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Heartily welcome the Purple Lotus Buddhists
I for one would be happy to see that land put to good use, and heartily welcome the Purple Lotus Buddhists. They own the land and are entitled to do with it what they desire as long as they meet the statutory requirements, which it appears they do. I would not like to become as narrow minded as Mark Twain depicted himself in one of his stories; burning down an orphanage next door because it interrupted his view.I can think of far worse neighbors than Buddhist monks and students, and far worse structures than a picturesque temple.- Larry, on Riviera
Posted - 09/05/05 10:36am by Lynn R Slater

Purple Haze
which is what we will have during the construction phase of this place! What are they thinking? after completion, there will be a minimum of 250 residents there, coming and going, to say nothing of the exodus of the attendees of the services!!! Make em big and use gawdy colors, Yea, that's the ticket, oh, and to heck with the wildlife and the view of the hills we have all come to love.Julie Reeb
Posted - 09/05/05 10:38am by Lynn R Slater

We need to rethink this Purple Lotus thing See all 2 replies
Nobody likes open space as much as I do. Really, nobody. That being said, we need to rethink this Purple Lotus thing before we go crazy over it. Remember, every single house in Niles (and everywhere else, for that matter) was built on formerly "wide open space" and probably spoiled someone's view. There were probably choruses of lamentations about each and every one of these developments that have covered Niles over the last 100 years. Unlike some of you, I have not done my homework, and do not know exactly what the purple lotus land is zoned for. Seems like if the city had wanted to annex it and make it part of Quarry Lakes they would have. Let's just say we raise a big fuss and win, and the Purple Lotus has to go somewhere else. What will go in instead? A Walgreen's? 100 zero-lot-line houses with the obligatory 2 shrublets per lot? Personally, I'll take the temple. In my experience, although the architecture may not be "traditional" California, usually the Buddhist temples are quite attractive in their own way and include a significant nod to landscaping. I, too, would love things to remain the way they are. However, that's not how life goes. Vickie on 2nd
Posted - 09/05/05 10:39am by Lynn R Slater, updated or replied 09/05/05 10:41am

Traffic problems are going to be terrible
It's not that it is a church; it's that it is a HUGE complex, and the traffic problems are going to be terrible. Alvarado-Niles Road is a substitute for Mission Blvd. for many people, and it's difficult enough to get home from work as it is!Any style of architecture blown up to such a large scale is a monstrosity; the style of architecture and religious culture attached are not in question (for me, anyway). A typical Niles bungalow would look awful if it were scaled up that large.How does the City plan to mitigate the traffic problems, with all of thehomes going in across the way, and a complex with live-in monks, a schooland religious services feeding into A-N Road? That's my question.MichelleNiles Blvd.
Posted - 09/05/05 10:42am by Lynn R Slater

Flashy architectural monstrosity See all 3 replies
Per the Argus this morning - I am beyond shocked to read about the actual extent of yet another flashy architectural monstrosity in the residential Niles midst - even if our (in my opinion in this case misguided) city planners think it "enhances the neighborhood because it adds interesting architectural structures to a vacant field..." Does it imply that one of the last existing vacant fields is an eyesore? Instead of enjoying what's left of wide open space from Quarry Lakes paths - we will be forced to look at a huge building complex instead....It could be somewhat tolerable if it went with true California architecture like a low profile Mexican/Spanish style building, but to be completely Tibetan (I don't believe the "contemporary American mix" bit - maybe they mean the plumbing...) and 58 feet at its highest point? And imagine the ensuing traffic problems? Any back up traffic trying to make a left turn on Fox going North on Niles Blvd. can count on getting creamed by people going over the BART bridge (not always speed limit) and ploughing straight into waiting left-turn traffic - which is bound to spill over into the straight lane during services....My architectural and building background, as well as my keen sense for scenic beauty and wildlife watching, makes me cringe about what's to come here... We just came back from Jackson Hole WY where ALL buildings - even a McDonalds - blend in with the surrounding areas and scenery...and it looks aesthetically beautiful, without sacrificing individuality! Yeah - I know - we should consider moving there...maybe we will... Gitta BrownSnyder Way
Posted - 09/05/05 10:33am by Lynn R Slater, updated or replied 09/05/05 10:45am

This is a MASSIVE complex, traffic, eyesore
They propose a six-foot high wall around some of their property, which will be decorated "with names of the Buddha, both in Chinese and English to encourage visitors and practitioners to read the Holy Name of various Buddha. ACCORDING TO BUDDHIST TRADITION, MERIT IS GAINED BY RECITING BUDDHA'S NAME EVEN IF IT IS READ UNINTENTIONALLY." (emphasis is mine in Caps).******* YES, this is in their proposal. *******This smacks of wanting to build an 55K square foot epi-center to recruit. They should have left that out.They estimate 20-40 visitors per day, in addition to existing residents, classes, and guests. "Currenly 100 to 125 follwers participate in the praying ceremonies and ACCORDING TO THE APPLICANT (emphasis mine) the Temple has no intention of increasing the frequency of either the ceremonies or the amount of people. The applicant anticipates 20-40 visitors per day. The Purple Lotus Temple at the San Bruno site, which is approximately 4,000 square feet, has 8-12 visitors on a daily basis."They are comparing a 4k square foot area to their proposed 55,560 sqare feet of property. With learning institutes, residences, daily visitors, etc. They cannot possibly predict the traffic in or out of their new compound, nor how it will will affect the surrounding area. But, I bet Safeway in Union City benefits from it, as will other Union City businesses, over Fremont businesses.It is my understanding the Fox Ave. lot is zoned residential with 1-3houses PER ACRE, and the existing plan was to have those 1-3 housesper acre, with foot and bike trails, etc., which would now tie nicelyinto Quarry Lakes... and lend a nice track cut through from Niles onfoot or bike to Quarry Lakes.Was supposed to be luxury homes on large lots with bike and walktrails. Something unheard of these days, all the new homes have nobackyards and are 2-story homes to fit on tiny lots with minibackyards... with a few 1-story homes thrown into the development.The current zoning of 1-3 homes per acre would blend in well for thearea, with bike and walk trails, except the Purple Lotus folks boughtthe property about almost 15 years ago with intentions to build theirMASSIVE CAMPUS and change the zoning (someone correct me if I'm wrongon when they purchased the property... but it's in the officialdocuments).Apparently... "According to a series of topographic maps dating backto 1889, aerial photographs dating back to 1939 and a recent sitereconnaissance, the subject property has remained undeveloped todate. The property was most likely used for agricultural and grazingpurposes. The subject property is currently covered with groundvegetation. There are overhead utilities running along the westernproperty line. The western property line also is part of theboundary line separating the City of Union City and the City ofFremont."Well, there is a reason the property has been undeveloped to date.The Purple Lotus have owned it since early 90s when they bought itwith their intentions... hence nothing has been done with it!My concerns are that this is a MASSIVE complex, larger than a new condo complex, would cover 5.5 acres. That is HUGE. The implications on traffic are enormous, the potential for eyesore is huge. The business Union City will benefit with are great, while Fremont businesses won't benefit much at all. They need merely head left out of Fox Ave. onto Alvarado-Niles and they have everything they need within a 4 mile drive down Alvarado-Niles - versus further driving to accomodate their needs with Fremont Businesses.Purple Lotus is supposed to be able to house 120 residents. INADDITION to the daily traffic of them, visitors, guests, weekendtraffic, students, worshippers, etc. In addition to their main hallto hold 150 people, and their seperate institute to hold 250 persons,their four proposed worship sites, etc. This this is going to be amassive complex, or arrangement of buildings, that are going tospread wide, and HIGH according to their proposal.55,560 sqare feet is a massive construction for any purpose... whichis totally out of place for Niles."The 5.5 acre site is designed, as the project architect, to createharmony between the natural environment and the proposed developmentwhile symbolically representing both the Buddist tradition of FengShui principals."Nothing in here says anything about benefiting Niles, Fremont, thelocal residents, nor does anything address traffic. Nor doesanything say they are going to built anything to remotely blend intoNiles, or Union City, since they are at the borderline.They have a multi-purpose room proposed of 300 guests, with parkingfor every four seats. They expect 250 + 15 employees, one parkingspace per employee, and one parking space per seven student classroomseats. Um. Hrm.I have NO problem with a Buddhist temple, I have a "mom" of a friendof over 25 years who is a Buddhist and even has been in the NilesXmas Parade every year with her troupe on her drum. But, this isridiculous and very out of place for Niles and the area it wishes toinhabitate.Read the facts... I uploaded the fileColleenRiviera Dr.
Posted - 09/05/05 10:52am by Lynn R Slater

Lawsuit threatens funding
Buddhist group fights lawsuit, plaintiff wants back half of $330,000 then-wife gave Purple Lotus TempleBy Scott Wong, Inside Bay Area, June 12, 2005San Francisco, CA (USA) -- The Purple Lotus Temple, which wants to build a massive Buddhist temple and school next to Fremont's Quarry Lakes park, is being sued by a man who says his ex-wife secretly donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to the San Bruno organization before their divorce, court documents show.Thomas Ho Nien Au of Taiwan, 68, who also has lived in San Francisco and in Hillsborough, filed a lawsuit asking that the Buddhist group give back half of the $330,000 his ex-wife contributed since 1992, plus damages.The suit also names Master Samantha Chou, the temple's spiritual leader, and other unnamed parties.
Posted - 09/05/05 10:55am by Lynn R Slater, updated or replied 09/05/05 10:56am

Dramatic increase in traffic
The size and scope of this proposed project is sure to cause a dramatic increase in traffic for Niles and Alvarado-Niles Blvds. The Thai Buddhist Temple located at Niles Blvd. and Rock Ave. is prime example of excess traffic and parked vehicles. Two or three times a month, when there is a special event at the temple, parked vehicles overflow out to Niles Blvd. and completely fills the 7-11 parking lot across the street and wraps around the corner onto our street, Plumeria Way. That Thai temple is a much smaller one than the Purple Lotus Temple! The city planner that approved and allowed the Thai Buddhist Temple to be built ithout requiring that they provided adequate off-street parking sould be drawn and quartered! My concern is that the same mistake culd occur with the Purple Lotus Temple project.-- Kimbrough Lowe
Posted - 09/05/05 10:59am by Lynn R Slater, updated or replied 09/05/05 11:00am

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