July 7, 2026 - San Francisco Post

The Western Canon Was Never Supposed to Be Intimidating and Richard Fallquist Wrote the Book About It

San Francisco Post Staff on July 7, 2026

By: Jenny Johnson

Here is the thing about great works of art and literature and music that nobody in the business of cultural education seems eager to admit: most of the intimidation surrounding them is manufactured. The works themselves are not intimidating. They are human. They are made by people who were afraid and hopeful and confused and in love and angry about the same things that people today are. The intimidation comes from the infrastructure that has grown up around them, the academic apparatus, the cultural gatekeeping, the implication that you need a particular kind of preparation before you are allowed to show up. Richard Fallquist has written a book that quietly dismantles all of that and hands you the door directly. It is one of the most valuable things a cultural guide has ever done.

Reading Great Works and Me evokes a distinct sense of doors opening. Not all at once and not with any fanfare, but steadily and generously, the way a good teacher opens things rather than the way an institution does. Fallquist writes from his own experience of coming to these works as an adult, without the scaffolding of a formal humanities education, and finding that they were not only accessible but deeply, personally meaningful in ways he had not anticipated. That experience of genuine surprise and genuine connection is present on every page and it communicates itself to the reader in a way that is considerably more effective than any amount of scholarly authority.

The themes he weaves through the practical content of the book are ones that feel genuinely important in a moment when the question of what connects us to the long human story behind us is not always easy to answer. Fallquist believes that the great works are not relics or monuments. They are living resources, available to anyone willing to engage with them, capable of doing things for a contemporary reader that nothing else can do in quite the same way. He makes that belief feel less like a cultural conservative’s nostalgia and more like a reader’s honest testimony, and the difference between the two is everything.

His structure is a genuine contribution. The curated lists organized by century and form, the summaries that give you enough to find your footing without replacing the experience of the works themselves, the resource lists that point you toward lectures and recordings and further reading, all of it reflects a careful and affectionate intelligence at work on the reader’s behalf. You finish each section knowing where you want to go next, which is exactly what a guide is supposed to accomplish.

This is the book to give someone who has always wanted to read Dostoevsky or hear Beethoven properly or understand what they are actually looking at in a great painting but has never known where to begin. It is the book to give yourself if you are that person. Fallquist has done something generous and important here and it deserves to be read widely.

If you are ready to stop feeling like the great works of human creativity are somehow not meant for you and start experiencing what they can actually do for your life, Great Works and Me by Richard Fallquist is exactly where that shift begins. Pick up your copy on Amazon and find out what has been waiting for you on the other side of that intimidation all along.

Terraces of Lafayette Housing Project Moves Closer to Construction

San Francisco Staff 2 on July 7, 2026

The Terraces of Lafayette housing project has moved closer to construction after the Lafayette City Council reaffirmed approval for the development following years of legal disputes and regulatory review. The project is expected to add hundreds of new homes to the East Bay while supporting the city’s efforts to meet California’s state-mandated housing requirements.

Key Takeaways

The Terraces of Lafayette housing project is moving closer to construction after extended legal challenges.
The Lafayette City Council has approved the development following multiple rounds of review.
The project includes hundreds of housing units, including below-market-rate homes.
Construction is expected to begin in 2027 if remaining project milestones are completed.
The development remains part of Lafayette’s state-required housing plan through 2031.

The Lafayette City Council has advanced the Terraces of Lafayette housing project, bringing one of the Bay Area’s longest-running residential development proposals closer to construction. The approval follows years of legal challenges, environmental review and public debate surrounding plans to build new housing on Deer Hill Road.

The project is planned for 3233 Deer Hill Road and is expected to deliver 315 residential units, including 63 below-market-rate homes. The developer has indicated that construction could begin in 2027, subject to the remaining project requirements.

City officials have confirmed that the development continues to be included in Lafayette’s housing element, which outlines how the city plans to accommodate state-assigned housing needs through 2031. The project represents one of the largest residential developments currently planned within the city.

What Happened With the Terraces of Lafayette Project?

The city recently reaffirmed approval for the Terraces of Lafayette housing project after years of legal proceedings delayed its progress.

The proposal has remained under review through multiple rounds of public hearings, court cases and environmental evaluations. Although the development received approval previously, legal actions prevented construction from moving forward.

The latest council action allows the project to proceed toward the next phase of development. According to the developer, preliminary site preparation has been limited to grading work and the removal of selected trees and pavement while construction plans continue to advance.

The project also remains connected to Lafayette’s broader housing obligations under California law. The city recently reached a settlement with the Housing Action Coalition regarding its housing planning process. Under the agreement, Lafayette will consider additional opportunities to increase housing capacity through future zoning changes while maintaining compliance with state housing requirements. Similar efforts to expand affordable housing access have also appeared in nearby communities through targeted teacher housing development.

Project Timeline From Proposal to Approval

The Terraces development was originally proposed in 2011 for land designated for office and multifamily residential use.

The proposal later changed significantly before returning to its original concept after previous plans for a smaller single-family subdivision were overturned. Subsequent lawsuits challenged the city’s approvals, extending the project’s timeline for several years.

Court decisions ultimately allowed the development to proceed, leading to the most recent council approval that places the project on a path toward construction.

Why Was the Housing Development Delayed?

Several factors contributed to the lengthy approval process.

Legal challenges were filed by community groups opposing the project, raising concerns related to environmental impacts, traffic, wildfire exposure and compatibility with Lafayette’s existing character.

The litigation moved through multiple levels of California’s court system before the legal disputes were resolved.

Environmental review also formed part of the approval process. Earlier environmental studies identified significant traffic and environmental impacts associated with the development. Updated project documentation incorporated mitigation measures intended to address those findings as required through the review process.

Public debate remained active throughout the approval period. Some residents supported additional housing to help address regional housing needs, while others argued the proposed development was too large for its location.

The project also progressed during a period when many residential developments across California experienced financing challenges and increased construction costs, slowing implementation even after receiving local approvals.

What Does the Approved Development Include?

The Terraces of Lafayette housing project is planned to provide 315 residential units on approximately 22 acres near a major transportation corridor.

The approved development includes 63 below-market-rate homes intended to contribute to affordable housing opportunities within Contra Costa County.

The site is located near Acalanes High School and approximately 1.5 miles from a Bay Area Rapid Transit station. City officials have identified its location as consistent with goals supporting housing near transportation infrastructure.

Affordable Housing and Community Features

Affordable housing forms part of the approved development through below-market-rate units required under the project’s conditions.

The city has also adopted inclusionary housing requirements that apply to residential developments and has expanded those requirements citywide. Continued investment in affordable housing infrastructure is also reflected in initiatives supporting housing repairs for existing residential communities.

Officials have stated that increasing housing near existing services and transportation can support walkability while reducing dependence on private vehicles for some residents.

How Does the Project Fit Into Lafayette’s Housing Plans?

The Terraces project remains one component of Lafayette’s strategy for meeting housing production targets assigned under California law.

The city has continued updating its housing policies while reviewing additional residential opportunities throughout the community.

Earlier this year, Lafayette reached a settlement concerning its housing element. Under that agreement, the city committed to evaluating additional land for potential housing through future zoning considerations.

City officials have also continued advancing other residential developments, including affordable housing projects and mixed-use developments located closer to the downtown area.

Recent planning efforts include projects intended to increase housing availability while supporting transit-oriented development and improving access to existing community services.

The city has also reported efforts to improve transportation connections through initiatives focused on walkability, bicycle access and public transit connections within Lafayette.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Terraces of Lafayette housing project?

The Terraces of Lafayette housing project is a planned residential development at 3233 Deer Hill Road that will provide 315 housing units, including below-market-rate homes.

Why was the Terraces of Lafayette development delayed?

The project faced multiple legal challenges, environmental review requirements and extended public hearings before receiving approvals that allow it to move toward construction.

How many housing units are planned for the project?

The approved development includes 315 residential units, of which 63 are designated as below-market-rate housing.

When is construction expected to begin?

The developer has stated that construction is expected to begin in 2027, subject to the completion of remaining project requirements and permitting.

Day: July 7, 2026