Preserve the 100 Year-Old Grant Road Open Space!

The fight to keep most or all of the historic century-old 15-acre open space on Grant Road in Mountain View, California from becoming housing!  The proposal to develop the area had passed council back in 2009, but as history has shown, a go-ahead from the city does not necessarily mean that a project will go on as originally planned.

Basically, the land was owned by two old ladies (the original owner of the farm died), and they sold the space; as such, it is just our wish to make people realize that there are alternatives to paving over an entire 15-acre open space, as in at least designate part if not most of it as open, natural wilderness.

From an online report in 2007:

"On June 5, Council directed staff to proceed with the annexation of the Grant Road property under the existing residential R1-8 pre-zoning. The vote was 6-1 with Ronit Bryant voting no. She favored further study of alternatives through a precise plan. This vote pretty much eliminates the possibility of a keeping a farm at this site, and unfortunately this MV landmark will be replaced entirely with new houses and streets. We wish Council could have at least allowed Planning Staff to evaluate our proposal."

Did you know that the Santa Clara Valley -- California in general -- has the richest/best soil in America?
 
Any local open space is always worth preserving, especially now, when more and more is unfortunately vanishing.

If you care about the well-being of this planet, the environment and our future, then we strongly urge you to become involved!

Yes, this is about preserving a valuable asset to our community.  But, in a way, it is also about more than that.  It is about making people aware of the environment, sustainability, and how and why it needs to be protected for future generations, and for the good of ourselves as a society and as a planet.

In that case, we do not just need support from the community of Mountain View; rather, we need support from surrounding communities; from other cities, and perhaps other states.  People need to realize that with every parcel of farmland/open space destroyed, we are killing ourselves and our future faster and faster. 

If we reach the point of vulnerabilty, where owners can buy any space and do with it what they please, then what does that say about us?  When you go outside and stand in an open meadow or field, with the sun shining down and the wind in your face, ask yourself this: "are material things really that much greater than the experience I am having right now?"  Are these precious acres of land not living historical reminders of who we are, what once was, and what can be again?

In late-2008, on the way home from a basketball game, I passed by the historic field; the entire space a bright green and yellow, underneath a beautiful stormy sky, with a slight hint of mist and showers. The scene was so incredibly gorgeous; greens and yellows were as far as the eye could see. We have this precious and historic slice of Americana and untouched wild nature in Mountain View; why destroy it?  Why ruin this unique wilderness?  In fact, ever since 2007, when the space ceased to become a working farm, a number of families have ridden their bikes through the area; others have pulled their cars up alongside of it, just to get out and observe this precious gem with wonderment and awe.

Developers have so much money; they basically use the status quo to say "screw you" to the public.

The status quo "has to change."