If stopping development is such a good idea, why have property values collapsed at the same time that development has shut down? Didn’t property values actually increase dramatically when new development was happening? Prices shot up from 1995 to 2005, the same time that we had a large increase in housing and have fallen since housing slowed in 2006.
The economic impact of housing – the jobs, the new stores, the revenues to local governments, the parks, the schools, etc. – all help make a community strong. The proper balance of housing, open-space protection, support for agriculture, etc. is what works well. Brentwood is a prime example of this approach. Having everything on one side or the other can be a disaster.
Maybe these people writing letters to the editor yearn for the old Brentwood of pre-1990. I certainly don’t. Unlike them, I am proud of our city and only want to help get it moving forward again.
If you really believe that shutting everything down makes sense, then take a look around. Welcome to 2010! The current economy, housing values, crime rates and lack of opportunity is apparently what they had in mind.
Kristine Stoker, Brentwood
People in east county have no clue how important development is to our services such as school district.
How interesting.
I didn't live in Brentwood before 1990 but I like the Brentwood of the last 5 years or so. If Ms. Stoker thinks things are so bad in Brentwood, why don't we take care of what is already inside the current city limits instead of jutting out to the west and and adding 1200 more houses?
Yes, property values went up when house building increased but property values didn't fall because building stopped. Prices were a bit inflated and this is an adjustment period. How does adding more houses to existing inventory increase value? Less houses for sale, higher possible sales price. It's basic economics. How about we attract companies that pay higher wages than minimum wage and that would attract employees which may increase demand for housing, reducing inventory and driving prices up?
Oh, I guess pushing the ULL to the west and building 1200 more homes in 3-4 years is easier.
Never mind.