Concerns Raised Over Change in Millbrae Culture and Safety
By: Noor Abdullah, Opinions Editor
San Mateo County’s plan to convert Millbrae’s La Quinta Inn and Suites into affordable housing units for unhoused people has been met with strong disapproval by locals fearing security threats, job losses, and decrease in city revenue.
The County housing project is part of a series of efforts by the nonprofit Project HomeKey to shelter California’s unhoused. Project HomeKey is a statewide program that provides local government agencies, including our San Mateo County, with funds to purchase and convert properties into long-term housing for the previously unhoused.
The county has recently approved the purchase of La Quinta Inn and Suites for $33 million as well as a maximum of $8 million for renovations. The hotel currently holds 99 units which will be renovated into 75 units, housing up to 200 residents.
Millbrae has a small population of unhoused people, with the City of Millbrae claiming there are three unhoused residents and a daily transient unhoused population of 20-30. Many are forced to find shelter at the BART Station and others under the awnings of businesses. It is unclear whether they will be receiving housing and aid at the new compound.
“Although it’s not too common around here, I occasionally see homeless people in Millbrae downtown. I hope everyone would help them out however they’re capable to. It’s heartbreaking to understand that they once had a different life before homelessness and I wish everyone would treat them more as humans.” shared Mills student Suzu Kurita (12) when asked about her thoughts on the city’s unhoused.
While the housing issue is recognized by locals, many don’t agree with the plan of action that San Mateo County intends for La Quinta, claiming it’s not an adequate solution. The City of Millbrae shared a letter addressed to the San Mateo Board of Supervisors, those who voted to approve the HomeKeys proposal to purchase La Quinta.
The City of Millbrae suggested negotiating, “…a supportive housing project that serves the County’s stated purpose… without undermining the City’s vibrant and vital commercial and revenue-generating uses.”
La Quinta has been operating as a hotel in Millbrae for 35 years, time in which it has contributed much to the city’s commerce by bringing in visitors. It also proves to be successful as it averages an occupancy rate of over 80%. La Quinta is located on El Camino Real and is walking distance from downtown Millbrae and many popular local restaurants like Millbrae Pancake House. Hotel guests frequented these local businesses which now stand to lose these clients.
The closure of the hotel and the restaurant Bashamichi Sushi located within it will also cause a concerning loss of local jobs. The City of Millbrae shared that 20 hotel employees and 12 restaurant workers are set to be jobless upon the closure of their workplaces. In an effort to prevent business closure, the County is offering Bashamichi Sushi a five year lease.
The loss of property tax from the hotel is also a concern according to the City of Millbrae. $552,000 in property tax and transient occupancy tax were paid annually to the city from the hotel. These taxes were used to fund local infrastructure and their loss poses rippling negative effectives. The County had previously offered to give Millbrae one year’s worth of transient occupancy tax but the city claimed that simply was not enough. County Supervisors have since raised that offer to $600,000 annual payments to the city for three years rather than one.
Millbrae residents have also disapproved of La Quinta’s location. Residents are concerned about the proximity to schools posing a possible security threat to children in the area. There are five schools within a half mile perimeter of La Quinta including Capuchino High School, Lomita Park Elementary School, Green Hills Elementary School, St.Dunstan Catholic School, and Millbrae Nursery School. La Quinta is also 1.5 miles away from Mills High School. To reassure residents, the county has claimed that housing priority would be given to families and seniors and that 24-hour on-site staffing and surveillance will be implemented with the support of an additional two sheriff’s deputies. The sheriff’s deputies will be funded by the county for three years, tasked with providing support and security city wide.
Some Mills students aren’t concerned with La Quinta’s proximity to their school. Kostadina Skyriotis (12) stated, “Personally, I don’t mind having homeless housing near campus. I think people need to focus more on the homeless people’s security. They’re the ones who are really vulnerable and at risk in their current circumstances.”
Millbrae is currently supporting other local affordable housing initiatives including the recently constructed “The Rollins” complex which holds 80 fully leased units, with affordable rent being supported by $2.88 million of city funds.
Mayor Ann Schneider has shared that The City of Millbrae supports affordable housing initiatives but rather disapproves of the lack of transparency by the County. She claimed the County didn’t disclose their plans for La Quinta until weeks before approving the purchase leaving the City and residents feeling “blind-sided”. The City claims that the County also failed to consult them on well-valued properties but rather purchased La Quinta, which wasn’t for sale and was successfully operating at near complete occupancy rates, by incentivizing the owners with an additional $3 million over the appraised value of $30 million. The County then went on to offer “temporary” solutions to long term problems including lost tax revenue, job losses, and security concerns.
Despite these complaints, the approval of the purchase is set to be followed by renovations that are planned to be completed in 12 to 18 months. The location will then be permanent affordable housing.
Mayor Ann Schneider isn’t satisfied with the County’s actions saying, “The county simply did not consider the needs of everyone in Millbrae.”
