D
avid Schmalz reports on this week’s cover story: Heritage Harbor, an office complex tucked between the Rec Trail, the Wharf, and Cannery Row in Monterey. Despite its central location, the site goes largely unnoticed as pedestrians and cyclists glide past. The juxtaposition of a sleepy office park on coveted coastal property has long puzzled me. Recent conversations revealed a troubling backstory: the development displaced low‑income residents and businesses, paving the way for a waterfront renewal that aimed to protect historic structures. The project’s goal was to blend with architectural heritage, the cost paid by displaced residents was high. If you’re curious about the details, the full article is worth a read. Monterey’s storied past and numerous historic buildings mean that future waterfront or downtown projects will face stringent preservation regulations. This week’s Weekly also highlights a delay in a 41‑unit affordable‑housing project behind City Hall, stalled by the neighborhood’s historic status. The central question remains: can Monterey progress while honoring its historic aesthetic, as the law demands? This challenge looms large.