The Impact of Benton Shelter on Nearby Property Safety, School Safety and Home Values

Based on papers and analysis etc, we have the following conclusions regarding the Benton shelter’s impact.

• Property safety

  • At least the nearby properties within 0.35 miles will have a crime increase. That is roughly 1500 ~ 2000 homes.

  • There will not be a crime increase in commercial buildings, so a heavily commercial area might be a better location for the shelter.

• School safety

  • At least 3 schools (Laurelwood, Pomeroy, Stratford), within only 0.35 miles, will be affected by a crime increase.

  • The safety impact on schools for Benton shelter will likely be 3 times of Branham and Monterey shelter which is supposed to have a “very similar” composition of the nearby neighborhood per March 1st community meeting.

  • There are other locations in Santa Clara and Sunnyvale which don’t have schools within 20 minutes walk. It is unclear why alternative locations are not considered/proposed.

• Home values

  • The information about the impact on home values provided in the March 1st meeting (no impact) is not applicable to Benton shelter.

  • The total loss in nearby home values will be at least 100 million dollars.

  • Buying the same property from the regular market that is away from the neighborhood will save us at least 90% money for Santa Clara as a whole.

Please see the details here: http://shorturl.at/kDFQ3