ORANGE : Complex May Be Getting Face-Lift

An apartment complex in need of repairs may be getting a $22-million make-over. The City Council is negotiating with Forest City Development in Los Angeles, which is buying the Villa Santiago apartments on Maple Avenue. The developer has requested that the city kick in $6 million in loans or grants for the renovation.

The developer plans to gut and rebuild the interiors of the buildings, add exterior stucco and construct a six-foot fence around the perimeter of the complex, Forest City Vice President Gregory M. Vilkin said.

About 40% of the complex’s 260 apartments would be kept at “affordable” rents of about $700 a month, while the rest would be $850 to $875, Vilkin said.

Some of the city’s money would be used to relocate more than 600 residents. Finance Director Ann Marie Gallant said the city has about $12 million in state funds that may only be spent on housing projects.

Council members said they were impressed with the renovation proposal but concerned about ongoing maintenance of the apartments after the work is done. “We want good information, and we want control,” Mayor Joanne Coontz said.

Councilman Fred L. Barrera said he wanted assurance that the relocation of current tenants, most of whom are Latino, would be handled sensitively.

“Are we going to get county activist groups after us?” Barrera asked. “I don’t want the city getting a black eye on this.”

Vilkin assured him that the city can hire a company to oversee that operation.

Forest City officials agreed to send financial proposals to city officials and said they hope to win final council approval by May or June.