CORRESPONDENCE - 75A - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

A second concern was the impact on parking and traffic in the neighborhood. The 93 -unit development will have 102 parking spots in a gated garage. Overcrowding often impacts parking and traffic, but in our case the number of people living in each unit will be regulated by the property management. It's reasonable to assume that not all the tenants will have cars, especially those just entering permanent supportive housing. And the OC Streetcar stop right on the corner will provide them with immediate access to public transportation, also mitigating their need to own cars. Other speakers were concerned that the development will attract more homeless people. I've noticed that people often confuse affordable housing and homeless shelters. Shelters do draw homeless people; that's who they are intended to serve. But our project is not a homeless shelter. Currently the presence of the homeless is a very real issue on the property; we have suffered break-ins and vandalism over and over again. However, once families are living there, and with an on-site property manager there 24/7, the homeless impact will be significantly reduced. Finally, a few people expressed concern about the destruction of the St. Luke's building, believing that it has historic value. However, the Santa Ana Historical Society has confirmed that it is not historic, just old. The loss of a run-down church will mean the gain of a new building with a variety of architectural styles that will blend into and enhance the neighboring homes and businesses. We also heard a few people from the Lacy and Logan neighborhood who seemed to feel that this project does not go far enough in providing affordable housing. To that I can only say that we can only do what we can do, that there will be 93 more housing units than there are right now, and that the application process will be open to all who qualify. This is not a case of gentrification. At the Planning Commission, two of the commissioners voted not to approve the Density Bonus Agreement. One expressed dismay that a church building will be destroyed. I appreciate this sentiment. Many people in our church have struggled with this as well. So many memories are tied up in the church buildings. But we cannot afford to maintain two sites. Holding on to property that cannot be maintained and is underutilized is not good stewardship. We believe that with this project we will continue to have a presence in the community, and that repurposing the site for housing is an opportunity to be good stewards of our assets. As a long-time resident of Santa Ana, I am proud that our city is taking a pro -active stance in tackling the complicated problems of homelessness and the need for affordable housing. It's providential that this opportunity for our church coincides with the city's desire to lead on this issue. I hope that you will support the Density Bonus Agreement so that we can continue to move forward on this project. Thank you. Sincerely, Deborah S. Gillen