60B - AFFORDABLE HOUSING FUND FOR MERCY HOUSE

Home Browse Search

Pre -Commitment of Affordable Housing Funds to Community Development Partners April 7, 2020 Page 3 execution of the services plan, and oversight of other service providers and property management. CDP and Mercy House CHDO have been collaborating on affordable housing and permanent supportive housing developments over the last 5 years. Along with completing two projects with permanent supportive housing ("PSH") in Orange County, they have successfully funded and started construction on two additional projects in Santa Ana. CDP and Mercy House CHDO currently have new projects in development together in Riverside, Oxnard, Costa Mesa, and Los Angeles. Additionally, Mercy House CHDO provides the resident services and case management at three CDP projects in Arizona, totaling 191 units. Project Site CDP, in partnership with Mercy House CHDO, is proposing to develop 2.12 acres located on the vacant site at 2530 and 2534 Westminster Avenue. The site is located along Westminster Avenue and Fairview Street. Both routes have regular Orange County Transportation Authority bus service including Route 560 along Westminster Avenue and Route 47 on Fairview. The project is within one mile of two stops on the future OC Streetcar (Westminster/Harbor and Fairview/Civic Center). The Project site is on two (2) contiguous undeveloped parcels and is currently zoned for general commercial. The project will require a zone change and amendment to the current land -use. The City's Planning and Building Agency has completed an initial review of the project and has agreed to recommend this zone change and amendment to the Planning Commission for approval. The development team has worked together to secure necessary entitlements for multiple projects in Santa Ana, and are familiar with the process to receive approval for the zone change and land -use amendment. Most recently, the team began the redevelopment of Tiny Tim Plaza, in the adjacent Pilar Artesia neighborhood and the development of Aqua Housing on 17th Street, a couple miles to the east. Both of these projects required community engagement as part of securing their respective zone changes, land -use amendments and creation of unique specific zones. Proposed Project The proposed project includes 84 new affordable units and 1 manager's unit, with 58 three- and four -bedroom affordable units, and 26 one- and two -bedroom affordable units. A total of 75% of the units will be set aside for extremely low-income households at 30% Area Median Income. The three- and four -bedroom units will be designated for large families, while the one- and two - bedroom units will be designated as PSH for persons experiencing chronic homelessness. Community outreach was conducted to understand whether there were other homeless housing needs that were still being unmet. From this, a partnership developed with the Orangewood Foundation to set aside 10 of the 26 PSH units for Transitional Aged Youth ("TAY") (e.g. emancipated foster youth). The project consists of a single 3 to 4 story building, with multiple wings extending around a series of courtyards and public open space. The larger massing is located on Westminster and tiered lower to the South. The building architecture is modestly contemporary responding to the