Livermore Valley Chamber of Commerce Addresses Myths Regarding Downtown Livermore Development

There has been a lot of misinformation floating around concerning the Livermore downtown development plan for the "old Lucky site" - on Railroad Ave behind First St Alehouse.

• First of all, this project has been in the works for years and years. It is not "being rushed through."
• Second, housing is critical to the sustainability and culture of Livermore. Do you want your kids to live here once they're on their own? Are you willing to move out so there is a home for them? We need more homes built that are reasonable for our workforce. That doesn't mean it is low income housing. It means that we need apartments and smaller homes that cut the cost to purchase and rent.
• Trends are showing that the younger workforce and young families want to be close to restaurants, services, transportation, and shopping. They are becoming less and less reliant on cars and want to use public transportation. A development that wisely combines all these elements is extremely attractive to this demographic.
• A hotel isn't needed. WRONG! Businesses, organizations, and visitors have all expressed a need for an up-scale hotel downtown. Executives and weekend wine country visitors like to be able to walk to our wonderful amenities.
• Once a decision is made, the community will have to take what is given them. NO. All plans will continue to have community input to come up with the best place to meet the most needs.
• Homes are not "stack and pack". They will be a variety of styles, and the area will incorporate open space, gathering areas and recreational areas, along with shops and services.
• We need a conference facility. All studies and input from those that would most likely use a conference center say that it is NOT needed. We need more meeting space, but not a huge center that would be underused. The cost to run that type of center is out of reach of the community groups that are looking to use it. It will not be free, and we do not have the infrastructure
• Parking is horrible! Well, yes it is! But - the plans include a parking garage that the city is requiring be built FIRST.

Livermore has a tremendous quality of life, but we need to keep looking to the future and have a plan for continuing and even bettering this asset. Livermore Valley Chamber of Commerce has thoroughly studied the proposals in front of the City Council. Both developers have put a lot of work into putting together plans that meet the initial criteria. The city staff has pored over every detail, taken into account all comments throughout this process, and are looking to the best proposal to meet all the requirements. We have faith that they will make the right decision on which developer to use.

Innovation Tri-Valley, Winegrowers Association, Livermore Downtown Inc, and Livermore Valley Chamber of Commerce are not recommending one developer over another. After meeting with both, we know that they can both handle the project, have great partners that can build a beautiful iconic hotel, and will listen to the community and city representatives. Please let the city and City Council continue the forward movement on this project that will enhance Livermore and it's vital economy, and do not derail these plans with agendas that will only serve to prolong a project that is already long overdue.