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7 STORIES HOUSING 33 FAMILIES The 33-unit Mac Roberston Lofts at 1309 W First St., Spokane, Wash. Image by Cera Stribley Architects via Genevieve Serna

I’m a resident and home owner here in the city of Arcata. Before I begin, I first want to thank the City Council for all of the hard work and discussion they’ve participated in regarding the Gateway Plan these past few years. This is a big change for the city and their input isn’t going unappreciated.

As the subject implies, I wanted to write in expressing my support of the Planning Commission and staff’s recommendation of building heights and massing, laid out in the current plan.

I understand the fear that surrounds such a big potential change in the landscape of the city. I would be lying if I didn’t, at one time, also let those fears inform my own opinions of that change.

But after some discussion with some very good friends about what the city would lose if we didn’t accept those changes, scared me more.

Without density, Arcata will not be able to meet its goals of walkable, bikeable streets.

Arcata won’t be able to address its housing shortage in any meaningful way.

Arcata won’t be able to stave off the suburban sprawl that consumes our precious green space.

Whether we recognize it or not, Arcata has always been in a state of change and growth. It’s different from the city it was 20 years ago and 20 years before that and so on.

With this in mind I hope we also recognize that change and growth isn’t inherently negative. That it won’t dissolve away what we love so much about our city.

Having grown up in the rural Central Valley, I’ve lived in small towns all my life and I can tell you first hand, the heart of Arcata has nothing to do with its small size or short buildings. But rather, it has everything to do with the people who come here to connect, to contribute and to live out the principles of equality, sustainability and community that Arcata encourages.

Before I wrap up I looked up some renderings of 7-story buildings and found this proposed construction (with no stepbacks) next to two existing 2- and 3-story buildings in Spokane.

While the rendered building is taller and newer than its neighbors, what’s more important is what I don’t see.

The road beneath isn’t shrouded in darkness. The people in front of it aren’t eclipsed by its height. And the look of the apartments isn’t reminiscent of the Section 8 housing of the ’70s and ’80s.

It’s just a building. Pretty unremarkable and similar to ones I’ve seen before and ones I’ll likely see in the future. What it does have is potential. Potential to house new Arcatans or the next essential North Country business. All good things that I hope for the city’s future.

Genevieve Serna
Arcata

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Mad River Union

September 7, 2023