A grassroots advocacy group in North Sunnyvale works to prevent the area from becoming a food desert. Residents fear that housing redevelopments at Fair Oaks Plaza and Lakewood Shopping Center could reduce the limited number of grocery stores and daily services. Rapid housing growth has outpaced investment in grocery retail, creating concerns for older adults, low-income families, and people who rely on walking, biking, or public transit. The group launched a petition with more than 3,500 signatures and a WhatsApp network connecting about 150 residents. The Fair Oaks proposal could remove about 70% of the current retail footprint, even with added commercial space. The Lakewood Shopping Center redevelopment would replace existing retail, including New Wing Yuan Market.
"“The question is not whether Sunnyvale has retail space somewhere else,” Himanshu Sethi, a founder of the advocacy group WTF (Where's the Food), told San José Spotlight. “The question is whether residents will continue to have walkable access to groceries, food businesses and daily needs within this neighborhood.”"
"Residents said concerns intensified after two shopping center redevelopment proposals threatened to significantly reduce retail space in the area. Advocates said the Fair Oaks proposal could remove roughly 70% of the existing retail footprint, even after revisions added commercial space to the project."
"Sethi said residents initially organized under a broader North Sunnyvale community group before adopting the WTF acronym to make the campaign more recognizable. The group launched a petition that's gathered more than 3,500 signatures and created a WhatsApp group connecting roughly 150 residents across North Sunnyvale neighborhoods, including Fair Oaks and Lakewood."
"The Fair Oaks proposal includes 67 homes, keeps the existing Speedy's Tacos building and adds a new two-story commercial building totaling approximately 15,635 square feet, according to city officials. Plans to bring 101 townhomes to the city would redevelop Lakewood Shopping Center, which includes New Wing Yuan Market - one"
Read at San Jose Spotlight
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