Representatives from local seniors organizations are rallying Thursday afternoon in Live Oak against a school district bond measure that would fund the development of workforce housing. They fear it will displace senior services.
Live Oak School District is asking voters to approve the $45 million bond measure – Measure N – so it can develop 14 to 25 units of housing for district staff.
For years, the district publicly discussed its plans to demolish buildings at the 1777 Capitola Rd. property it owns to develop the project there. The two buildings, known as the Live Oak Senior Center, have been leased to Community Bridges and Senior Network Services for decades. Community Bridges operates its Meals on Wheels program there.
After years of eviction notices and tense negotiations between the district and the organizations, the school district finalized a two-year lease agreement with Community Bridges last month.
Live Oak Superintendent Pat Sánchez told Lookout the district thinks demolishing the 1777 Capitola Road property to build new housing is too expensive. Rather, he said the district is looking into finding a different location to develop, including on its own school sites where there’s undeveloped land. He said there are no specific plans yet, as the bond measure has not been passed and they have not settled on a location.
Clay Kempf, executive director of the Seniors Council, is a leading organizer of the rally. He said representatives from the council and Senior Network Services are organizing efforts against Measure N.
The Seniors Council doesn’t have office space there, but Kempf said Community Bridges and Senior Network Services are key agencies the council contracts with to provide services to local seniors. Kempf said the council allocates state and federal funds to both organizations.
“We want to support schools and school employees,” Kempf told Lookout, but added that the conversations about developing a multi-use space with the senior organizations haven’t become reality.
Kempf said the rally will take place at 2 p.m. at the Live Oak Senior Center property at 1777 Capitola Rd.
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