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www.kennedycommission.org 17701 Cowan Avenue, SuiLe 200 Irvine CA 92614 949 250 0909 Fax: 949 263 0647 December 20, 2016 City of Santa Ana Mayor and Members of the City Council City of Santa Ana 20 Civic Center Plaza Santa Ana, CA 92701 Re: Item 80B - First Street Apartments, City of Santa Ana Dear Mayor Pulido and Members of the City Council: The Kennedy Commission is writing in support of First Street Apartments proposed by AMCAL Multi - Housing, Inc. ( AMCAL). AMCAL's proposal, located at 1440 East First Street, will provide 69 units of high quality affordable housing. The site is well - suited for affordable housing and conveniently located near urban amenities, educational facilities and recreation services. First Street Apartments is also a part of an important revitalization effort to develop residential uses along the First Street corridor — a key gateway for the City of Santa Ana. AMCAL's proposal is consistent with the vision of local planning documents for the City of Santa Ana. The site is listed as a housing opportunity site in the City's Housing Element, as adopted by the City Council. The rental units, 100% affordable to households earning between 30% and 60% of the Area Median Income, include 3 and 4 bedroom units for larger families, which is desperately needed in Santa Ana. Large family affordable housing, including 4 bedrooms, is considered a special need per the City's Housing Element. Earlier this year, First Street Apartments was unanimously approved by the Planning Commission and City Council. After two years of work, First Street Apartments is virtually a shovel ready project and prepared to obtain the tax credit financing to break ground next year. Per the staff report, the project is also providing deeper affordability, with 50% of the units affordable at 30% AMI (extremely low income), which is unusual for a large family community and a significant community benefit. AMCAL is one of the largest affordable housing developers in California, with strong track record in Orange County, including Vista del Rio in Santa Ana (recipient of the Project of the Year Award), Anaheim, Westminster, Irvine and Huntington Beach. AMCAL recently completed Oceana Apartments in Huntington Beach, which was developed in partnership with the City and TRI Point Homes to meet the City's Inchisionary housing requirements. AMCAL also completed Alegre Apartments in Irvine last year, in partnership with the Irvine Community Land Trust — both Oceana and Alegre received Project of the Year Award by the Kennedy Commission.