Countywide : County OKs 2 Loans for Public Housing

Two low-income-housing projects in Irvine and Fullerton won nearly $3 million in construction loans Tuesday from the County Board of Supervisors.

Without discussion, supervisors gave unanimous endorsements for both housing plans, which would provide a total of 328 units designed primarily for the county’s single, working-poor population.

Dhongchai (Bob) Pusavat, the county’s housing and redevelopment director, said the projects have the potential of aiding thousands of low-income residents in need of shelter over the next several decades.

Currently, 6,000 people are on the county’s list for housing assistance, and candidates must wait an average of four years for vacancies within the county public housing system. The Irvine and Fullerton plans are key to the county’s overall public housing strategy, which has seen the development of 1,400 units in the past three years, officials said.

For each of the projects, county funding was seen as especially critical because it sealed sensitive financing packages involving the private developers and participating cities.

“It would have been a deal breaker, had (the loans) not passed the board,” Pusavat said. “I’m confident that these (projects) will be there for a long time.”

The new complexes in Irvine and Fullerton will be operated like hotel-style efficiencies to house predominantly single people or married couples who earn less than half the county’s median income--less than $18,450 for individuals. Units are expected to rent for less than $400 a month in both cities.

In Fullerton, more than 300 people have expressed interest in the 136 units to be built at 224 E. Commonwealth Ave., city redevelopment administrator Ken O’Leary said.

“There is a very strong demand,” O’Leary said. “The developer is planning on doing everything it takes to open up within a year. This is really going faster than most projects.”

The $6.2-million Fullerton facility will be developed by Urban Communities/San Gabriel Partners of Costa Mesa. Under terms of the agreement, the county will lend $900,000 to the developer for construction.

The Irvine project calls for the construction of 192 units on a 2.4-acre site at Warner and Jamboree roads, next to the Tustin Marine Corps Air Station. Location of the facility in the city’s industrial district had been cause for some controversy, but city officials gave final approval to it in January.

The county will lend Irvine Inn developer Shawntana Management Corp. $2 million toward the total $9.7-million project cost.

In both Irvine and Fullerton, as in previous housing developments, the county has joined with cities and private firms to help pay for the facilities, some specifically designed for families, the elderly, physically disabled or single and married residents who cannot afford market-rate housing.

In those cases, the county has provided low-interest loans with terms of repayment deferred up to four years to help spur construction of low-income housing.