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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2016-07-14; Housing Commission; MinutesMinutes of: Time of Meeting: Date of Meeting: Place of Meeting: CALL TO ORDER HOUSING COMMISSION 6:00 P.M. JULY 14, 2016 COUNCIL CHAMBERS Chairperson Igoe called the Meeting to order at 6:02 p.m. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Commissioner Newman led with the Pledge of Allegiance. ROLL CALL Present: Absent: Staff Present: Commissioners: Susan Igoe, Chairperson Arline Carrillo Joy Evans Alan Newman Shaunee Williams Housing & Neighborhood Services Director: Debbie Fountain Affirmative Housing: APPROVAL OF MINUTES Sydney Cordova Lindsay Quackenbush Minutes of March 10, 2016, were approved as written. ITEM NOT ON AGENDA There were no items not on the agenda. NEW BUSINESS Debbie Fountain, Director of Housing & Neighborhood Services, said the Housing Commission has before them a request from Affirmed Housing for $4,250,000, which will come from the Housing Trust Fund. The proposal is for the construction of two sites, a 50 unit affordable apartment development for homeless veterans. These will be one, two and three bedroom units for veterans and their families. Both developments will have case managers on site. The rental rates for the units will vary from 30 to 60% of the AMI, renting between $445 to $1,230 a month. Affirmed Housing will develop, own and operate the two veteran affordable housing developments. They are experienced and have been recognized with their expertise in developing high-quality affordable apartment communities within San Diego County. Ms. Fountain explained the financial request to the Housing Commission. HOUSING COMMISSION MINUTES July 14, 2016 PAGE 2 of 4 The developer, Sydney Cordova, with Affirmed Housing explained they are a for-profit family owned development. They have been in business for over 20 years and have built 33 projects. They currently are also working on four more developments. This development is a scattered site, two stories over one-story podium about 35 feet. It will have studios, one-, two-and three-bedroom apartments. Twenty-five studios will be for our homeless veterans. These units will be close to transportation and shopping. There will be dedicated case managers as well as a property manager at each location. Commissioner Carrillo asked if they have done veteran housing before. Ms. Cordova said yes, they do have one in Los Angeles. Mr. Lindsay Quackenbush said Vermont Villa was opened last year with 79 units conceived as a senior development, and then was funded into veterans housing. Commissioner Newman said it was indicated that Affirmative Housing was partnering with a group, case management? Ms. Cordova answered, we will provide the services and a separate manager to manage the property. Commissioner Newman why are the sites split? Ms. Cordova said because that was what was available. Mr. Quackenbush said it is hard to have only one site. Commissioner Carrillo commented that she imagines the internal design is different for veterans. Ms. Cordova answered that it will be ADA. Mr. Quackenbush said that with the code today all units are ADA adaptable. With the veteran population, there are more completely built out ADA. Commissioner Evans said she has a brother who is disabled. How are you going to reach these veterans to let them know about the development? Ms. Cordova said the service providers have strategies. Many times they will work with the VA. There are service providers that will branch out to other cities and even go to the streets to find them. Commissioner Newman commented that unfortunately, you will not have a problem finding them. In the soft costs you have $7,000,000; that leaves $3,000,000, is that permits and hookups? Ms. Cordova answered yes, architecture and engineering fees. Commissioner Newman mentioned that impact fees are separate. Am I looking at that right? Ms. Cordova said the impact fees are included in the soft costs. HOUSING COMMISSION MINUTES July 14, 2016 PAGE 3 of 4 Ms. Fountain said in the Commissioner's packets they have a proforma. Ms. Fountain summarized what was in there. The land costs were pulled out, the direct construction fees, the impact fees, what is left of general construction interest fees or taxes and insurance escrow and title legal fees. These types of projects usually have soft costs that do not fit into the other categories. Commissioner Newman said he asks because he is curious. Small things can add up to a lot of money. Ms. Fountain said that is a good point. In the past, developers have asked the city to waive their fees. The general policy is we do not waive fees. Commissioner Newman asked how does the case management costs get paid? Ms. Cordova answered that is another budget expense line item. Commissioner Newman asked if there are other programs that help pay for that like a VA program. Ms. Cordova said in this case we do apply for VA funding. Commissioner Newman asked if there was continuing funding. Ms. Cordova answered the service provider does look for grants and other opportunities. Chairperson Igoe commented that she is grateful they have found this project. What is the impact on the neighborhoods in the past with a special needs development in the community? Ms. Cordova commented that particularly for veterans, it is a very close knit community. That means that coming in off the streets is a difficult transition for them to leave their friends on the street. With our development in Los Angeles, we have had a bit of a turn over. Mr. Quackenbush said we progressed from family housing to affordable housing and then got used to educating communities. As we moved into special needs, we have reached another level of resistance. You need to rethink that this is not the person with the shopping cart, they do have housing. You do get some resistance from the community about the people who will be living there. The building itself is an asset to the neighborhood as it will not deteriorate. We have designed buildings with a lot of open space. Our close management of the population group means you assimilate people into the neighborhood. Commissioner Carrillo commented that she feels you will have minimal problems. Chairperson Igoe said it was an excellent presentation. Sorry the site has to be split up, but it does have a sense of community. Commissioner Carrillo said she is not clear as to where it is. Commissioner Newman said against the freeway. Ms. Fountain explained the location and said it has an application sign on the lot. HOUSING COMMISSION MINUTES July 14, 2016 PAGE 4 of 4 Commissioner Igoe commented that she likes the exterior design on the Harding property, well done. I would like to close with a comment about parking. We hope you are able to maintain the amount of parking you currently have with the plan. Ms. Fountain said her recommendation to the Housing Commission is to make a recommendation to the City Council. Chairperson Igoe recommends approval to the City Council of $4,250,000 in financial cash assistance from the Carlsbad Housing Trust Fund to Affirmed Housing Corporation for construction of fifty affordable apartment homes for homeless veterans and lower income veterans and their families on scattered sites in the northwest quadrant of the City of Carlsbad. Commissioner Carrillo seconded. VOTE: AYES: NOES: ABSTAIN: ABSENT: 4-0 Carrillo, Evans, Igoe, and Newman None None Williams Ms. Fountain gave a presentation on Affordable Housing to the Housing Commission The Housing Commission for July 14, 2016, was adjourned at 7:20 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Deborah Fountain Housing & Neighborhood Services Director PATRICIA CRESCENTI, Minutes Clerk MINUTES ARE ALSO TAPED AND KEPT ON FILE UNTIL THE WRITIEN MINUTES ARE APPROVED.