2 Views of Cabrillo Plan in Santa Paula

In response to the letter “Santa Paula Should Adopt Cabrillo Plan” on March 31: Ellen Brokaw of Santa Paula writes eloquently of Cabrillo Economic Development’s skill and track record in managing affordable housing units.

I live in Oxnard in the Royal Palms Mobile Home Park next to Villa Solimar, a Cabrillo Development. I have a different opinion of their management skill based on firsthand observation. What I see is not as promised. In sessions before the Oxnard City Council prior to Villa Solimar being built, Cabrillo promised over and over again that they would provide the very highest quality management of the complex.

After only five months of operation the current manager of Villa Solimar is only on duty 4 to 6 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday and Friday and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. This is only 10 hours a week. For a 32-unit, three-bedroom family complex this is not enough time for proper management. Anyone who is familiar with this size and type of a rental complex knows that even a full-time on-site manager is stretched thin. Ten hours a week is not enough.

I urge the citizens of Santa Paula not be lured into accepting Cabrillo’s offer to build affordable housing based on a promise of high-quality management. Cabrillo’s proven track record in Oxnard at Villa Solimar shows that they will not provide it.

CLIFFORD BROWN

Oxnard

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* As a concerned citizen of Santa Paula, I am somewhat confused as to the logic concerning the developments proposed on the Garcia Street site in Santa Paula. It makes no sense to me that a higher density development was approved in 1993, and now a lower density development is running into all kinds of opposition.

Now is the time to move forward with the lower density tax credit development on the Garcia site that is family oriented. As a tax credit development, Cabrillo--like the previous developer--is targeting families making 40%-60% of the area’s median income. Cabrillo, however, is specifying the families must be from Santa Paula.

Now that Cabrillo is attempting to resurrect and improve on a failed development, some members of the community are saying the city does not need new affordable housing. The fact of the matter is that Santa Paula working families need affordable housing. In fact, Santa Paula also needs moderate and upscale housing.

Let’s support Cabrillo’s request and those council members who realize the future of our city depends on serving all of its citizens.

FRANK ARQUELLAS

Santa Paula