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Grand Avenue Widening Project Environmental Impact Report Section 3.0 3.3 POPULATION AND HOUSING Based on the findings of the IS, the proposed Grand Avenue widening may or would result in potentially significant adverse impacts on population and housing, specifically related to the displacement of affordable housing. The analysis in the following sections focuses on the existing conditions in the study area, the analysis methodology, thresholds of significance, the potential population and housing impacts of the Grand Avenue widening alternatives related to affordable housing, and mitigation as needed. 3.3.1 EXISTING SETTING RELATED TO POPULATION AND HOUSING Based on housing estimates from the California Department of Finance, there were 74,611 dwelling units in the City of Santa Ana in January 2001. The 2001 housing vacancy rate in the City was 2.13 percent. There are no. assisted housing projects or assisted housing units in the Grand Avenue area. As noted earlier, there are single and multiple family housing units adjacent to the project segment of Grand Avenue. Much of the housing in the Grand Avenue area is older and is likely moderately priced and affordable, compared to newer housing elsewhere in the City. 3.3.2 THRESHOLDS OF SIGNIFICANCE RELATED TO POPULATION AND HOUSING A project will normally have a significant impact related to population and housing if it will result in the displacement of a substantial number of persons or in the displacement of a substantial number of housing units. In addition, a project could result in significant adverse impacts related to population and housing if it: • Induces substantial growth or population through the provision of employment or housing or both employment and housing. • Contributes to cumulative demand for housing. • Is a large scale project which creates a jobs/housing ratio greater than 5.85 in Orange County. 3.3.3 METHODOLOGY RELATED TO POPULATION AND HOUSING The potential impacts of the proposed widening of Grand Avenue were assessed based on the estimated number of residential units that would be acquired and the number of residents that would be displaced by each alternative. The number of residents potentially displaced by the proposed project was estimated assuming an average household size of 4.33 persons in 2000, based on statistics from the California Department of Finance. The Final FIR for the City of Santa Ana General Plan Land Use Element (January 21, 1998) was reviewed as a source for information regarding the status and availability of housing, particularly moderately priced and affordable housing, in the City. In addition, the City of Santa Ana Housing Element (December 2000) was also reviewed as an information source. This information was used in assessing the potential impacts of the Grand Avenue widening on housing and population in the City. PROJ-ENMGrand eirWew Text - GrandlSection 3 SpiitlSection 3.3.doc Page 3.3-I