HomeMy WebLinkAboutCORRESPONDENCE - 75ACity Council Meeting Correspondence
2/5/2019
PUBLIC HEARING - ADOPT MITIGATED NEGATIVE DECLARATION RESOLUTION FOR SANTA ANA
UNITED METHODIST CHURCH PROJECT LOCATED AT 609 NORTH SPURGEON STREET; ADOPT A
75A RESOLUTION SUPPORTING NATIONAL COMMUNITY RENAISSANCE OF CALIFORNIA SUBMITTAL
OF AN APPLICATION FOR THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES
PROGRAM; AND APPROVE DENSITY BONUS AGREEMENT
Date of Name Representative of In Favor In Opposition Comment
Correspondence of RA*. of RA.*
3 1/29/2019 Adiel DePano Yes
6
2/112019
Deborah Gillen
Santa Ana Resident
Yes
7
2/4/2019
Cristina Brady
United Methodist church
Yes
8
2/5/2019
Isuri Ramos
The Kennedy commission
Yes
9
2/5/2019
Vecindario Lacy
Wel-A
Yes
10
2/5/2019
Nina Khiv
Santa Ana Resident
Yes
11
2/5/2019
Cassius Rutherford
Associated Students of the
Yes
University of California Irvine
12
215/2019
Gina and Michael Scott
Santa Ana Resident
Yes
13
2/5/2019
Ruben A. Barreto
Santa Ana Building Healthy
Yes
Communities
14
2/5/2019
Nancy Mejia
Latino Health Access
Yes
1 1/21/2019 Alfred and Lupe Brambila Santa Ana Resident
2 1/29/2019 Paul Berry
*RA - Recommended Action
Tuesday, February 05, 2019
Yes
Yes
Page 1 of 2
Date of Name
Correspondence
1/31/2019 Bai Tang
2/1/2019 French Park Association
*RA - Recommended Action
Representative of
In Favor In Opposition Comment
of RA*. of RA.*
Yes
Yes
TOTAL: 14
Tuesday, February 05, 2019 Page 2 of 2
Orozco, Norma
From:
Sent:
To:
Subject:
Attachments:
Categories:
Sent from my iPhone
Begin forwarded message:
Huizar, Maria
Monday, January 21, 2019 2:24 PM
eComment
Fwd: 93 unit Apartment Project
Untitled document.pdf, ATT00001.htm
Correspondence
From: Lupe Rodriguez <
Date: January 21, 2019 at 2:09:07 PM PST
To: "mhuizargsanta-ana.org" <mhuizar@santa-ana.org>
Cc: "pgomezgsanta-ana.or?" <p o� mez@santa-ana.or >
Subject: Fw: 93 unit Apartment Project
Reply -To: Lupe Rodriguez <
Please see the following attached letter regarding the proposed project. We would like our letter to be
entered into the council folder for the upcoming meeting on Tuesday, 1/22/19.
Thankyou
Al and Lupe Brambila
Al Brambila has attached the following document:
Untitled document
Google Docs: Create and edit documents online. 0"
Google LLC, 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043, USA Google
You have received this email because someone shared a document with you from Google Docs.
Sandra Espadas, Community Development Manager
National Community Renaissance
RE: Legacy Square Project
Attn: Sandra Espadas and To whom It May Concern:
For over 30 years I have been a homeowner in French Park and have maintained as well as
enhanced the value of my home by maintaining the look of my home. My wife and I have
worked very hard as well as paying our taxes and our home being one of the few listed on the
Historical Bylaws which represents French Park for its finest.
I am part of the Architectural Committee as well and find myself to be very disappointed that
extended courtesy has and was not extended to the home owners and members of French Park
for proper review as we have been in the past. It's A very sad day when all of our efforts to
maintain some of these beautiful homes to their originality as well as keep the calm before the
storm as they say for peace and tranquil moments in our neighborhoods.
Creating already more low income facilities and taking away history and grace from our
neighborhood deserves the review for the few of us who have lived here to maintain our homes.
Creating a 93 unit apartment project in the location south of Civic Center should warrant the
time and ability to grant proper review to the vested people in French Park as so we could look
at this project with ample time to present any issues and or opinions which will later in the day
eventually affect our life style of living.
We already have issues with some of these projects. Too many people in one location, not
enough parking, overcrowded park areas, and allotted dwellers who only bring a negative
impact to our neighborhood. Those of us who have lived here for decades and have done so
for the sake of keeping in touch with the suburbia ambiance of being able to reside in a nice and
quiet historic section of Santa Ana.
Santa Ana should be able to maintain its historic and architectural areas therefore, being
included in the proper review of this project to outline any and all issues which pose a
discrepancy to those of us who still reside here and take pride in our homes.
We, my wife and I do not support this project due to the lack of information and time not given to
properly analyze such a big project which will definitely impact ourselves and our families.
Very truly,
Mr. & Mrs. Alfred and Lupe Brambila
Gomez, Pedro
From: Paul Berry
Sent: Tuesday, January 29, 2019 10:50 AM
To: Gomez, Pedro
Subject: Legacy Square Project - Public comment
1. Yes to affordable housing in this location with around level commercial.
2. Huge problem that exists now and will only get worse is parking and the solution (or mitigating alternative)
is to modify the nearby French Park street narking to be less restrictive or simply abolished. Urban infill means
that streets become safer with more people walking and this includes walking to parked vehicles. Do a study,
you will find that the French Park Permit area is under utilized and all over -the -limit 6 or more unit apartment
buildings in the area are suffering from lack of parking. This is wrong and opening French Park to parking will
not negatively impact residents.
3. Overall downtown parking must be further addressed, possibly with an additional parking structure for
residents and free shuttle service in the downtown area to 4th street and resident parking structure. Apartment
and condo dwellers do not need to park on their own properties in the long run. A community parking structure
with shuttle service will allow for all electric charging spaces in one aggregated facility. this is the climate
action plan in action.
4. We need roof -ton access in Santa Ana, we need to have buildings that the public can enter and go up on the
roof to view the area as an amenity to the community. Rooftop viewing areas can create business opportunities
for concessionaires, crafts and restaurants/cafes.
Paul Berry
0
Orozco, Norma
From: N. A. DePano <
Sent: Tuesday, January 29, 2019 6:13 PM
To: eComment
Subject: DENSITY BONUS AGREEMENT 2018--01 (LEGACY SQUARE PROJECT)
My name is Adiel DePano, Lead Pastor of Santa Ana United Methodist Church. I would like to thank Mayor
Pulido and the City Council members for how Santa Ana has been at the forefront of addressing the serious lack
of affordable housing in our fair city with the innovative ways you have brought more permanent supportive
housing online.
I am deeply grateful for your leadership in the countywide effort to bring more PSH (permanent supportive
housing) units online.
I write to urge the City Council to approve Density Bonus Agreement No. 2018-01 as recommended by the
City's Planning Commission involving our LEGACY SQUARE project—a mixed-use community featuring
affordable apartment homes (93 units) and flexible office/retail space adjacent to the future OC Streetcar station
on the corner of Santa Ana Boulevard and French Street.
Santa Ana United Methodist Church—a faith community made up of five language groups (Cambodian,
English, Tagalog -English, Spanish, and Tongan)—stand united behind our LEGACY SQUARE development
project, from the pastoral staff down to every member of our 330+ congregation.
By passing staff recommendation (Density Bonus Agreement No. 2018-01) concerning the project, Santa Ana
will continue to be a leader in our county, paving the way forward for us to increase the stock of affordable
housing units available for our low-income working families.
Thank you, again, for exercising visionary leadership in addressing the need for more, a lot more, affordable
housing in Santa Ana!
Rev. N. Adiel A. DePano
Lead Pastor, Santa Ana United Methodist Church
A Multi -Site, Multi -Cultural, Multi -Language Ministry
UNITY REACHING OTHERS. HOSPITALITY.
3
CRM TECH
1016 E. Cooley Drive, Suite A/B
Colton, CA 92324
MEMORANDUM
Note: Received via email from
Candida Neal, PBA
On 1/31/2019 at 6:30 PM
Date: January 21, 2019
From: Bai "Tom" Tang, Principal Investigator/Architectural History, CRM TECH
To: Margaret Partridge, Senior Project Manager, U1traSystems Environmental, Inc.
Subject: Update on Local Community Consultation Regarding Buildings of First United
Methodist Church of Santa Ana, Downtown Site (Legacy Square Project)
Dear Margaret:
As a follow-up to the discussion of consultation efforts with local community representatives in our
December 28, 2018, memorandum, I am forwarding to you an e-mail reply that was recently
received from Alan Lawson, Associate Director of the Santa Ana Historical Preservation Society
(see attached). To summarize the contents of Mr. Lawson's comments, the Santa Ana Historical
Preservation Society does not consider the buildings to be historically or architecturally significant,
but would like an opportunity to inspect the interior of the buildings, especially the Educational
Building, for historical materials that may warrant salvaging during demolition.
I understand that the interior of the Education Building is currently "off -limit" for safety concerns,
but would the City, the project proponent, and/or the church be able to provide access to the Santa
Ana Historical Preservation Society sometime prior to demolition?
Thank you very much!
Encl.: E-mail from Santa Ana Historical Preservation Society, January 20, 2019 (see p. 2)
Tel: 909 824 6400 Fax: 909 824 6405
M
From: Alan Lawson <
Sent: Sunday, January 20, 2019 1:51 PM
To:
Subject: First Methodist Church cultural resources study
Terri Jacquemain
Historian / Architectural Historian
CRM TECH
Subject: Cultural Resources Study for First United Methodist Church Property, 609 N. Spurgeon
Street, Santa Ana
Hi Terri -
I'm an Associate Director with the Santa Ana Historical Preservation Society (SAHPS), and was
forwarded your inquiry about the First United Church property. SAHPS has reviewed the
description of the proposed project and find that the two accessory buildings proposed for demolition
are not historically significant despite being older. The buildings are utilitarian in nature and not
architecturally significant.
Whenever projects in Santa Ana include demolition of older buildings, SAHPS is interested in the
possibility of salvaging interior amenities. In this case the items of potential interest for SAHPS
include lighting, sinks, light switches, etc., particularly in the 1920s vintage "educational building."
Would CRM be amenable to making arrangements for SAHPS to do a walk-through of the older
building to check on potential salvage items?
If this is possible please let me know.
Terri, we appreciate your consideration in this matter.
Respectfully,
Alan Lawson
Associate Director, SAHPS
9/5 SAUMC Project Meeting with City Planning
Manager
9/14 Meet with SAUMC Community Organizer to
identify key groups in the community and
discuss outreach strategy
9/25 SAUMC Design Meeting
10/1 SA City Planning Planning
10/2 SAUMC MXD Design Review
10/17 SAUMC Interview Prep for Interview
10/18 City of Santa Ana "First Look Meeting"
w/all city dept's to discuss SAUMC Project
10/19 SAUMC Conference Call to determine
schedule
10/20 Latino Health Access 2018 Latin Fiesta ( I
think Zoe attended)
10/30 Design Meeting with City
10/30 City of Santa Ana Interview
11/7 Ebell Club Ribbon Cutting and Launch
Party
11/13 SAUMC Upcycling Call
12/6 Meet with MECCA to identify additional
partners that we should outreach to
12/20 Env Kick off Meeting
1/3 Meeting with Councilmember Solorio
1/4 Meeting with County Supervisor Andrew Do
1/8 Met with Taller San Jose Hope Builders to
discuss partnership
1/15 Met with Jeff Dickman, Deborah (?), Mercy
House to discuss French Park Concerns
1/10 Conference call with OCTA
1/23 Meeting with Santa Ana Planning
2/1 Conference call with Councilmember
Iglesias
5 m
U5 a{qm
U
U
�2
�S
05
05
Um
Ne'nU
Oma`°
U`m
E`a
z
R
C
C
c3
�
g(J en
Ur
�E
z
r
j
z
z
r
r
r
i
i
I
¢¢E
¢
¢
v
a$
ted
aAdo
cP9
a9
b
C
a
H
H
¢g8
o'A
E
o f
a o
a
e 8a
S 6 0'9
a
S
I aV
a o
m
w
aV
Q a
o
a—
`-'
eEa
voE—
¢
ESv
0
c�a
E�vvS
EU
oECN�
U-cNc
oyU
Univ
E¢
dHIB
UmBeB
9$u
d�aB
UL
0
U
U
o`v`a
mNcai
Um
Ne'nU
Oma`°
U`m
E`a
z
Ury
g(J to
c3
�
g(J en
Ur
�E
9iW.
Pl
-
•�
�
a$
ted
aAdo
cP9
a9
b
C
a
H
H
¢g8
o'A
E
o f
a o
a
e 8a
S 6 0'9
a
S
6
a o
a a
d a¢
E
Q a
o
�,ea
as
eEa
voE—
E a
rvz'S=
`ms��
EE
o`v`a
mNcai
Um
Ne'nU
Oma`°
U`m
E`a
z
Ury
g(J to
c3
�
g(J en
Ur
a$
ted
aAdo
cP9
a9
b
gR
rv'C
¢g8
o'A
c
o f
a o
a
e 8a
S 6 0'9
a
S
6
a o
a a
d a¢
E
Q a
o
�,ea
as
eEa
voE—
E a
rvz'S=
`ms��
EE
dHIB
B�
9$u
d�aB
UL
q
�
o
b
ata
UK
)
)
)
/
)
)
(
(
(
(
)
)
)
)
/
)
)
(
(
(
(
-
f
!
6
1
b
1
)
Received via email from
Pedro Gomez, PBA
On 2/1/2019 at 9:54 AM
French Park Association
Written Comments about the LEGACY SQUARE 93 -Unit Apartment Project
609 Spurgeon Street
January 28, 2019
The French Park Association quickly reviewed the Initial Study and Mitigated Negative
Declaration (MND) for the Legacy Square project and offer the following comments:
1. Lack of Proper and Timely Notification to the French Park Association and French
Park Residents
As was stated at the recent Planning Commission hearing for the Density Bonus Agreement
hearing for the project, held January 14, 2019, the single notification the French Park Board
received regarding the Legacy Square apartment project relates only to the Planning
Commission meeting. It appears no other notices, telephone calls, or other communication
was received by our Board until early January 2019, just prior to the public hearing on the
density agreement.
During the January 14, 2019 Planning Commission meeting the lead Applicant,
NationalCORE, said that other notifications were mailed to residents, however in conversation
with over a dozen owners and tenants no one remembered receiving notices for any project
meetings, workshops or walks.
Despite adjoining the project, French Park residents were not invited to participate in the
outreach process. If French Park residents had attended project outreach meetings, our
involvement may have had a direct result of the project's configuration, density, its impact on
the existing antique Methodist building, and impacts to other adjoining neighborhoods. In a
subsequent meeting between French Park and NationalCORE, it was unable to produce a
record of where outreached attendees live because no record of this was kept according to
Alexa Washburn, Vice President of Planning for NationalCORE. Based on the lack of
notification and other outreach efforts to the French Park Board, and the French Park
community, we conclude the public outreach for the project failed to adequately notify, involve
and receive comments from our neighborhood. Similarly co -applicants Mercy House and the
Methodist Church, also failed to communicate to French Park about the project.
It is disturbing to French Park how the three project proponents, National CORE, Mercy
House and the Methodist Church, missed an important opportunity to coordinate its project
with the oldest neighborhood in the City, and the first neighborhood to have a representative
association, to be designated as historic, and enjoy special district status where a majority of
its antique buildings are on city's register of historic properties. Our neighbor and partner,
Mercy House, also seems to have forgotten about its host neighborhood, and the several past
projects, including its AIDS hospice, French Park worked with Mercy House on to bring to our
community.
Based on the lack of notification to French Park Association, and our neighborhood's many
residents, we again request more time to review the Initial Study, the MMD, and its 1,300
X
page appendix, to fully understand the project and its impacts and to share such with the
community.
RECOMMENDTION No. 1
Postpone City Council's hearing on Legacy Square for at least one month to allow French
Park time to prepare a more detailed response.
2. Traffic Impacts
The MND states the project will increase neighborhood traffic only incrementally, and that no
mitigation is required for project's traffic movement through our neighborhood.
French Park is indeed concerned about even incremental traffic increases. French Park is
located directly between the Santa Ana Downtown and the Santa Ana (Interstate 5) Freeway.
Like its neighbor to the north, the French Court Neighborhood, French Park experiences high
volumes of traffic in the mornings and afternoons, particularly on Washington, French, and
Spurgeon Streets and also on Wellington, 91h, 10`h and Lacy Streets.
Currently there are no operating traffic mitigation measures implemented for French Park. Nor
are any mitigation measures planned. Devices such as exit -only barriers, which limit access
into a neighborhood, and signage directing drivers around French Park, or an array of other,
and potentially useful traffic calming measures should have been considered by the Project to
limit cut -though vehicle traffic through French Park. As with other new development projects
which adjoin or are near French Park, Legacy Square offers no traffic mitigation, except to
encourage Legacy Square residents to take public transposition or walk. This is
unacceptable.
French Park is aware that other residential neighborhoods, very similar to French Park, enjoy
robust traffic mitigations. These protected neighborhoods include Floral Park, Wilshire Square
and Washington Square, and perhaps others. These several neighborhoods have exit -only
egress from their neighborhoods to prevent or reduce cut -through. Given French Parks'
location between the Downtown and the Santa Ana Freeway, we question why mitigations are
not required for this high-density apartment project.
French Park was not contacted prior to the launch of the project, or contacted as part of its
outreach. As such the MND, nor its companion documents, identify resident concerns or
comments regarding Legacy Square traffic. The MND appears to lack key resident
information about safety and other traffic issues. The MND also fails to consider any physical
mitigation measures to limit or discourage vehicle traffic from the Project entering French
Park,
French Park is already heavily disturbed by excessive vehicle traffic on Washington Street
with traffic movement failing at several north -south streets which intersect it including Bush,
Spurgeon and French. To encourage more traffic from the Legacy Square project into the
neighborhood creates an undue burden as drivers struggle to the Freeway.
RECOMMENDATION No. 2
Applicant(s) to conduct public meetings with French Park to discuss Legate Sgaure
and collect their concerns and comments.
RECOMMENDATION No. 2a
Applicant(s) to work with French Park to identify and implement traffic control
measures for the neighborhood which may include egress -only barriers, traffic calming
measures and signaae.
3. Impacts to City's French Park
French Park is concerned about project residents use of City's pocket -sized, French Park.
French Park is located a short distance north of the Legacy Square, and is the only existing
public park near the project. French Park is a well -used and over -used passive park in need
of a redesign and rehabilitation if it must support hundreds of potential new users.
RECOMMENDATION No. 3. In coordination with the French Park Association and the
City of Santa Ana, Legacy Square Applicants(s) will prepare and construct, at their
cost, a new French Park Design Plan to include, and not be limited to, the following:
• Drought -tolerant and wear -resistant turf
• New graffiti -resistant benches with a 5' perimeter of StaLok (a stabilized
decomposed granite) to replace lost turf due to excessive usage
• New graffiti -resistant trash receptacles to match existing
• New or rehabilitated drinking fountain with a 5' StaLok perimeter
• A new tree to replace one which has recently died
• New lighting sensors to insure proper illumination for the park
• Signage which states park hours of operation
• Signage which states the facility as passive use
4. Historic Preservation
The project MND is defective in that it fails to discuss alternative adaptive uses for the historic
Methodist auxiliary church building. Instead of examining alternative adaptive uses for the
structure, the MND merely sets forth the project alternative which requires demolishing the
building. It is surprising that the large, several floor building was not considered for
emergency or transitional shelter since these reuse approaches are familiar to Mercy House
in similar, but smaller, projects in the French Park and French Court neighborhoods. Reusing
antique buildings preserves our City's architectural heritage while minimizing loss of these
resources.
RECOMMENDATION No. 4:
French Park requests the Applicant(s) revise the MND to fully consider other uses for
the historic Methodist building, including low-income and/or market -rate apartment
housing, emergency and transitional housing, businesses, offices and other important
purposes including religious activities, learning and community events. French Park
supports the incorporation of the antique Methodist building into the proposed project
as part of a package of recommendations described in this letter, and as a way to
return it to a serviceable condition and integrating it into the project and community.
RECOMMENDATION No. 4a
French Park Association requests the City adhere to Section 30.7 of its Chapter 30,
Places of Historical and Architectural Significance, titled "Demolition of Historic
Properties". The pertinent text for this section is copied below:
(a)
An application of intent to demolish an historic property shall be submitted to the
planning and building agency. At a duly noticed public hearing, the historic resources
commission must review all applications for demolition permits for historic properties.
The commission shall investigate all feasible alternatives to demolition. These
alternatives include, but are not limited to:
(1)
Seeking private citizens, local trusts, and other financial sources who may be willing to
purchase the structure for restoration or relocation.
(2)
Publicizing the availability of the structure for purchase for restoration or relocation
purposes.
(3)
Exploring possible sites for relocation of the historic building if on - site preservation
is not possible. Any structure relocated under this section shall not require a
residential relocation permit, pursuant to section 41-620 of this Code.
(4)
Suggesting to the city council that the city purchase the structure when private
preservation or relocation is not feasible.
(b)
All of the above items are to be completed within two hundred and forty (240) days
from the date of application submittal. After two hundred and forty (240) days, or at the
conclusion of the environmental review period, whichever is longer, a demolition
permit must be issued. Prior to the issuance of the demolition permit, the applicant
shall provide, to the reasonable satisfaction of the commission, and at the applicant's
sole cost, complete photo -documentation of archival quality and historical profile of
the structure to be demolished, prior to the scheduling of the demolition.
6 (c)
The building official may determine a historic property is a dangerous building. Such
determination allows the waiver of historic resources commission review and the
required review period for demolition if the historic property is declared a dangerous
building. (Ord. No. NS - 2338, § 8, 12 - 1 - 97; Ord. No. NS 2 363, § 6, 8 3 - 98; Ord. No.
NS - 2405, § 2, 10 - 18 - 99; Ord. No. NS - 2455, § 8, 12 - 4 - 00; Ord. No. NS - 2521, § 12,
1- 21- 03). Editor's note — Ord. No. NS - 2521, § 12, adopted January 21, 2003,
changed the title of § 30 - 7 from "demolition of historic structures" to "demolition of
historic properties."
Orozco, Norma
From:
Sent:
To:
Subject:
Attachments:
To the Clerk of the Council:
Deborah Gillen <
Friday, February 01, 2019 2:30 PM
eComment
Density Bonus Agreement 2018-01
City Council Letter W.docx
Attached please find my comments regarding Density Bonus Agreement 2018-01 that will be discussed at the
City Council meeting on Tues. Feb. 5.
Thank you.
Deborah S. Gillen
k'J
Clerk of the Council
City of Santa Ana
20 Civic Center Plaza
Santa Ana, California 92701
January 28, 2019
Re: Density Bonus Agreement No. 2018-01
Dear Mayor Pulido and City Council Members:
I am writing to you in support of Density Bonus Agreement No. 2018-01 for the construction of the
Legacy Square project at 609 N. Spurgeon St..
My husband and I have owned a home in Santa Ana since 1976. We are long-time members of Santa
Ana United Methodist Church, which owns the property in question. The church has partnered with
National Community Renaissance (CORE) and Mercy House to create affordable housing for the
people of Santa Ana. I am excited that our church can be a part of the effort to meet the challenge of
housing for homeless and low-income members of our community.
I attended the Planning Commission meeting on January 14 at which the Density Bonus Agreement
was presented and ultimately approved. I was caught off -guard by some of the objections that were
raised by community members, and in anticipation that those concerns may come up again at the
City Council meeting on February 5,1 would like to address them.
Several people commented that "they're taking away our church." They elaborated on their church's
ministries in the community. Those expressing these views are members of one of the churches that
currently rents space from Santa Ana United Methodist Church. It is understandable that they feel
distress at being displaced from the buildings that have been their "home" for a number of years;
however, SAUMC has every right to determine how we use our property. We believe that providing
a safe and secure home for individuals and families is an appropriate ministry for our church. By
entering into a ground lease arrangement with CORE, we can serve those in need and also derive
some limited financial benefit for other ongoing ministries of SAUMC. On the practical side, if we
had decided to sell, it is highly unlikely that the renters would have had the means to purchase the
property, valued at nearly $5 million in as -is condition, or to restore the red -tagged building, which
we've been told will cost at least $3 million to make useable again. In addition, as part of the
redevelopment, both our current renters have been offered options and assistance to relocate. I
wish that they could be reassured that a church is not made up of buildings, but of people, and that
wherever they resettle, God is in control of the situation, and if they desire to serve Him, He will
bless them and their efforts.
A second group of people who raised objections were from the nearby French Park neighborhood.
Some felt they had not been properly notified of the plan, but we have confirmed that in fact all the
requirements of notifying them were met, including an opportunity to come to a sunshine meeting.
A second concern was the impact on parking and traffic in the neighborhood. The 93 -unit
development will have 102 parking spots in a gated garage. Overcrowding often impacts parking
and traffic, but in our case the number of people living in each unit will be regulated by the property
management. It's reasonable to assume that not all the tenants will have cars, especially those just
entering permanent supportive housing. And the OC Streetcar stop right on the corner will provide
them with immediate access to public transportation, also mitigating their need to own cars. Other
speakers were concerned that the development will attract more homeless people. I've noticed that
people often confuse affordable housing and homeless shelters. Shelters do draw homeless people;
that's who they are intended to serve. But our project is not a homeless shelter. Currently the
presence of the homeless is a very real issue on the property; we have suffered break-ins and
vandalism over and over again. However, once families are living there, and with an on-site
property manager there 24/7, the homeless impact will be significantly reduced. Finally, a few
people expressed concern about the destruction of the St. Luke's building, believing that it has
historic value. However, the Santa Ana Historical Society has confirmed that it is not historic, just
old. The loss of a run-down church will mean the gain of a new building with a variety of
architectural styles that will blend into and enhance the neighboring homes and businesses.
We also heard a few people from the Lacy and Logan neighborhood who seemed to feel that this
project does not go far enough in providing affordable housing. To that I can only say that we can
only do what we can do, that there will be 93 more housing units than there are right now, and that
the application process will be open to all who qualify. This is not a case of gentrification.
At the Planning Commission, two of the commissioners voted not to approve the Density Bonus
Agreement. One expressed dismay that a church building will be destroyed. I appreciate this
sentiment. Many people in our church have struggled with this as well. So many memories are tied
up in the church buildings. But we cannot afford to maintain two sites. Holding on to property that
cannot be maintained and is underutilized is not good stewardship. We believe that with this
project we will continue to have a presence in the community, and that repurposing the site for
housing is an opportunity to be good stewards of our assets.
As a long-time resident of Santa Ana, I am proud that our city is taking a pro -active stance in
tackling the complicated problems of homelessness and the need for affordable housing. It's
providential that this opportunity for our church coincides with the city's desire to lead on this
issue. I hope that you will support the Density Bonus Agreement so that we can continue to move
forward on this project. Thank you.
Sincerely,
Deborah S. Gillen
Orozco, Norma
From: Santa Ana United Methodist Church <
Sent: Monday, February 04, 2019 9:48 AM
To: eComment
Subject: Density Bonus Agreement 20118-01
Attachments: Desnsity Bonus Agreement No. 20118-Ol.pdf
City Council,
I hope this email find you well. Please find the attached letter from the Governance Board and Board of
Trustees of Santa Ana United Methodist Church.
Blessings,
Cristina Brady
Office Administrator, Grand Site
Santa Ana United Methodist Church
www.santaanaume.com
M
Scanned with CamScanner
SA A ANA
UNITED M THODIST CHURCH
Multi-Cultural,'Multi-Language Ministry
www.santaanaumc.com
Rev. N. Adiel DePano
2121 North Grand Avenue
Lead Pastor
Santa Ana, CA 92705
(714) 542-2219
Rev, Ruben Esponda
February 3, 2019
Spanish Language
Re: Density Bonus Agreement No. 2018-01
Dear Mayor Pulido and respected City Council Members;
Rev. Dr. SiosaiaTu'Itahl
Tongan Language
The Governance Board and Board of Trustees of Santa Ana United
Methodist Church wish to thank you for the leadership you have
demonstrated in addressing the need for affordable housing for
Pastor David Kann
homeless and low income families in our community. While some
cities in our county have resisted addressing this issue, you have
Cambodian/Khmer
faced it head on.
Language
We write you today to encourage you to approve the Density Bonus
Agreement No. 2018-01 that will allow our church and our partners,
Rev. Adel Torino
National Community Renaissance and Mercy House, to move
Tagalog/English Language
forward on our Legacy Square project: This project will create an
attractive 93 -unit structure, with parking, amenities, and community
resources, for affordable housing on the site of our present Downtown
Campus at 609 N. Spurgeon.
Paul Park
Director of
Supporting two sites for our church has limited our congregation's
Young People's Ministry
ability to minister to our congregation and the community. After
originally considering selling the property, which is the path most
often taken by churches that find themselves with more property than
they need, we were introduced to the idea of partnering to create
Kerry Wright
something that will benefit our community. Santa Ana United
Business Manager
Methodist Church was formed out of 3 Methodist churches that
collectively have been in Santa Ana for nearly 400 years. We are
heavily invested in the well-being of this city, following the
admonition of the prophet Jeremiah "to seek the welfare of the city ...
in which God has placed you." We believe that this use of our surplus
property is one way that we can minister to our community, fulfilling
our calling to "Love our neighbors as ourselves"
Scanned with CamScanner
And we are committed to being good neighbors, to meet the needs of low income persons
in our community, to build and maintain a structure that will enhance and improve the
value of surrounding neighborhoods, to make services available not only to our residents
but those who live nearby, to improve the surrounding infrastructure through updating
sidewalks, bike paths, and transportation access, and to control the impact on local streets
by providing adequate parking within our property. Our vision is to add to the quality of
life of the people of Santa Ana, and specifically for the areas surrounding our property.
We pray for each of you as you lead our city with wisdom and insight.
Thank you for your support at the City Council meeting on February 5.
Sincerely,
The Governance Board and Board of Trustees of Santa Ana United Methodist Church.
Scanned with CarnScanner
Orozco, Norma
From: Isuri Ramos <
Sent: Tuesday, February 05, 2019 10:29 AM
To: Huizar, Maria; eComment
Subject: Item 75A: Legacy Square Letter of Support
Attachments: Kennedy Commission - Legacy Square Letter of Support.pdf
Hello,
Please see the attached letter of support from The Kennedy Commission for Item 75A.
Please confirm receipt. Thank you.
Isuri S. Ramos
The Kennedy Commission
Policy Analyst
The Kennedy Commission
Increasing Orange County's Affordable Housing Opportunities
www.kennedycommission.org
The content of this email is confidential and intended for the recipient specified in this message only. It is
strictly forbidden to share any part of this message with any third party, without a written consent of the sender.
If you received this message by mistake, please reply to this message and follow with its deletion, so that we
can ensure such a mistake does not occur in the future.
UP
www. kennedycomm ission. org
17701 Cowan Ave., Suite 200
Irvine, CA 92614
949250090
February 5, 2019 Fax 949 263 0647
Mayor Pulido and City Councilmembers
City of Santa Ana
20 Civic Center Plaza
P.O. Be 1988, M31
Santa Ana, CA 92701
RE: Support 75A: SANTA ANA UNITED METHODIST CHURCH PROJECT
Dear Mayor and Councilmembers,
The Kennedy Commission proudly supports the National Community Renaissance (National CORE) and
Santa Ana United Methodist Church's affordable housing project, Legacy Square. The Kennedy
Commission is a broad based coalition of residents and community organizations that advocates for the
production of homes affordable for families earning less than $20,000 annually in Orange County. Formed
in 2001, the Commission has been successful in partnering and working with jurisdictions in Orange
County to create effective policies that has led to the new construction of homes affordable to lower
income working families.
Ranked among the top ten least affordable metropolitan areas in the country, Orange County is suffering
from an affordable housing crisis. The Kennedy Commission supported the City of Santa Ana's Housing
Opportunities Ordinance, which applies to residential developments that request discretionary approval
and requires 15 percent of new homes to be affordable for low and very low-income households. As such,
we support National CORE's Legacy Square project, which will include affordable housing and permanent
supportive housing in the Lacy neighborhood.
Community engagement has been a cornerstone of this project. National Core and Santa Ana United
Methodist Church engaged with Vecindario Lacy en Accion (VeLA), a grass-roots community group of
Santa Ana residents who live in the Legacy Square project neighborhood, who has organized to improve
the quality and availability of affordable housing in the area. Over the past few months, the Development
team has facilitated discussions and provided opportunities to learn about Legacy Square at regularly
scheduled VeLA meetings and has used feedback to influence the development of the Project.
Specifically, VeLA advocated for additional and deeper affordability for the housing units in the project to
better meet the needs of the families that are struggling to stay in Santa Ana. The community
engagement events held for the Project have allowed the design to evolve into an entirely affordable
project, with additional 2- and 3 -units for low-income families as well as mobility and transit
improvements that will help students travel safely to school. Community residents have also agreed
to advise the Development team to establish a Marketing Plan that will provide priority placement
to local, low-income Santa Ana residents at Legacy Square.
National CORE and Santa Ana United Methodist Church have engaged with community residents from
the initiation of this project to ensure the development will serve as an asset to the community. This
development will fold into this community beautifully. The Lacy neighborhood will have a new SAUSD
Wellness Center and a new city park by the year 2020. The park at the intersection of 6th and Lacy will be
a five-minute walk from the Legacy Square development and have play equipment, skate elements, and
open space to serve the Lacy neighborhood families. The SAUSD Wellness Center will provide free
programming tailored to the needs and interests of the neighborhood families. Legacy Square will
provide families with affordable housing that will allow them to remain in this neighborhood and
reap the benefits of the new SAUSD Wellness Center and the new city park.
National CORE has developed a project that truly reflects the needs of the neighborhood community the
affordable housing development will serve. More affordable housing is desperately needed in Santa Ana,
and we look forward to the project's implementation. We ask you to support Santa Ana residents by
voting to adopt the Mitigated Negative Declaration Resolution, adopt a Resolution supporting
National CORE's submittal of an application for the Affordable Housing and Sustainable
Communities Program, and approve the Density Bonus Agreement.
Sincerely,
i
/ fd
Cesar Covarrubias
Executive Director
Working for systemic change resulting in the production of homes affordable to Orange County's extremely low-income households
Orozco, Norma
From: Vecindario Lacy <
Sent: Tuesday, February 05, 2019 10:35 AM
To: eComment; Huizar, Maria
Subject: Tema 75A:
Attachments: VeLA - Legacy Square Letter of Support.pdf
Por favor confirme que se recibio esta carta.
Gracias
- VeLA
11
February 5, 2019
Mayor Pulido and City Councilmembers
City of Santa Ana
20 Civic Center Plaza
P.O. Bo 1988, M31
Santa Ana,CA 92701
RE: Support 80A: Santa Ana United Methodist Church project
Dear Mayor and Councilmembers,
Vecindario Lacy en Accion (VeLA) is a group of residents from the Lacy neighborhood that
have united to advocate for their community. The group includes: mothers, fathers, students,
individuals with special abilities and community leaders that share the vision of improving the
quality of life in their neighborhood and the city of Santa Ana. All with the purpose of creating
more opportunities for families to succeed. We request that you support the Santa Ana
United Methodist Church project. This project will benefit our neighborhood and the City
of Santa Ana as a whole by providing dignified and affordable housing.
Community engagement has been a cornerstone of this project. National Core and Santa Ana
United Methodist Church engaged with Vecindario Lacy en Accion (VeLA), a grass-roots
community group of Santa Ana residents who live in the Legacy Square project neighborhood,
who has organized to improve the quality and availability of affordable housing in the area.
Over the past few months, the Development team has facilitated discussions and provided
opportunities to learn about Legacy Square at our regularly scheduled VeLA meetings and has
used feedback to influence the development of the Project. Specifically, VeLA advocated for
additional and deeper affordability for the housing units in the project to better meet the needs of
the families that are struggling to stay in Santa Ana. The community engagement events held
for the Project have allowed the design to evolve into an entirely affordable project, with
additional 2- and 3 -units for low-income families as well as mobility and transit
improvements that will help students travel safely to school. Community residents have
also agreed to advise the Development team to establish a Marketing Plan that will provide
priority placement to local, low-income Santa Ana residents at Legacy Square.
National CORE and Santa Ana United Methodist Church have engaged with community
residents from the initiation of this project to ensure the development will serve as an asset to the
community. This development will fold into this community beautifully. The Lacy
neighborhood will have a new SAUSD Wellness Center and a new city park by the year 2020.
The park at the intersection of 6th and Lacy will be a five minute walk from the Legacy Square
development and have play equipment, skate elements, and open space to serve the Lacy
neighborhood families. The SAUSD Wellness Center will provide free programming tailored to
the needs and interests of the neighborhood families. Legacy Square will provide families with
affordable housing that will allow them to remain in this neighborhood and reap the
benefits of the new SAUSD Wellness Center and the new city park.
National CORL has developed a project that truly reflects the needs of the neighborhood
community the affordable housing development will serve. More affordable housing is
desperately needed in Santa Ana, and we look forward to the project's implementation. We ask
you to support Santa Ana our students and families by voting to adopt the Mitigated
Negative Declaration Resolution, adopt a Resolution supporting National CORE's
submittal of an application for the Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities
Program, and approve the Density Bonus Agreement.
Sincerely,
Vecindario Lacy en Acci6n (VeLA)
Orozco, Norma
From: NinaK831 <
Sent: Tuesday, February 05, 2019 1:03 PM
To: eComment
Subject: Density Bonus Agreement No. 2018-01 (Legacy Square Project)
To the Honorable Mayor Pulido and Distinguished Council Members;
Greetings!. My name is Nina Khiv and I am writing to you to express my support for the Legacy Square project
for the city of Santa Ana and implore you that you support the Density Bonus Agreement No. 2018-01 for this
construction.
Santa Ana has been part of my journey as an immigrant here in the United States. I first resided in Santa Ana
when I was 15. I went to Valley High School as a junior in high school and I graduated last year with my
Associates Degree in Sociology from Santa Ana College. I work for the church and have spent a couple of years
in our downtown site as the Church Secretary. Now I continue to work my ministry through children as
the Nursery Director of Santa Ana UMC. Santa Ana is one of the cities that welcomed me when I first came
here in this country and truly it will hold a place in my heart.
We are all aware of the scarcity of affordable housing in the city, not only in Santa Ana, but the whole county. I,
myself have been in the affordable housing program for the past 7 years. Up until June of last year our family of
5 have been living in a one bedroom apartment. It was only about 6 months ago that my family was approved to
move in a more adequate living space for our family size, still within the affordable housing program . This
process and wait took 4 years to happen. And if you call the communities this is the typical wait, if not, even
more, That is because there's not enough affordable communities available for everyone.
It is very heartbreaking and almost discouraging to think that as parents we could not provide adequate living
conditions to our children, but the rising cost of rents outmatches the wages that hard workers like my husband
and I earn. And I know for a fact that there's a lot of family out there like mines that are truly trying their best to
have a better life, better living conditions. Parents like myself who just want to give their children the best life
they could have but we lack the opportunity, and opportunity is what we need more of. But with this project,
we can give families that opportunity, it might not be a 1000, or 100 families but there 92 families that can have
that opportunity to be able to have a roof over their heads that doesn't burn their monthly paychecks, adequate
and safe living environment for children, programs that contribute to the communities. This will be the legacy
that the history of this church building will continue to be known for.
Please help us to continue serving the city of Santa Ana by supporting this affordable housing project and the
Density Bonus Agreement.
Sincerely,
Nina Khiv
�0
Orozco, Norma
From:
Cassius Anton Rutherford <
Sent:
Tuesday, February 05, 2019 1:32 PM
To:
City Council; Pulido, Miguel; Sarmiento, Vicente; Penaloza, David; Solorio, Jose; Reyna,
Roman; Villegas, Juan; Iglesias, Cecilia; eComment
Subject:
Fwd: For Immediate Release: ASUCI Issues Strong Pro -Housing Resolution Targeting
Lawmakers
Dear Hon. Mayor Pulido & Hon. Council Members,
On behalf of over 28,000 undergraduate students at the University of California, Irvine, the Associated Students
of UCI has adopted a formal resolution urging lawmakers across Orange County to approve additional housing
types in response to the acute regional housing crisis affecting our generation.
In accordance with the Associated Students of UC Irvine's support for additional housing, we wholeheartedly
urge the Santa Ana City Council to approve several important housing projects on tonight's city council
agenda.
We urge your approval of agenda items 75A (project located at 609 North Spurgeon St.), 75B (project located at
805-904 South Minnie St.), and 75E (Project located at 2525 North Main St.). Each of these projects increases
the supply of critically important housing types needed to stem the shortage of housing for Orange County's
working families.
Please see the included release outlining ASUCI's position in addition to the broad coalition forming among
different groups to support additional housing development.
Sincerely,
Cassius Rutherford
President's Chief of Staff
Associated Students of the University of California, Irvine
---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Associated Students of UC Irvine <
Subject: For Immediate Release: ASUCI Issues Strong Pro -Housing Resolution Targeting Lawmakers
M
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 15, 2019
Contact: Cassius Rutherford
951 - 265 - 0461
Associated Students of UC Irvine Issue Strong
Pro -Housing Resolution Targeting Lawmakers
TUESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2018 -- The Senate of the Associated Students of the University of
California, Irvine (ASUCI) voted on behalf of the undergraduate student body at UC Irvine to issue a
strong pro -housing resolution. ASUCI calls on local lawmakers to approve additional housing types,
in particular housing for low-income and homeless populations, walkable or transit -oriented
development, and increasing density.
ASUCI's new policy position echoes the similar pro -housing policy resolutions passed by the
Angeles Sierra Club Chapter's Orange County Conservation Committee, the Orange County Board
of Supervisors, and the Democratic Party of Orange County. ASUCI's position also aligns with the
advocacy of People for Housing Orange County, a non-profit group which has been pushing for
additional housing in municipalities across the county. Students, working families, and community
leaders from every corner of Orange County have banded together and passed strong resolutions
urging lawmakers to approve the affordable and middle class housing we need.
People of all ages and backgrounds are saying "Yes In My Backyard" to more housing to meet the
existing need and the future housing demand in response to California's housing crisis. UCI
graduates and young professionals are struggling to gain a foothold in Orange County's expensive
housing market, and we need local lawmakers to step it up. ASUCI's pro -housing policy position is
2
now the official platform of UCI's undergraduate student government issued on behalf of
nearly 28,000 undergraduate students.
"ASUCI is proud to take a strong stance in response to Orange County's housing crisis", said
Cassius Rutherford, the ASUCI President's Chief of Staff. "Students at UCI are tired of being
marginalized in Orange County's expensive housing market, where the limited supply of on -campus
housing forces commuters to travel long distances from affordable communities. Graduates and
young professionals are being pushed out of Orange County by a serious housing shortage, in
particular the limited supply of low- and moderate -income housing. We urge lawmakers at all levels
to step up and tackle our housing crisis. Residents from all walks of life will stand with you."
Supporting links:
1. ASUCI Senate Legislation R54-40: In Support of Additional Housing
2. Sierra Club Angeles Chapter, Orange County Conservation Committee Housing Resolution
3. Orange County Board of Supervisors Declaration on Housing
4. Democratic Party of Orange County Resolution in Support of More Housing
5. People for Housing Orange County: Political Leaders are Stepping Up (Voice of OC)
For questions or more inforrnation, please contact the following contributors:
Annie Le, ASUCI President
(
® Cassius Rutherford, ASUCI President's Chief of Staff
(
Kenneth Stahl, Professor & Director at Chapman Law School's Environmental Land Use and Real
Estate Law Program
(
• Elizabeth Hansburg, People for Housing Orange County Director(
• Raymond Hiemstra, Sierra Club Orange County Conservation Committee Chair
(
• Chris Gaarder, Policy Advisor to Orange County Supervisor Andrew Do
(
This email was sent to
why did I get this? unsubscribe from this list update subscription preferences
Associated Students of UC Irvine Office of the President
Mitre -Ramirez, Norma
From: Gina Scott <
Sent: Tuesday, February 5, 2019 2:23 PM
To: Huizar, Maria; eComment
Subject: Item 754A: Legacy Square Comments in Support
Good Evening, Mayor and Council. My name is Gina Scott and I have been a resident of Orange
County for nearly 51 years and a Santa Ana resident for almost 2 years. My husband and I own a
home in the Historic French Park Neighborhood and I'm here to express my support for the
Legacy Square project.
With rising housing prices and continued "Not in my backyard" attitudes, it is critical that work be
done to meet the need for more housing in all neighborhoods - not only throughout our city, but
the county as well.
We were one of the lucky ones who could purchase a home in this diverse community and one of
its charms was the mix of historic homes, new homes and apartments. To us, there was
somewhere for everyone to live and I have been proud to call Santa Ana my home for this very
reason. I walk these streets every morning and the sense of community that is felt goes beyond
incomes levels.
The work that is being proposed by the partners (Mercy House, National CORE and Santa Ana
United Methodist Church) goes beyond just building new homes for much needed families in our
community. The property design is beautiful and will not only enhance the neighborhood
aesthetically, but will show that we as a community are not afraid to build what is needed —
housing so our neighbors can afford to live and work here.
Mercy House is an amazing nonprofit, that have been extraordinary neighbors in the French Park
neighborhood for nearly 20 years. National CORE is one of the best affordable housing
developers you could ask for and I could not be more excited to have these two as partners for
this development.
As I understand it, the neighborhood will benefit from improvements that include:
Installing Lighting around Garfield elementary school
Repairing sidewalks and curbs
Installation of bus shelters
Installation of bike lanes along Civic Center Dr
Creating a pocket park and much more
t
These improvements will help promote physical activity through walking and biking and will benefit
the entire community not just residents that will live in the proposed development. As a
homeowner, I see this as only increasing the value of where we live and I applaud the developers
for designing such an amazing space.
Affordable housing is critical to the housing continuum, it allows me and others to stay housed
and not live on the streets because of affordability. As I walk my neighborhood each morning, I
am reminded of the less fortunate that live here. They walk by me with their heads down, duck into
alleys and sleep on the benches in French Park. The Legacy Square development and any
housing development that you approve will help alleviate the crisis of homelessness and ensure
we are caring for our neighbors by providing them with an affordable a roof over their head.
To me, it's simply our responsibility as a society to do what we can, look past the not in my
backyard voices that are often louder than those who would welcome and embrace diverse
neighbors, because every soul deserves a place to live.
Thank you for your time and consideration to approve this item.
Gina and Michael Scott
Have a wonderful day,
Gina Scott
2
Mitre -Ramirez, Norma
From: Ruben Barreto (SABHC) <ruben.barreto@sa-bhc.org>
Sent: Tuesday, February 5, 2019 2:51 PM
To: eComment; Huizar, Maria
Subject: Letter of Support - Legacy Square
Attachments: 75A Legacy Square - Letter of Support.pdf
Please find attached a letter of support for Agenda Item 75A Legacy Square
Best,
Ruben A Barreto
Communications Director
Santa Ana Building Healthy Communities
1505 E 17t' St, Suite 117
Santa Ana, CA 92705
www.sa-bhc.org
I5
February 5, 2019
Mayor Pulido and City Councilmembers
City of Santa Ana
20 Civic Center Plaza
P.O. Bo 1988, M31
Santa Ana, CA 92701
RE: Support 75A: SANTA ANA UNITED METHODIST CHURCH PROJECT
The Santa Ana Building Healthy Communities (SABHC) proudly supports the National
Community Renaissance (National CORE) and Santa Ana United Methodist Church's affordable
housing project, Legacy Square. Santa Ana Building Healthy Communities (SABHC) is
committed to addressing health inequities and improving opportunities for a healthy, thriving
Santa Ana. SABHC understands that health is directly shaped by the circumstances in which
people are born, raised, live, and work. Improving these circumstances is a collective
responsibility and one that must be led by those directly affected.
Ranked among the top ten least affordable metropolitan areas in the country, Orange County is
suffering from an affordable housing crisis. Santa Ana Building Healthy Communities
(SABHC) supported the City of Santa Ana's Housing Opportunities Ordinance, which applies to
residential developments that request discretionary approval and requires 15 percent of new
homes to be affordable for low and very low-income households. As such, we support National
CORE's Legacy Square project, which will include affordable housing and permanent supportive
housing in the Lacy neighborhood.
Community engagement has been a cornerstone of this project. National Core and Santa Ana
United Methodist Church engaged with Vecindario Lacy en Accion (VeLA), a grass-roots
community group of Santa Ana residents who live in the Legacy Square project neighborhood,
who has organized to improve the quality and availability of affordable housing in the area. Over
the past few months, the Development team has facilitated discussions and provided opportunities
to learn about Legacy Square at regularly scheduled VeLA meetings and has used feedback to
influence the development of the Project. Specifically, VeLA advocated for additional and deeper
affordability for the housing units in the project to better meet the needs of the families that are
struggling to stay in Santa Ana. The community engagement events held for the Project have
allowed the design to evolve into an entirely affordable project, with additional 2- and 3 -
units for low-income families as well as mobility and transit improvements that will help
students travel safely to school. Community residents have also agreed to advise the
Development team to establish a Marketing Plan that will provide priority placement to
local, low-income Santa Ana residents at Legacy Square.
National CORE and Santa Ana United Methodist Church have engaged with community
residents from the initiation of this project to ensure the development will serve as an asset to the
community. This development will fold into this community beautifully. The Lacy
neighborhood will have a new SAUSD Wellness Center and a new city park by the year 2020.
The park at the intersection of 6th and Lacy will be a five-minute walk from the Legacy Square
development and have play equipment, skate elements, and open space to serve the Lacy
neighborhood families. The SAUSD Wellness Center will provide free programming tailored to
the needs and interests of the neighborhood families. Legacy Square will provide families with
affordable housing that will allow them to remain in this neighborhood and reap the
benefits of the new SAUSD Wellness Center and the new city park.
National CORE has developed a project that truly reflects the needs of the neighborhood
community the affordable housing development will serve. More affordable housing is
desperately needed in Santa Ana, and we look forward to the project's implementation. We ask
you to support Santa Ana residents by voting to adopt the Mitigated Negative Declaration
Resolution, adopt a Resolution supporting National CORE's submittal of an application
for the Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities Program, and approve the
Density Bonus Agreement.
Sincerely,
Santa Ana Building Healthy Communities
Board Committee
4.50 West Fourth Street
Suite 130
Santa Ana, CA 92701
Ph: 714-542-7792
Fax: 714.542.4853
latinoheolthaccess.org
4 PREVENTION
February 5, 2019
Mayor Pulido and City Councilmembers
City of Santa Ana
20 Civic Center Plaza
P.O. Bo 1988, M31
Santa Ana,CA 92701
RE: Support 75A: SANTA ANA UNITED METHODIST CHURCH PROJECT
Latino Health Access (LHA) proudly supports the National Community Renaissance
(National CORE) and Santa Ana United Methodist Church's affordable housing project,
Legacy Square. L14A is a community-based organization that partners with communities to
bring health, equity and sustainable change through education, services, consciousness -raising
and civic participation. Our mission has two areas of focus:
1) to deliver culturally appropriate health-related services and programming to
address urgent health concerns; and
2) to engage individuals in low-income, low opportunity areas in transforming their
environments and creating positive, concrete changes in their homes and communities
by providing tools, training, and mechanisms for civic engagement and participation.
Ranked among the top ten least affordable metropolitan areas in the country, Orange County
is suffering from an affordable housing crisis. LHA supported the City of Santa Ana's
Housing Opportunities Ordinance, which applies to residential developments that request
discretionary approval and requires 15 percent of new homes to be affordable for low and
very low-income households. As such, we support National CORE's Legacy Square project,
which will include affordable housing and permanent supportive housing in the Lacy
neighborhood.
Community engagement has been a cornerstone of this project. Over the years LIRA has been
present in the Lacy neighborhood and partnered with Kennedy Commission to engage
residents in Vecindario Lacy en Action (VeLA). National Core and Santa Ana United
Methodist Church engaged with VeLA, a grass-roots community group of Santa Ana
residents who live in the Legacy Square project neighborhood, who has organized to improve
the quality and availability of affordable housing in the area. Over the past few months, the
Development team has facilitated discussions and provided opportunities to learn about
Legacy Square at regularly scheduled VeLA meetings and has used feedback to influence the
development of the Project. Specifically, VeLA advocated for additional and deeper
affordability for the housing units in the project to better meet the needs of the families that
are struggling to stay in Santa Ana. The community engagement events held for the
Project have allowed the design to evolve into an entirely affordable project, with
additional 2- and 3 -units for low-income families as well as mobility and transit
improvements that will help students travel safely to school, Community residents have
also agreed to advise the Development team to establish a Marketing Plan that will
provide priority placement to local, low-lacome Santa Ana residents at Legacy Square,
National CORE and Santa Ana United Methodist Church have engaged with community
residents from the initiation of this project to ensure the development will serve as an asset to
the community. This development will fold into this community beautifully. The Lacy
neighborhood will have a new SAUSD Wellness Center and a new city park by the year 2020.
EDUCATION •
450 West Fourth Street
Suite 130
Santa Ana, CA 92701
Ph: 714-542-7792
Fax: 714-542.4853
lati nohealthoccess.org
The park at the intersection of 6th and Lacy will be a five minute walk from the Legacy
Square development and have play equipment, skate elements, and open space to serve the
Lacy neighborhood families. The SAUSD Wellness Center will provide free programming
tailored to the needs and interests of the neighborhood families. Legacy Square will provide
families with affordable housing that will allow them to remain in this neighborhood and
reap the benefits of the new SAUSD Wellness Center and the new city park.
National CORE has developed a project that truly reflects the needs of the neighborhood
community the affordable housing development will serve. More affordable housing is
desperately needed in Santa Ana, and we look forward to the project's implementation. We
ask you to support Santa Ana residents by voting to adopt the Mitigated Negative
Declaration Resolution, adopt a Resolution supporting National CORE's submittal of an
application for the Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities Program, and
approve the Density Bonus Agreement.
Sincerely,
Nancy Mejia, MPH, MSW
Director of Community Engagement and Advocacy Programs
run is Qlatmohealthaocess.ortt
714-542-7792 ext 1021
Sincerely,
PREVENTION EDUCATION (ACTION