Lodi City Council tonight has a chance to help seniors, the Eastside

At tonight's meeting, the Lodi City Council is scheduled to vote for final authorization and is expected to move forward with the proposed affordable housing project planned for the Railroad Avenue, Lockeford Street corridor.

This site is a collection of parcels mostly owned by Union Pacific Railroad that once carried the Kentucky House railroad spur and will, if approved, be known as Corvina Estates.

The PAM Companies is a Lodi-based company specializing in sites such as this and will be awarded the contract if approved by a vote of the council.

There is high demand for quality and affordable senior housing in the Lodi area. A market study by Laurin and Associates indicates that there are over 10,000 senior households in and around Lodi. This study further states that there is an estimated total demand for 230+ units targeting senior households. The LOEL Center, which is partnering with PAM, has a waiting list of no less than 70 income-qualified seniors for their 16 affordable rental units in Lodi. It is my personal belief that these numbers are conservative.

PAM and its development partners, LOEL, Housing Authority of San Joaquin County, (housing assistance programs), ByDesign Solutions, (financial education, budgeting and tax services to seniors), Delta College, and Farmers and Merchants Bank are committed to providing the safest and most affordable senior housing project possible.

There has been a fairly vocal group of critics who contend that this area is simply the wrong place for a project that will be predominately inhabited by senior citizens. This group says that the area is overrun with gangs, homeless and other derelicts who could potentially prey on the occupants.

By my own personal investigating, I counted no less than 12 persons this past Tuesday in Lawrence Park, located across the street from Corvina, who were either homeless or definitely leaning toward that designation.

While this is a point of concern, it is my belief that Corvina is but one initial step and, in conjunction with targeted redevelopment, is part of a master plan to revitalize and reenergize the Eastside. When residents start seeing good things going up around them, mindsets will begin to change, people will hopefully be encouraged to maintain their abodes no matter how humble they may be.

When the dollars promised by the Reynolds Ranch developers to renovate many of the somewhat neglected homes in the area start to flow, even more good things will begin to happen.

Thankfully, the city of Lodi does not make policy based solely on worst-case scenarios. If that were the case, little if anything would ever get done. I for one refuse to let whatever criminal element there may be on the Eastside dictate public policy. By most indications, crime proliferates in areas of neglect and decay. When bright and shiny new buildings are brought forth, more often than not, most ne'er-do-wells tend to move on.

After speaking with PAM Development Coordinator Winnie Ontiveros, I've been informed that the Lodi PD has actually turned down an offer of locating a small satellite LPD office at the site. The LPD deemed an office there unnecessary.

We all know that there is no cure for crime or homelessness. Being proactive and encouraging economic development is the single best way, in my mind, that the city can create jobs and truly help those in need, if help is indeed what they seek.

J. Kurt Roberts can be reached at jkurtroberts@sbcglobal.net.