Affordable Housing vs. Parkland: No Score

By Teresa Rochester

Doris Sosin, president of North of Montana Neighborhood Association, thought the parcel of land on 24th Street between Wilshire Boulevard and Arizona would be ideal for a small neighborhood park.

Donna Block, vice-chair of Mid-City Neighbors, envisioned affordable housing on the lot.

Despite shortages of park space and affordable housing, neither vision will come to fruition. City officials say the land is just not good enough.

The saga of the 24th street property began several weeks ago over breakfast. Prominent land use attorney Chris Harding mentioned to Sosin that the land, which belonged to a childhood friend, would soon be going on the auction block

Sosin, a tireless advocate of increasing city parkland, immediately started working the phones and firing off e-mails to City Council members, who vowed to get on the case.

"We found out about it and we jumped on it," said Sosin of the 24th Street land. "I just feel like I would grab any space for open space in the city."

But in her grab for the space on 24th Street, Sosin came up empty handed. As it turned out the land fell within the jurisdiction of the neighborhood group Mid City Neighbors and city officials said the space is not suitable for a park.

"A member of the public identified the property as going on the market and we looked at it and we determined it was not suitable for a park," said Barbara Stinchfield, director of the city's community and cultural services. "It's very narrow at the street and deep. It's an odd shape for a park."

Stinchfield's analysis was just as well. Mobilizing quickly, Mid City's board of directors polled residents on either side of the land and found that they weren't happy with the idea of a park that may attract vagrants, teenagers and trash below their bedroom windows.

Residents, however, wouldn't have been opposed to a few units of affordable housing going in next door. Neither were Mid City's board members, who agreed to pursue the notion. Block and Mid City Chair, David Cole, sent off e-mails to the same council members who had rallied behind Sosin -- and heard nothing.

"If they can purchase it for a park they can purchase it for affordable housing," said Block. "We're going to hold their feet to the fire."

As for the silence from the city council members they say it wasn't intended.

"I don't think anybody e-mailed the city housing staff," said Councilman Michael Feinstein.

Actually, Councilman Kevin McKeown e-mailed Robert Moncrief, head of the city's housing department, who sent someone to examine the site. Both McKeown and Feinstein were told the space was far too small and it would not be economically feasible to build with affordable housing dollars.

Sosin said she will continue her search for park space and hopes the city will become more proactive in securing open space.

"I'm on the lookout," said Sosin. "Call me if anything comes up for sale. I think it's a great loss for the city. Why aren't they fighting for more parks?"

Harding agreed.

"There's a common belief that the city should be actively searching for open space," said Harding. "I don't think the city is aggressively looking for new park space or the expansion of parks. To be fair to current city leaders they are doing a better job addressing the need."