Council to Vote on Senior Housing Plan

The $9.2-million Oak Creek Senior Villas complex, which would provide 57 affordable units for senior citizens, goes before the City Council tonight.

The council approved the concept of the project in 1995, but it has taken years to finalize the plans and obtain financing, which comes from local, state and federal sources, Deputy City Manager Scott Mitnick said.

“It’s the kind of project that started out straightforward and ended up complicated,” Mitnick said. “Because the city is in such dire need for affordable senior housing, we couldn’t walk away from it.”

Mark Asturias, the city’s redevelopment and housing manager, said the project on Thousand Oaks Boulevard was delayed by revisions in the state’s building codes and by flood-control issues.

Because the project changed so much from the original proposal, a new agreement was required, Asturias said.

Asturias said if the plan is approved tonight, escrow would close in February and construction would take about a year.

The project will be operated by Many Mansions, a local nonprofit housing advocacy group.

In related news, the council will also consider a request tonight by Councilman Ed Masry to investigate the city’s options in helping renters of mobile-home spaces become owners of their parks.

The move, which has been endorsed by Councilwoman Linda Parks, would ensure that the city’s 1,090 mobile-home spaces remain affordable for senior citizens and low-income families.

Although rent-control laws in place now keep the monthly rate low, Masry said he believes that law may be vulnerable because of challenges underway in state and federal courts.

The City Council meets at 6 tonight at City Hall, 2100 Thousand Oaks Blvd.