Community Corner
City Council Approves Relocation Of Homeless Garden Project
The City Parks & Recreation Department could relocate HGP to the upper meadow at Pogonip, rather than the previously approved lower meadow.
Press release from HGP:
Aug. 27, 2021
At the request of the Homeless Garden Project (HGP), the Santa Cruz City Council approved by a unanimous vote at its Tuesday meeting exploration by the City Parks & Recreation Department to relocate HGP to the upper meadow at Pogonip, rather than the previously approved lower meadow.
HGP’s proposed permanent home at Pogonip has been a key component of the Pogonip Master Plan since the plan was adopted in 1998. The change to the upper meadow is envisioned to reduce environmental impacts to the open space and make it possible for HGP to farm approximately 9.5 acres, while avoiding complications associated with soil contamination found in the lower meadow.
“The City has been actively working with the Homeless Garden Project to realize a joint outcome of bringing the Homeless Garden Project Farm and its programs to Pogonip. The Pogonip property will benefit in so many ways by the Homeless Garden Project’s presence,” said Santa Cruz Mayor Donna Meyers. “Santa Cruz is a city that is committed to finding and enacting solutions. We look forward to a community process about this proposed move. The Homeless Garden Project has been a strong partner to the City and I’m optimistic the proposal to move to the upper meadow will be seen as a valuable alternative for the intended partnership of the City and Homeless Garden Project.”
The upper meadow site has considerable advantages compared to the lower meadow:
· No wetlands that would be impacted, compared to multiple areas of wetlands
· Minor tree removal including no heritage trees, compared to significant tree removals including heritage trees
· No impacts from historic skeet shooting, compared to significant soil impacts from skeet shooting
· Electricity available nearby, compared to no electricity nearby
· One contiguous farming area, compared to two separate meadows
· Development near existing developed site, compared to lower meadow area with no previous development
The change to the upper meadow will require a minor amendment to the Pogonip Master Plan. HGP will support the amendment process by submitting technical studies to analyze potential impacts of the proposal, particularly in the areas of biotic resources and visual and aesthetic impacts.
Supported by a very successful capital campaign that raised $3.5 million from the community, HGP’s farm at Pogonip will enable the Homeless Garden Project to triple its job training capacity, expand public engagement, consolidate operations, and ensure long-term stability and sustainability.
The permanent site at Pogonip will support HGP’s long-term commitment to operating world-class farming that serves our community. Between 2013 and 2020, of the graduates, 97% obtained jobs or a steady source of income. In the same period, 90% of graduates got into housing. In addition, the garden distributed tons of healthy produce to those in need and engaged thousands of community volunteers to work side by side with unhoused men and women in the garden.
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This press release was produced by HGP. The views expressed here are the author's own.
