Housing planned for severely disabled
Jackson Bell
The city’s first independent-living complex for the severely disabled
could break ground as soon as February, the developer said.
United Cerebral Palsy of Los Angeles and Ventura counties, the
organization heading the 18-unit project, has raised all but $250,000
of the $3.5 million needed, according to Ron Cohen, the
organization’s chief executive. Cohen said he expects to obtain the
money and begin construction at 600 S. San Fernando Blvd. in the next
six months.
“Affordable and accessible housing is a No. 1 priority needed for
people with developmental disabilities,” he said. “There are people
living in institutions for the sole reason that they can’t afford not
to [live anywhere else].”
The Redevelopment Agency purchased the land at the intersection
of San Fernando and Providencia Avenue for $560,000 in 2000, and
contributed $901,544 to the project, Housing Development Manager
Duane Solomon said. Cohen said the additional money was obtained from
federal grants.
The proposed complex would be adjacent to where the Burbank Senior
Artist Colony and Bud Ovrom Park are planned, and will be the first
of its kind in the city, Community Development Director Sue Georgino
said.
“Burbank lacks in fully assisted living,” Georgino said. “The
reason [the city] is focusing on it is because we’ve identified the
need in the community.”
Cohen said the Burbank project would be the largest of the
organization’s 41 residential facilities in Southern California.
Each apartment will feature wheelchair-accessible showers along with
wider doorways, tilted mirrors and ramps. Each unit will also have
lowered light switches, remote-controlled door openers and an
emergency call system.
United Cerebral Palsy assists about 30,000 people throughout the
nation, 65% of whom have disabilities other than cerebral palsy,
according to the organization’s Web site.