Council Considers Affordable Family Housing
DUARTE, CA September 7, 2011 - The Duarte City Council at its August 23rd meeting approved the Disposition and Development Agreement and first of two readings on ordinances for a new affordable rental housing development tailored to meet the living needs of Duarte families. The 66-unit, 2.3 acre entitled “Duarte Oaks” proposed by Abode Communities, state of the art in Duarte, features a sustainable “green” design
and cutting edge residential and youth services including a computer lab, an edible garden, picnic and BBQ areas, free Wi-Fi, homework assistance and a children’s playground. In addition, the landscape will preserve four of the six original oak trees on the property. This matter will be heard again before the City Council at an upcoming meeting.
The development will provide families with limited annual incomes new living possibilities within the community. For example, a four-person household with an annual income ranging from $25,620 to $49,550 would meet the income requirements. Duarte’s major employers in the retail, health and government sectors will now have a great local option for their workforces. Monthly rents will range from $576 to $961 for two bedroom units to $666 to $1,100 for three bedroom units.
The City of Duarte has participated in similar successful affordable housing projects in the past, working with Southern California Presbyterian Homes on its 80 unit Andres Duarte Terrace that has already been completed and the soon to be built Andres Duarte Terrace West project approved for the southeast corner of Huntington Drive and Pops Road. Prior to Council consideration of this endeavor, the project was discussed at three City Council and Planning Commission meetings over the past nine months. Abode Communities also organized a well-attended neighborhood meeting on July 7, 2011.
The main source of funding for the project is low-income housing tax credits. The Developer will obtain these through a State program that promotes capital investment in return for tax credits. The Developer has also applied for funding from the State of California Multiple Housing Program (MHP) fund; a State program that provides assistance for lower income residential developments. This MHP application was submitted in late August. The Developer will also apply for County funding through its Industry Fund program. Finally, the City’s Housing Authority will provide up to $4,415,734 in assistance along with its land contribution.
Duarte, like all California cities, is required to address housing needs in its community for all levels of income. This property is one of four sites identified in the City’s General Plan Housing Element to address the City’s affordable housing shortfall. The units proposed for this development would contribute toward the City’s unmet affordable housing needs as required under the City’s State mandated, Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA). In addition to the regional housing needs requirements, the City must also provide funding for affordable housing as a part of its redevelopment requirements. Specifically, for all redevelopment funds that are collected, 20% of the funds must be set-aside for affordable housing and spent within a time specific framework.
Abode Communities (originally Los Angeles Community Design Center) has been in business since 1968 and has built and still owns many housing developments throughout Southern California. Abode is an award winning developer whose list of awards includes recognition from: the American Planning Association, California Redevelopment Agency and the Southern California Associate of Non-Profit Housing. Abode also prides itself on its conducting of thorough reviews of all applicants for its housing units including background checks and contacting references. Every tenant in the development over the age of 18 must sign the lease and is held accountable to its provisions. A full time on-site manager that lives at the property is responsible for property and resident management. For additional information on this project, please contact the City’s Community Development Department at 626 357-7931.
