IRVINE : Council to Hear Critics of Low-Income Housing Plan

Council members will be asked tonight to block a housing project that opponents say unfairly concentrates low-income tenants in their neighborhood.

San Francisco-based Bridge Housing Corp. won Planning Commission approval in September to build 84 low-income apartments in eight buildings on a four-acre lot at Santa Alicia and Santa Clara streets.

Residents of the Westpark community say that 42% of the city’s low-income housing projects are within a mile of the proposed development.

Homeowner association representatives say their objection is not one of discrimination against low-income residents, but rather calls attention to poor planning.

Annual income limits for residents of the planned project would range from $16,000 to $34,000, with rents from $514 to $792 a month.

Councilwoman Christina L. Shea said the project appears to violate the city’s policy of creating so-called inclusionary housing projects with mixed income levels.

“All of our low-income housing is mixed with higher-income levels,” Shea said. “We need to provide affordable housing, but this could create social problems. Segregated areas of low-income housing have never proven to be a positive in any city.”

Dave Christensen, one of three planning commissioners who voted in favor of the project, said that while he understands the concerns of residents, a mixed-income project would not qualify for government tax credits. Without tax credits, Christensen said, the project would not be financially feasible.