Group Presses Ahead With Housing Plans

A nonprofit group that wants to build low-cost housing in Oxnard’s La Colonia area said Monday it will continue with its plans, despite lack of approval from La Colonia Neighborhood Council.

Members of the neighborhood council voted Thursday not to back the project proposed by El Pueblo Unido Reinvestment Corp., which could make it harder for the group to gain support from Oxnard’s City Council.

El Pueblo Unido is seeking $273,000 in federal funds administered by the City Council to build two to four homes using sweat equity--the labor of future homeowners.

The City Council asked El Pueblo Unido in January to make presentations about the project in La Colonia after residents complained the project was not sufficiently explained or planned.

Vincent Godina, president of El Pueblo Unido, said he believes many residents in La Colonia actually support the project that involves building the new homes on empty lots the group would purchase.

“[The neighborhood council] only represents a segment of the community,” Godina said.

“It only represents the people who were there that night.”

Godina said his group’s project could touch off a revitalization in a district that lacks decent, affordable housing.

But Vicky Gonzales, chairwoman of La Colonia Neighborhood Council, said many residents believe the project has flaws.

She said El Pueblo representatives failed to meet with residents early on to explain the project, and that residents believe the group could build more homes with the money.

“Nobody really knew about the project, and there has not been an effort by [the group] to inform the community until recently,” Gonzales said.

Gonzales said the neighborhood council did vote in favor of the concept of “in-fill housing,” which involves building new homes on empty lots.

But she said the neighborhood council wants the city to select a different home builder.

El Pueblo Unido is set to go before the City Council on April 16.