Gene Alston and his wife Nicole moved to Baywood in 2021, but their happiness was marred by community opposition to their home renovation plans aimed at modernizing their property. Controversy arose when neighbors, even those outside the required notification area, rallied against the remodel, fearing it would disrupt local historic values. Alston, who is of mixed race, felt that the opposition was hostile and questioned whether race and their status as newcomers played a role in the backlash. Their situation became a catalyst for broader discussions on development in the Baywood area, leading to organized neighborhood resistance against changes.
Alston, who is Black and Korean, said the effort felt hostile and made his family feel unwelcome.
Flyers stuck in mailboxes warned that the new homeowners were going to destroy a historic property.
Diaz Nash told KQED at the time that opposition to Alston's renovation had nothing to do with proximity to her home.
The city approved his planning proposal in 2022, but it spurred a larger movement against development in Baywood.
#community-conflict #home-renovation #historic-preservation #race-and-heritage #neighborhood-dynamics
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