THOUSAND OAKS : Habitat for Humanity to Be Deeded Land

Ventura County’s chapter of Habitat for Humanity will build its first home for a low-income family on Beall Street in central Thousand Oaks as the City Council has agreed to deed a vacant lot to the nonprofit group.

Despite objections from a half-dozen Beall Street residents, the council voted to sell the city-owned lot to the Thousand Oaks Redevelopment Agency for about $75,000. The Redevelopment Agency, which by law must devote one-fifth of its funds to affordable housing, will then turn around and deed the parcel to Habitat for Humanity.

As with other Habitat for Humanity projects nationwide, the Beall Street home will be built, in part, by the future owners.

The low-income family chosen to move in will be asked to contribute 500 hours of “sweat equity” to help construct the home. The family will also make monthly payments to Habitat for Humanity to cover the cost of building materials.

To ensure that the home remains occupied by a low-income family--with annual income of less than $44,000--the Redevelopment Agency has set out a strict set of conditions. If Habitat for Humanity violates any term of the agreement, the nonprofit group will be asked to pay the Redevelopment Agency for the Beall Street parcel, according to Olav Hassel, the city’s housing services manager.

Mayor Elois Zeanah cast the only vote against the deal. As chairwoman of the housing issues committee, she originally recommended that the council approve the arrangement. But she changed her mind after Beall Street residents complained that their neighborhood had no room for another house.