Orange County Focus is dedicated on Monday to analysis of community news, a look at what’s ahead and the voices of local people. : Property Eyed for Low-Income Housing

A city panel will meet today to consider buying a former nursing home for AIDS patients that could be transformed into a low-income housing project.

The former Ahimsa Care Center, at 450 Glenneyre, has been vacant for about two years, said City Manager Kenneth C. Frank, who is seeking support from the Housing and Human Affairs Committee and hopes to bring the matter before the City Council on Feb. 20.

Frank said the city has $800,000 in a housing fund set aside for such projects.

The committee is considering spending $675,000 for the parcel.

It’s difficult for the city to find sites for low- and moderate-housing projects, he said. “We think it’s a very good price for the property. And it’s also a very good location, very close to downtown, very close to the senior center.”

If the city buys the property, the building could be refurbished or moved, Frank said, but the land would have to be used for affordable housing or the city would have to repay the housing fund.

The first goal, he said, would be obtaining the lot.

“Our intent is just simply to clean up the existing property, remove some of the weeds [and] debris, make sure it’s boarded up and then go through a process to determine what we should do with it,” he said.

The special meeting will begin at 4:30 p.m. at City Hall Conference Room A, 505 Forest Ave.