Countywide : Affordable Housing Projects Advance

The Board of Supervisors took more steps this week to deal with the shortage of affordable housing in Orange County, moving forward on projects in Santa Ana Heights and Stanton.

Capping an unprecedented seven-month design competition known as “Breaking New Ground,” the board approved a development team Tuesday for an apartment complex project in Santa Ana Heights.

The county, acting as the Orange County Development Agency, originally received 21 proposals for its 3.1-acre parcel in the Santa Ana Heights Redevelopment Project Area.

“We were fortunate to have three excellent development proposals and the final decision was difficult,” Supervisor Thomas F. Riley said in a statement announcing the competition winner.

The winning $7.7-million proposal, excluding land costs, includes 75 units with two to four bedrooms, two pools, two playgrounds, a community room, victory garden, picnic tables and a motorized vehicular gate. The county agency will contribute about $1.8 million toward the project, officials said.

The project, which will serve families with annual incomes between $20,000 and $34,000, will be planned and built under an agreement between the development team and OCDA. Construction should take from 12 to 18 months and will start late this year or early next year.

Three proposals were selected as finalists for that project, with the winning proposal composed of the following: W.F.A. Inc. of Newport Beach, Akins Communities of Irvine, Partnership Housing Corp. of Santa Ana and J&M; Realty Co. of Fountain Valley. The alternate team selected includes L.C. Major & Associates, Kathryn G. Thompson Construction and Related Companies of California.

The design competition allowed developers to offer more creative projects than the usual process containing more rigid development requirements, officials said.

In other action, the board unanimously approved a new financing package involving the proposed Park Stanton affordable housing project for senior citizens.

Financial backing for the 335-unit project had been a matter of concern for county officials since July, 1990, when the Orange County Housing Authority lent the developer, JAN Development Co., $1 million. The project has been granted numerous extensions through the years.

“Everything is back on track so far,” said Bob Pusavat, county director of housing and redevelopment.