Homeless told to exit camp at Hamilton site
A group of homeless people who set up an encampment on city-owned property in Novato's Hamilton neighborhood received a notice from city officials this week to vacate by Christmas Day.
Since Friday, a handful of people have been living at the former military base's bachelor officers' quarters with plans to restore the buildings, purchase the property and convert it into a housing cooperative, said homeless Novato resident Jason Sarris.
“There is a growing need for a sanctioned camp where people can go and feel safe,” Sarris said. “A place people can go and hang their hat somewhere, get back on their feet and get a leg up in life.”
On Tuesday, the city issued a notice to vacate 201 Sunset
Blvd., fenced off the property and banned overnight parking nearby. The notice said the city plans to sell the property in its existing state at the best price. The parcel's value is estimated at $6.9 million, according to a city staff presentation.
City officials did not respond to requests for comment.
The property is part of the 414-acre mixed-use community that the city plans to redevelop, according to a staff report in September.
Sarris said his group informed the city of its plans via email before receiving the notice. He said the move was a reaction to the county's slow pace in housing people and the city's failure to see through the conversion of Inn Marin and Suites to housing for the homeless through the state's Project Homekey program.