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Residents urge council to preserve historic NCC buildings amid affordable‑housing plans
Summary
Community speakers asked the council to pursue a smaller‑scale approach at 340 Saint Anne's Drive that preserves Bridge Hall and the neighborhood church buildings while still allowing affordable housing, citing the site's architecture and cultural role.
Several public commenters urged the council and project proponents to preserve historic structures at the Neighborhood Congregational Church site (340 Saint Anne’s Drive), including Bridge Hall and adjoining church buildings, while still meeting affordable housing obligations.
Commenters described personal and community ties to the buildings, which a speaker identified with the architect Aubrey St. Clair and noted as presentable for adaptive reuse. The speakers said the buildings host community events, cultural programs and charities — examples included Opera Laguna and past community classes and gatherings. One speaker said she did not oppose affordable housing but asked for a smaller‑scale project that retains key buildings and provides adequate parking, traffic flow and safety. The comment referenced Senate Bill 4 (a state law passed in October 2023, as cited by the speaker) as changing local affordable‑housing obligations and observed that the current project plans appeared to remove historic buildings.
Council staff and members took public comment; no council vote or formal action on the project was recorded at the meeting. Commenters asked the city and developers to seek compromise options such as mixed use, adaptive reuse, or design changes that would balance housing needs with preservation.
