Affordable and Special Needs Housing to Increase in San Gabriel Valley

 

 

 

 

 

Los Angeles County Community Development Commission

 

For Immediate Release

 

Contact:  Elisa Vásquez, County CDC, 323-890-7415

 

 

AFFORDABLE AND SPECIAL NEEDS HOUSING TO INCREASE IN SAN GABRIEL VALLEY

 

Technical Assistance Provided By County Agency Helps

Local Jurisdictions Develop Housing

 

            December 20, 2010 - Earlier this month, the City of Azusa selected Mercy Housing, a non-profit developer, to develop a 7+ acre site with affordable housing.  Prior to the selection, the City of Azusa received technical assistance sponsored by the Los Angeles County Community Development Commission (CDC), including help with assembling the City’s Request for Proposals (RFP), as well as assisting with the developer selection process for the city’s “Atlantis Gardens” project. Kurt Christiansen, Deputy Executive Director of the Azusa Redevelopment Agency, remarked that “In light of the City’s limited staffing, the technical assistance sponsored by the CDC was critical in effectively framing the Request for Qualifications and Request for Proposals.”

The activity in the City of Azusa is a part of the CDC’s ongoing effort to increase affordable and special needs housing in the San Gabriel Valley.  The CDC is sponsoring technical assistance to member cities of the San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments, focused on helping cities develop affordable housing and utilize funding resources administered by the CDC. The CDC issues a competitive annual Notice of Funding Availability to solicit proposals from developers for affordable and special needs housing.

Sean Rogan, Executive Director of the CDC stated, “Our goals include sponsoring assistance for cities that haven’t participated in our City of Industry Program or utilized the federal HOME funds.   A higher level of participation will generate more affordable housing.” The City of Industry Program uses tax increment funds generated by the City of Industry and administered by the CDC.

The CDC will also offer assistance to the City of La Puente to develop an RFP to solicit a developer for city-designated sites and potentially prepare an application for development funding during the CDC’s 16^th Notice of Funding Availability in the fall of 2011. The developer recently selected by the City of Azusa is also anticipated to apply for funds during this same round. 

For more information on the City of Industry Program and technical assistance, please contact Blair Babcock at (323) 890-7270.

 

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