City takes another look at affordable housing

With the rising costs of housing, both for rent and purchase, the challenge of providing affordable housing is a problem nationwide. The city of Thousand Oaks has faced that challenge for many years, with local providers maintaining long waiting lists of elderly, disabled and low-income residents in need of such housing.

An affordable-housing workshop held last week helped the city council identify some possible solutions to the problem. Additional study sessions will be held to obtain input from residents and housing providers on those solutions.

The Ad Hoc Committee on Affordable Housing, appointed by the council, met 28 times over a one-year period to study the issue. Its findings were compiled in a 32-page report presented to council members.

The committee’s findings include 11 options, such as mixeduse zoning, where office, retail and residential space is combined in one site; infill housing incentives (the redevelopment of existing development); the creation of a housing trust fund to generate funding; and development of partnerships with nonprofits.

“These are the tools available to produce affordable housing,” said Russ Watson, the city’s housing and redevelopment manager.

Although satisfied with the committee’s report, Councilmembers Dennis Gillette and Andy Fox recognized the scope of the issue and suggested creating small study sessions to better focus on specific options in depth.

“This is so important to the welfare of this community,” Gillette said. “We can’t give it the kind of attention it needs otherwise. We wouldn’t do it justice.”

City staff will create a schedule of meetings within the next two weeks. The goal is not only to involve the council, but also to get input from residents, housing providers and others. Once scheduled, the study sessions will be advertised.

“I encourage staff and council to facilitate dialogue, not speeches,” Fox said. “I’m looking for opportunities to have discussions with people on specific issues.”

Due to the pressing need for affordable housing, Fox added that he’d like to see the review and discussion process completed in six months to allow the council to make concrete recommendations quickly.

Of the affordable-housing options in Thousand Oaks, there are 28 projects containing 1,644 units, which the city helped finance, according to Community Development Director John Prescott. Three opened in the last year through partnerships with local groups.

The Ventura County Area Housing Authority (AHA) and Many Mansions, a nonprofit affordable housing and service agency, are the two largest providers of subsidized and lowercost housing in Thousand Oaks.

Last January the AHA opened Oak Creek Senior Villas, a $1million, 57-unit apartment complex on Thousand Oaks Boulevard built for low-income seniors. In February, Many Mansions opened Hacienda de Feliz, a nearly $8-million, 25-unit townhouse-style complex. The group also acquired Bella Vista, a 72-unit family apartment complex for $14.5 million. Both are located on Los Feliz Drive. All three projects were the result of partnerships between the agencies, the city and others.

Hacienda de Feliz illustrates the challenges faced in obtaining affordable housing. The project took five years to complete. After acquiring a small parcel of land in the city it took Many Mansions three years to secure development and construction financing from a number of sources including federal funds, state bond financing, bank loans and a loan from the city. Construction began in December 2003. The project finally opened in February 2005. It is Many Mansions’ seventh project in Thousand Oaks.

Representatives from other groups appealed to the council to create similar affordable-housing partnerships. Habitat for Humanity and Haverim B’nai B’rith of the Conejo Valley, both nonprofit charities, asked the council to help identify land in the city where affordable housing could be built. Haverim B’nai B’rith is in the early stages of planning a project that will include up to 80 apartments for low-income seniors. Mel Silberberg, chairperson for the project, said four to five acres of land are needed.

“Partnerships are critical,” said AHA Executive Director Douglas Tapking. “Affordable housing in this area would not have occurred if not for the support of the city of Thousand Oaks and the support of residents.”