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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCORRESPONDENCE- 80BDecember 20, 2016 City Council Meeting Correspondence 80 B/ HA 3 JOINT ITEM- CONDITIONAL LOAN COMMITMENT AND AWARD OF $6,195,000 OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING FUNDS TO AMCAL MULTI - HOUSING, INC. FOR THE 1ST ST. APARTMENTS PROJECT Date of Sender /Representative Agency Corresp. 1. 12/19/2016 Shakeel Syed, Executive Director 2. 12/19/2016 Ana Siria Urzua, Campaign Coordinator 3. 12/20/2016 Cesar Covarrubias, Executive Director I:I Age ndas12016 AgendaslExhibits 2016 Current Meeting12 01 6 - 12 - 2 0_E0ibits Correspondence BOB.docx OCCORD Building Healthy Communities The Kennedy Commission Alcala, Abigail From: Joese Hernandez <jhernandez @occord.org> Sent: Monday, December 19, 2016 6:08 PM To: eComment Cc: Gustavo De Hare; Shakeel Syed Subject: Letter of support for AMCAL 1st street project Attachments: Letter of support for AMCAL.pdf Dear councilmembers and staff, Please see attached letter of support for AMCAL. Best, JOESE HERNANDEZ Communications and Operations Coordinator Orange County Communities Organized for Responsible Development www.oceord.ora (714) 621 -0919 ext 18 1 g]OCCORD STRONG VOICE FOR A FAIR ECONOMY December 19, 2016 Mayor Miguel Pulido and Members of the City Council City of Santa Ana 20 Civic Center Plaza P.O. Box 1988, M31 Santa Ana, CA 92701 SUBJECT: First Street Apartments City Council Meeting, December 20, 2016 Dear Mayor Pulido and Members of the City Council: Orange County Communities Organized for Responsible Development (OCCORD) is well aware of AMCAL's affordable housing proposal located on First Street in the City of Santa Ana. We are writing to express our strong support for this type of housing which is needed now more than ever. OCCORD is a non - profit organization that has been working with low income families to organize and advocate for good jobs, strong neighborhoods and a better quality of life. Our organization works closely with residents throughout Santa Ana and there is a great need for affordable housing to address the current housing crisis in our City. We represent working families and immigrant communities that are in desperate need of decent, affordable housing. We are facing a housing affordability crisis in Santa Ana given the extremely high cost to rent, which is increasing each year, and home purchase prices that our residents can't afford. Because of skyrocketing rents and home prices, our families are forced to live in overcrowded housing and substandard housing conditions. Our families are extremely rent burdened, as most of their limited income (over 50 %) is used to pay for housing costs. We know firsthand the urgency and need for the type of housing that can be realized with First Street Apartments. We support AMCAL's proposal for several reasons. Given the housing crises, we need affordable housing to be developed now, in an expedite manner. AMCAL's proposal has already been approved by the City — unanimous approval from 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. The rental units, 100% affordable to households earning 30% and 60% of the Area Median Income (AMI), including 3 and 4 bedroom units for larger families, which is greatly needed in Santa Ana and virtually non - existent in the Santa Ana housing market. gJOCCORD STRONG VOICE FOR A FAIR ECONOMY First Street Apartments is also part of a key revitalization effort to develop residential uses along the First Street corridor -- an important gateway for the City of Santa Ana. Our local residents deserve to be a part of this gateway, like other recent market rate projects in our City. However, our residents can't afford to live in the new market rate housing found in Santa Ana. For example, at the Marke rents were marketed at $2,000 per month for a 1 bedroom and over $3,900 per month for a 3 bedroom, which is alarming and none of our families could even come close to afford. The market rents are similar at Nineteen 01, a luxury apartment community located down the street from First Street Apartments, where the rent for a two bedroom apartment ranges from $2,700 to $4,100 per month. AMCAL's proposal will provide greatly needed, high quality housing in an expedited manner and we ask for your support of this important development. Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions. Sincerely, Shakeel Syed Executive Director OCCORD Diecember 19, 2016 Dear Mayor and City Couum cff of Santa Ana, 150 Ell" % Suite IlIlt, Santa Ana„ CA 92705 M We hope this Ilettters finds you jinn hood (heal ib.. We are writing on beelhiallff of Santa Ana BuDdiing Healthy Communities (SABHC) on agenda Ron BOB fin support of AMCACs afkardablle housing proposal located on Furst Street in the City of Santa Ana. As you know, SAOHC its a Ila &Warr d miiriiatwen to improve conditions of health so that ail famnillies iin Santa Ana may thniiwe.. During this time period, and prior, we have identified that housing mess„ housing quality and housing security are key contributors to a heathy family and a healthy city.. With rents and cost of hiviing skyrocketing, now more than ever it is dmperaituve that our City support the production of affordable housing.. We support an accountable, transparent and participatory process for development to ensure that it provides direct benefit to immediate needs, and we need more leadership in this regard.. please note that (First Street Apartments was approved by the City Council as a companion project of the Heritage to satisfy an important community benefit. We urge for research and pmitemtdall amendments to the Housing Opportunities ordinance that establish clearer mechanisms for gunanciirug and decision making on affordable housing projects built with in- (lieu frees and not on -site. At the same time, we need housing that farmilliues can move into as soon as possible. We ffeell that AMCAI.°.s project will provide much needed housing wwhiiie we make improvements in city processes. We known that AMCAVs proposal has already" received unanimous approwall from the Planning Commission and City Counciit. It is a project that is shovel ready pending tax credit financing to break ground nest year.. As a result, it is on track to be built and financed within a IGmeframe that compliments the Heritage project„ an important goad at the outset to make sure the affordable housing is provided in an expedited manner. The rental unfits, Il affordable to households earning 30% and of than Area Median Income JAMIIl , including 3 and 44 bedroom units for (larger fairnfillies, which is greatly needed in Santa Ana and virtuaily non - existent do the Santa Ana housing market, We were happy to learn that (First Street fis also working to provide deeper affordability, with Y of the units affordable at 30% AMI, which is extremely low income and a signifk ant community benefit. AMCAVs proposal will provide greatly needed, hough quality howtsiing in an expedited manner and was ask for your support of this important development. Sincerely, Anna Srnoa Nrzaoa vpyl1Koppy Coorefinalor yfiv, 3dopl 9 Ana Deli ing ReahAry' C EUNARNflCBAg ifie3s Alcala, Abigail From: Mitre - Ramirez, Norma Sent: Tuesday, December 20, 2016 5:35 PM To: Alcala, Abigail Subject: FW: Support for Item 80B - First Street Apartments Attachments: KC support letter- item 801b 1220.pdf Follow Up Flag: Follow up Flag Status: Flagged Hello Abby, Another one to add. From: Ryan Esfahani [ mailto :ryane(a)kennedycommission.org] Sent: Tuesday, December 20, 2016 4:47 PM To: eComment Subject: Support for Item 80B - First Street Apartments Hello, Please file this letter of support for today's council meeting. Thank you very much. Best, Ryan Esfahani Ryan Esfahani The Kennedy Co=dssion 17701 Cowan Ave., Suite 200, Irvine, CA 92614 c: (714) 932 -2518 p:(949)250 -0909 f:(949)263 -0647 www.kemedycoinniission.orr 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. AMCAL's proposal will provide greatly needed, high quality affordable housing in Santa Ana and we ask for your support of this important development.