Item 05 - Crossroads at Washington Affordable Housing Project at 1126, 1136, & 1146 East Washington Ave.

Home Browse Search

Crossroads at Washington Affordable Housing Project at 1126, 1136, & 1146 East Washington Avenue June 21, 2022 Page 13 2 8 1 5 The Crossroads at Washington will be a new transit-oriented affordable housing community on 2.286 acres located at 1126, 1136, & 1146 East Washington Avenue, Santa Ana, CA 92701. The site is currently vacant, and positioned within walking distance from the Santa Ana Regional Transportation Center – a key transit hub for not only Orange County, but all of Southern California. The Project is located on two (2) contiguous undeveloped parcels, one fronting E. Washington Avenue on the northern half of the site (Housing Authority-owned parcel) and one parcel directly south of the City parcel (County- owned parcel). The five original buildings located on the site were demolished in the 1990s by Caltrans during a freeway-widening project. As a vacant and undeveloped site, there is an opportunity to create a newly designed site that will truly meet the needs of the local community. The entire site is designated District Center (DC) in the City of Santa Ana’s 1998 General Plan and zoned Transit Village (TV) in the Transit Zoning Code. The Project includes the development of two residential buildings, of which one building will be subdivided into two (2) residential portions, with 86 units surrounding two interior, landscaped courtyard/amenity spaces. Developed at an overall density of 37.7 units per acre, there will be 16 studios, 26 one-bedroom units, 22 two-bedroom units, 17 three- bedroom units, and 5 four-bedroom units. All units will be flat apartments located on the first, second, third, and fourth floors. Currently, the buildings have been designed to buffer courtyards, open green areas, and the pool area from highway noise and visual pollution. In addition, a proposed sound wall is being positioned along the eastern property line adjacent to the US Interstate 5 ramp. Approximately 5,800 square foot of interior community amenities and leasing offices is designed to accommodate supportive and management services. The Project also includes approximately 1,060 square feet of community service retail/commercial space. One vehicular entry point to the site is provided off of E. Washington Avenue. The entry point has a small driveway roundabout with deliberate urban greening features, to reduce vehicle speeds and create a welcoming and aesthetically pleasing entrance and pickup/drop-off area for pedestrians, bike riders, and motor vehicles alike. Careful consideration for the character and scale of the surrounding neighborhood and buildings were taken into account, to ensure that the Project’s architecture and massing blends-in with the existing surrounding uses. The Project proposes a Mission Revival architectural style to complement adjoining neighborhoods and buildings. In particular, the design is envisioned to complement nearby buildings, similar to the Santa Ana Regional Transportation Center and the Triada at the Station District Apartments (also developed by Related), which are part of Santa Ana’s extensive history of prominent architecture. Overall, the layout of the buildings and common areas are designed to create several unique areas to best utilize outdoor space. Outdoor amenities include a pool, tot-lot, dog wash, and a BBQ and picnic area. The proposed Site Plan includes approximately 120 surface parking spaces, of which 38 spaces would be tandem spaces, which will be assigned to the three-bedroom and four- bedroom apartments, along with some two-bedroom apartments. Residents will not be