Countywide : Plan for Low-Priced Housing Is Studied

A home builder is eyeing county-owned land in downtown Santa Ana as a potential site for apartments that would cater to the homeless and the working poor.

Bart Hansen, a partner in Shawntana Development Co., said his firm has held preliminary discussions with the county, which is considering a proposal to develop a small portion of county-owned land on Fruit Street in Santa Ana as a site for low-income housing.

The land is among 41 parcels the county is considering selling to the private sector as a way to generate money for the financially strapped county government.

Earlier this week, County Supervisor Roger R. Stanton asked county administrators to try to work out an agreement with the city of Santa Ana that would set aside some of the Fruit Street property for low-cost housing.

Stanton also suggested that the property be considered as a stop along a proposed 18-mile monorail route that would link the cities of central Orange County. The 17-acre site is next to the Regional Transportation Center on Santa Ana Boulevard, already a hub for trains and buses.

Most of the property is separated from a small parcel--about two acres--by Santa Ana Boulevard. It is the smaller portion the county is considering selling for development as single-room apartments, commonly referred to as “single-room occupancies,” or SROs.

“These are not flophouses,” said Kathleen Freed, an aide to Stanton. “These are for the working poor. They’re for the elderly on fixed income. . . . They’re for the working homeless.”

Earlier this year, Stanton and Santa Ana Mayor Daniel H. Young formed a task force of county and city officials to look at ways to deal with the area’s growing homeless population. As part of that effort, Stanton visited single-room apartment buildings in San Diego, which he said have been extremely successful.

The apartments cater to the poor by, among other things, forgoing security deposits or leases and renting single rooms to occupants who share common spaces, such as living rooms.

Such projects in San Diego have been profitable for developers, who have occupancy rates of above 90%, both private executives and public officials said. Developers get a wide range of incentives, from lower interest rates to lower utility hookup fees.

“The first step is for the county to buy into the program . . . to see it as a solution,” said developer Hansen. “We’re very interested in pursuing it. We see a big need in Orange County for affordable housing.

“These are good neighbors,” Hansen said. “They’re not fleabag hotels.”