We're a grassroots group of Baker residents who came together over a shared concern: the Burnham Yard redevelopment could fundamentally change the safety and character of our neighborhood … if we don't speak up now.
We aren't a political organization, an advocacy group, or a developer interest. We're parents, dog-walkers, small business regulars, and longtime residents of Baker who started talking to each other and realized we were all worried about the same things.
We put together the Baker Votes Together survey guide so that every neighbor, whether you've been here for 30 years or 3 months, can quickly and confidently fill out the city's Small Area Plan survey with informed, unified answers.
The more of us who show up with a clear, consistent message, the harder it is for the city to plan our neighborhood without our interests in mind.
The Burnham Yard redevelopment covers 150 acres directly west of our neighborhood. Without strong community input, early plans show outcomes that would harm the people who live here every day.
Early renderings show tens of thousands of cars from the new stadium and entertainment district funneling through Baker's quiet residential streets, directly past our elementary school, our Montessori preschool, and our largest park, Dailey. The developer has explicitly stated that they expect 15% of all traffic to run through Baker, which is a dizzying number once you consider that the stadium will likely hold 100,000 for large events, and have a nightlife district adjacent to it.
South Santa Fe Drive between 1st and 6th Ave is home to dozens of legacy small businesses, many with deep roots in Baker's LGBTQ+ and Latino communities. The Stadium's new Entertainment District, with its built-in foot traffic and corporate-backed retail, risks drawing visitors away from these independently owned shops and restaurants before they have a chance to compete on equal footing. We're pushing for streetscape upgrades that connect the Stadium site to our existing businesses, rather than allowing the new district to replace them.
More traffic means more exhaust, more honking, and more engine noise on streets that families, kids, and cyclists depend on every day.
Concrete and asphalt act like thermal batteries, absorbing heat all day and releasing it slowly at night. Unlike trees and vegetation, which cool the air, these surfaces trap heat, creating a sustained heat island effect where temperatures stay elevated after sunset. Without investment in trees and green infrastructure, new development will worsen this cycle, increasing heat and disproportionately impacting vulnerable residents.
Questions, ideas, or want to help spread the word? Please join us at this link, or send an email.
Show up at the June 2nd meeting at Hirschfeld Towers, sign the petition when it lands, and talk to your neighbors. Every voice counts.
See how to take action →