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  <br />  <br />  <br />  <br />  <br />  <br />  <br />  <br />  <br />  <br />Remarks by Alexa Washburn with National Community Renaissance <br /> <br />Alexa Washburn, with Linda Wilson from Mercy House, gave a PowerPoint presentation on the proposed <br />project. <br /> <br />National CORE is a 501(c) (3) non-profit public benefit corporation that was established in 1992 based out of <br />Rancho Cucamonga, CA. For more than 25 years, National CORE has been a leader in constructing <br />sustainable developments that leverage community resources to combine quality housing with life-enhancing <br />social services. National CORE will be the development entity and property manager once the project is <br />complete. <br /> <br />Mercy House Living Centers was founded in 1988 by Father Jerome T. Karcher with a vision to serve those <br />in need in the Santa Ana community. Though the shape of Mercy House has changed over the years, from a <br />single transitional shelter serving 10 men at a time, to an organization that spans counties and serves <br />thousands of people each year, Mercy House’s vision remains the same: to end the homelessness of those <br />who enter its system of care. <br /> <br />Located at 609 N. Spurgeon Street, at the northwest corner of the intersection of French Street and E. Santa <br />Ana Boulevard, the 1.74-acre Project site is currently home to Santa Ana United Methodist Church, a well- <br />established anchor in the community. The Proposed Project includes the development of a single residential <br />building with 93 units surrounding an interior, landscaped courtyard. In total, the Project proposes 81,883 <br />square feet of habitable residential building area and 21,200 of public open space. Developed at an overall <br />density of 53.4 units per acre, there will be an estimated 30 1-bedroom units, 41 2-bedroom units, and 22 3- <br />bedroom units. Seven of the 2-bedroom units and seven of the 3-bedroom units will be two story townhomes <br />accessible from the street. The remaining 79 units will be flats/typical apartment units located on the 2nd, 3rd <br />and 4th floors over ground level parking. <br /> <br />Questions and Answers <br /> <br />After the Applicant introduced the project, speakers asked the following questions and provided the following <br />comments. Speakers are shown below numerically; applicant responses are indicated by “RESPONSE”. <br /> <br />1. How is affordable defined? How will much will the rents be? In other recent projects, residents don’t <br />qualify because rents went up compared to what was originally proposed. <br /> <br />RESPONSE: The affordability levels will be based on the income limits set annually by the US <br />Department of Housing and Urban Development. Rents will be based on 30 percent of an <br />eligible tenant’s income for each income bracket. A slide on Income Limits and Expected Rent <br />Limits was provided as part of the presentation. As this is a rent-restricted development that <br />will have a density bonus agreement in place that ensures the project is affordable for no less <br />than 55 years, the rents will change annually, based on the federal and State income limits <br />but will not increase substantially. The eligibility to become a tenant is determined by the <br />funding sources. <br /> <br />2. In other recent projects in the City, residents didn’t qualify because rents went up compared to what <br />was originally proposed. <br /> <br />RESPONSE: National CORE will enter into a density bonus agreement with the City that will <br />rent restrict the units for a period of no less than 55 years. The affordability levels will be <br />based on the income limits set annually by the US Department of Housing and Urban <br />1-38