LA HABRA : Low-Income Housing Plan Draws Protest

Residents living near the site of proposed low-income apartments have told the City Council that they are upset that the complex would not be developed for senior citizen housing.

In a joint venture with the nonprofit La Habra Neighborhood Housing Services (NHS), the city plans to build a 12-unit apartment complex on the half-acre lot in the 600 block of East La Habra Boulevard.

But a group of senior citizens last Tuesday night rallied for senior housing. “If there are to be apartments there it should go to senior citizens,” said Dorothy Shanklin, who has owned a triplex next to the now vacant property for the past 24 years.

Others among the 10 residents in attendance also said they prefer senior housing.

Local businessman Rex Spraggins told the council that he “could not see how low-income housing will help current and new businesses in La Habra.”

But it is new businesses that are paying for the project from revenue that the city receives for new development. As part of a state mandate to increase the supply of low- and moderate-income housing, cities must use 20% of redevelopment funds to purchase land and construct below-market rentals.

“We wouldn’t have had this project if we hadn’t had redevelopment in this city,” Councilman John C. Holmberg said. “It may not be the best location, but the city is limited because we’re almost all developed.

According to the city report, the housing agency had considered developing the property into senior housing, but the Redevelopment Agency favored family housing.

The agency, which purchased the lot in 1988, will lease the land to NHS for 30 years. NHS expects to begin construction early this summer on the proposed two-story structures that will have four units each.

The council is scheduled to make its final vote on the project at its next regular meeting Feb. 18.