BREA : 5 Complexes Sold to Nonprofit Group
The city will sell five dilapidated apartment complexes to La Habra Neighborhood Housing Services Inc., a nonprofit group, which will rehabilitate and manage the units as low-income housing.
Under the agreement, approved by the City Council on Tuesday, Brea’s Redevelopment Agency will sell the five apartment buildings for $1.3 million. The La Habra-based group will spend $2.2 million to renovate the apartments and then, for at least 40 years, will provide the 51 units to low-income families.
In 1993, residents began to complain of conditions at the buildings, which are in the 500 and 600 blocks of Walnut Avenue, city officials said. The problems cited included parking congestion, overcrowding and poor living conditions.
On investigating, officials found that about 300 people were living in the 51 units, and in some cases two-bedroom apartments were home to as many as 15 people, according to city reports.
The agency purchased the property for about $3.6 million and spent another $1 million for tenant relocation and other expenses.
The La Habra group was the top candidate of eight nonprofit groups that submitted proposals for the project, Brea officials said.
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