NORTH HILLS : Panel Gives OK to Project’s Zone Change

A North Hills housing development for senior citizens and low-income families moved one step closer to reality Tuesday when a Los Angeles City Council committee approved a needed zone change.

The action by the council’s Planning and Land Use Management committee marks the second time in less than a week that city officials have voiced support for the $4.25-million project, which would be built in a vacant lot on Parthenia Street by the nonprofit Los Angeles Community Design Center.

“It’s an outstanding project,” said City Councilman Joel Wachs, who represents the area. “Children need older people to act as surrogate grandparents and seniors need young people to interact with.”

The full City Council will consider the change within the next few weeks, city officials said.

On Friday, the City Council approved $1.6 million in loans for the 25-unit affordable housing apartment complex, which also includes a child-care center. The loans include a $700,000 two-year loan and a $900,000 40-year loan, city officials said.

Other funding includes long-term loans of $1.88 million from the state’s Family Housing Demonstration Project and $1.4 million from the California Equity Fund, an investment group. The state loan, when received, will be used to pay off the $700,000 city loan.

The complex is the first such venture by the nonprofit group into the San Fernando Valley, said Ann Sewill, the agency’s executive director. The group runs 24 other such low-cost housing projects in Los Angeles County.

Low-income seniors will live in eight of the apartments, with the remaining units occupied by families who qualify for affordable housing. Seniors will also be encouraged to volunteer in the child-care center, which will be licensed for 36 children and be open to tenants and non-tenants.

“It’s designed so seniors could have privacy but not be isolated,” Sewill said. “They can go participate with the families if they want.”

Sewill said about 40 people have already expressed interest in the project, with construction expected to begin this summer. But not everyone in the community is supportive.

Tony Swan, president of the North Hills Community Coordinating Council, a non-governmental advisory group of business and community leaders, criticized the City Council for pouring money into new housing.

“There are so many vacant apartments in North Hills,” Swan said. “They should take the money to revitalize existing apartment buildings and provide more police officers.”