The Heritage Square development in Signal Hill is one of the city’s most ambitious projects in years: The 8-acre development by Signal Hill Petroleum atop the hill will offer more than 60,000 square feet of retail space along with 199 proposed residential units—all in an area where Costco and Home Depot rule the day.

And, in a city surrounded entirely by the cultural melting pot that is Long Beach, one would think that residents would appreciate a mixed-use space, especially one that includes housing (considering we are, after all, in a housing crisis).

But in a show of outright xenophobia (“200 people moving in here are too much”), privilege (“Why aren’t you building single-family homes?”), and poor-shaming (“They do nothing for the tax base!”), residents at a Dec. 4 community meeting regarding the development did not mince their words.

“I did not spend seven figures to come over here just to live down the street from an apartment complex,” said Signal Hill resident and Downtown Long Beach apartment complex owner Paula Williams. She also said that she previously lived where there were several apartment complexes and “those people don’t really care about the community” and will bring traffic she is unable to handle. She concluded with, “200 people is just too many.”

Attorney and resident Stacey Clements said she “moved from my $1 million home in San Pedro” to escape “the apartments and traffic.” She expressed “great concern” over the rental housing because renters “don’t really provide a whole lot of tax base or interest for the other people in the area.” Her bedroom window is apparently “already smothered” by traffic after having lived in Signal Hill for four months and she “will not hesitate” to sell her home if the project does not propose single-family homes instead.

Resident Gary Severns said that if any housing is to be built, they should be to-own condos because such developments bring “a different class of occupants” that have “pride in ownership.”

Robert Dominguez, who had the ability to give his house in Signal Hill to his son’s family, said that he would like to see the data behind the need for housing because “there was just a 23-unit complex completed” and would like to see more commercial building than housing.

Resident Doug Lewis said that “we want it all commercial” and “no one new coming in” because “199 units is way too much for our little neighborhood.”

“I specifically shopped for a residence that was not near apartments. If the commercial property is only going to be viable with dual use by putting that kind of a transient population density into this area, then I say ‘no’ on the commercial property,” said police officer Shannon Paulson.

“The apartment structure in no way protects the historic nature of our neighborhood,” said Joe Holliday, proclaiming “not 400 but 600 cars will be invading our streets” hence the “100 percent unanimous disapproval from our community. One. Hundred. Percent.”

Pastor James Kaddis expressed that there are concerns on everything from noise pollution to potential crime increases and that the development should “stick to the facts.”

The blunt reality is that our housing crisis is very real—and the largest factor that has contributed toward it are comments and sentiments like the ones above; the folks who halt housing from being built to protect their very precious, very uninterrupted lives to screw over the future that will be arriving after they’re dead.

https://lbpost.com/longbeachize/opinion/nimbys-use-bad-photoshop-skills-instill-fear-building-height-armageddon-long-beach/

California—yes, including Signal Hill—needs more housing. Over three million units to be exact. Eight million of our neighbors live in poverty. Churches are so concerned over the issue in Los Angeles that they are dedicating parking lots to homeless folks with cars and attempting to convert churches into housing.

And the fact that not a single one of these units is affordable, Signal Hill is protesting market-rate housing? It’s pure selfishness and an unwillingness to face the fact that we are forcing humans to either go without a home or be removed from the area that they were born and raised in.

We can be better humans—and that means helping other humans out. You have a roof over your head? Maybe, instead of complaining about your precious view from the hill being interrupted, you can help others succeed in getting a roof over their heads too.

Brian Addison is a columnist and editor for the Long Beach Post. Reach him at [email protected] or on social media at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn.