in those price ranges."
Amy Gahran

Oakland zoning guidelines getting pieced together - Inside Bay Area - 0 views

www.insidebayarea.com/...ci_12676140

Oakland Oakland Tribune backgrounder zoning history central business district building development

shared by Amy Gahran on 27 Aug 09 - Snapshot
  • Amy Gahran
    Amy Gahran on 27 Aug 09
     
    6/23 Oakland Tribune backgrounder by Cecily Burt
Amy Gahran

Rezone Lake Merritt - 0 views

lakecoalition.blogspot.com

Lake Merritt zoning organization blog Oakland building activist

shared by Amy Gahran on 27 Aug 09 - Snapshot
  • Amy Gahran
    Amy Gahran on 27 Aug 09
     
    "The Coalition of Advocates for Lake Merritt is an active stakeholder in the Central Business District rezoning in the City of Oakland. Our goals are simple: to preserve access and views of Lake Merritt downtown and to preserve the current historic and natural elements there from over-development."

    This blog has a lot of info on the process up through April 09, including lots of links to city govt reports & contacts in the local govt. However, they don't list their own contact info.
Amy Gahran

New zoning guidelines shape future of Oakland's downtown - Inside Bay Area - 0 views

www.insidebayarea.com/...ci_12788894

Oakland Oakland Tribune central business district building zoning architecture

shared by Amy Gahran on 27 Aug 09 - Snapshot
  • A major revision to Oakland's planning code that will guide development from Lake Merritt to Chinatown was finalized Tuesday night. And if grumbling on both sides is any indication, the land-use plan was a study in compromise.
  • The final version approved by a vote of 5-2 encourages high-rise development downtown along the Broadway corridor and preserves a lower height limit of 55 feet for any new buildings along the mid- to southern end of Lake Merritt adjacent to the historic Lakeside Garden Apartment district.
  • Amy Gahran
    Amy Gahran on 27 Aug 09
     
    7/8 Oakland Trib story by Cecily Burt. Gives lots of specific examples, things we can photograph and map. We should see which building projects are planned for these areas, and map properties for sale.
Amy Gahran

Zoning updates could have far-reaching consequences for historic buildings in Oakland's Cen... - 0 views

www.insidebayarea.com/...ci_12655802

zoning Oakland central business district Oakland Tribune MSM history

shared by Amy Gahran on 27 Aug 09 - Snapshot
  • Oakland Heritage Alliance members have been monitoring the issue for the past several months, and are encouraging more public input urging stronger preservation protections on its Web site.
  • Oakland Heritage Alliance members have been monitoring the issue for the past several months, and are encouraging more public input urging stronger preservation protections on its Web site.
  • Oakland Heritage Alliance members have been monitoring the issue for the past several months, and are encouraging more public input urging stronger preservation protections on its Web site.
  • ...4 more annotations...
  • Oakland Heritage Alliance members have been monitoring the issue for the past several months, and are encouraging more public input urging stronger preservation protections on its Web site.
  • Oakland Heritage Alliance members have been monitoring the issue for the past several months, and are encouraging more public input urging stronger preservation protections on its Web site.
    • Amy Gahran
      Amy Gahran on 27 Aug 09
       
      Key source for our story
  • It often comes down to height maximums, says Naomi Schiff, a longtime Oakland Heritage Alliance member. When a district is zoned for unlimited height allowances, this puts development pressure on the smaller historic structures to make way for bigger projects, even if the older structures could qualify for rehab tax credits and could be otherwise successfully rehabilitated.
    • Amy Gahran
      Amy Gahran on 27 Aug 09
       
      Find an example where the height issue makes a clear point, get photos, maybe do the Google Earth 3D thing

  • Though generally recognized today as being one of the city's most distinctive buildings, in the early 1980s, the Floral Depot was under threat of demolition because it stood in the way of a proposed shopping center. The building's owners at the time objected to landmark status proposed by preservationists, and succeeded in having the matter permanently shelved.

    Though it may seem unlikely that city leaders would allow a developer to pull down the depot building, under the rules proposed for review at Tuesday's meeting, it could conceivably happen.

    • Amy Gahran
      Amy Gahran on 27 Aug 09
       
      sounds like we need some photos of this building, and to get info on what the developer plans. Who's the developer?
  • Amy Gahran
    Amy Gahran on 27 Aug 09
     
    Oakland Tribune 6/20 story on Oakland central busines district zoning updates. This was before the actual meeting took place in July
Amy Gahran

Oakland Heritage Alliance - Current Events - 0 views

oaklandheritage.tumblr.com/...current-events

shared by Amy Gahran on 27 Aug 09 - Snapshot

  • Current Events


    SAVE THE DATE!


    OAKLAND HERITAGE ALLIANCE HOUSE and GARDEN TOUR 2009
    “Oakland’s Fernwood Neighborhood”
    October 4, 2009 1:00-5:30PM

    This charming section of the Montclair district was formed in 1852,  just as Oakland (then four miles away!) was being incorporated. Once an isolated community near the headwaters of Temescal Creek known  for exotic wildlife and an abundance of Redwoods, Fernwood as we know it grew out of the real estate boom of the 1920s when Period Revival  homes were built and marketed towards people “of average means.” Join us as we tour eight beautiful privately owned Fernwood homes in Tudor, Spanish, French and Colonial revival styles. For more information, contact OHA at (510) 763-9218or visit us on the  web: www.OaklandHeritage.org

    • Amy Gahran
      Amy Gahran on 27 Aug 09
       
      Gardent tour, 10/4 -- add to our calendar. Maybe go along and do video coverage?
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