08/16/2026
Article Feature - Roger’s Garage: The Intersection of Housing and Environment - By EcoNews Journalist Aerin Monroe
The Rogers Garage redevelopment has sparked ongoing discussion in local communities. Many residents are worried about possible environmental hazards of development on a toxic site, while others emphasize the urgent need for affordable housing in a county where housing insecurity is among the highest in the state. Local environmental activists have also joined the conversation, raising concerns about soil contamination, advocating for stricter cleanup standards, and organizing informational meetings to educate the public about potential risks and monitoring opportunities. The main question is whether the potential health risks outweigh the expected benefits.
The proposed mixed-use project in Bayside, California, would turn the historic garage into a community center with 45 affordable housing units and a manager’s unit above ground-floor commercial space. The new affordable housing is for people and families earning 30 to 60 percent of Humboldt County’s Area Median Income (AMI). The reality is that in a county with high rates of homelessness, families struggle with rent because there is not enough affordable housing, lack of new development to meet demand, and few available units. Many residents spend over 30% of their income on rent, which affects their quality of life. The Danco Group is the main developer and property owner for this project, and proposes to present a solution to this problem, but is this location suitable to address the concern?
The site is labeled a contaminated “brownfield” by both the North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board and the City of Arcata, making Danco responsible for cleanup.
Some residents are concerned that Arcata’s rapid housing development may compromise environmental review, public safety, and infrastructure maintenance. The city’s aging 30-inch stormwater pipe, installed in the 1960s beneath the elementary school and now leaking onto school wetland property, exemplifies these concerns.
Read the full story in the Aug. 2026 EcoNews now, at yournec.org/rogers-garage-the-intersection-of-housing-and-environment/
