Note: A quick dispatch on the fight to save Ron Mandella Community Garden; comments on a meeting CADA held this morning at 8 am. I welcome follow-up from others who were at the protest and meeting. Your comments will be incorporated into updated versions of this story.

By Richard Hansen
First, the Bad news: The CADA Board approved a resolution that will open the door for development of land occupied by the Ron Mandella Community Garden. The Good news: There's still plenty of time to fight back.

With barely a quorum, the Capital Area Development Authority (CADA) approved a resolution allowing the release of a "Request for Proposals" which opens the door for development of the property at 14th & Q Streets, where the Ron Mandella Community Garden is located. 

CADA moved quickly through its first 16 agenda items as the crowded room, a mix of "Save the Garden" folk and developer interests, waited for the hot issue of the meeting: Item 17.

Protesters outside stood along the windows of the meeting room, pushing their placards and protest signs up against the glass to give those inside a better view. One said: CADA -- LISTEN TO THE PEOPLE.

The RFP is part of a long process of meetings to consider the ultimate fate of the Garden. Developers have until September 7, 2000 to submit their development plan. CADA would then select a project on October 20, 2000 which would then allow the "winning" developer to enter into a six month "exclusive right to negotiate" period that would last until April 20, 2001.

Heather Fargo, city councilwoman and candidate for Mayor, informed the CADA Board of City of Sacramento efforts to "Save the Garden," citing the recent recommendation of the Parks Advisory Committee to incorporate the Mandella Garden into the City of Sacramento Park System.

No comment on how this would happen or how it would be paid for.

Fargo stressed that the city wanted to work with CADA to "do something to save all or part of the Garden."

A member of CADA staff had commented that "legally speaking" the Capitol Area plan, a general plan to guides the development of properties around the State Capitol, required that housing be built on the Garden site. 

Fargo asked the Board to consider the "bigger picture" aspect of the Capitol Area plan. It mandates a certain level of housing for the area, but that doesn't have to be accomplished in a block-by-block fashion. That housing requirement could be met on other locations within the plan area. She also noted the plan area didn't contain any provision for green space.

During the public comment period, several took issue with the CADA Board's representation of it's public outreach. Alexander, an attorney, said the Board "is completely ignoring public input" and shouldn't consider its closed door meetings with "community leaders" as community outreach.

Davida, a Gardener and community leader in the "Save the Garden" movement also took issue with who CADA had defined as community leaders. Property ownership and wealth, she argued, were not the only criteria that should be used to single out people for these exclusive meetings.

The CADA board Chair argued that public input into the process has been taken very seriously. Efforts by Garden supporters, he said, led to the requirement in the RFP that any proposal from developers contain 19,200 square feet of Garden space, or 25,000 square feet of garden space at another location. There was no provision for any of the Garden to remain, he maintains, before the input from the Gardeners was heard.

The current size of the Mandella Garden is 51,200 square feet.

Tom Herschenow, who attended both community workshops held by CADA on the issue, indicated that the public response was clear: "You have a clear mandate to preserve the entire 50,000 square feet" plus of the existing Garden space.

Another Garden supporter noted that the "uniqueness of [Mandella] Garden is its size. It's a good example of a healthy urban garden. The significant reductions in garden size proposed in the RFP would eliminate that. It's akin, he argued, to turning an 18 hole golf course into a 6 hole golf course.

Mandella Garden Board Member Ann _______ stated that the Garden Board wanted to work with developers to "do anything" to save the Garden. Other gardeners and garden-supporters, based on their comments, didn't seem to share similar interest in working closely with developers on any compromise that would significantly reduce the size of the Garden.

June 26, 2000 | Richard Hansen