Many Mansions renovations at Shadow Hills are complete

Many Mansions representatives, along with local civic leaders and advocates for affordable housing, will celebrate the completion of a $1.2-million renovation project at the Shadow Hills apartment complex on E. Wilbur Road later this month.

The 101unit dwelling provides permanent housing for low and moderateincome individuals and families.

It is one of eight properties, with a combined 396 units, managed by Many Mansions in Thousand Oaks.

"This is the third renovation project at Shadow Hills since the property was acquired in 1991," said Alexander Russell, director of the housing division for Many Mansions.

Shadow Hills was built in 1972 and acquired by Many Mansions in the early '90s with the help of the city.

"The complex . . . had a lot of gang and overcrowding problems, so the city hoped that Many Mansions would turn this unsafe and run-down property around, which we did," Russell said.

The latest round of repairs, begun in November 2007, included a new roof, balcony repairs, termite treatment and walkway resurfacing.

The work was possible because Many Mansions, with assistance from the city, refinanced an existing taxexempt redevelopment bond.

"The funds covered everything we had originally planned except resurfacing the playground and the addition of several more surveillance cameras. We are actively looking for another source of funds to pay for these items," Russell said.

"Thousand Oaks is one of, if not the, strongest supporters of affordable housing in Ventura County," he said, adding that Many Mansions also owns two small properties in Simi Valley.

Thousand Oaks Redevelopment Agency has spent about $16.9 million in the last 18 months on a number of different affordable housing projects, including $5.5 million to help Many Mansions acquire five parcels of land totaling almost 3 acres and slated for a 60unit affordable housing complex.

Outside of Thousand Oaks, Many Mansions received a $250,000 loan from the Simi Valley City Council and secured a $1.4-million acquisition loan from Century Housing for a new project in Simi Valley.

Many Mansions' funding sources are diverse. Slightly more than 50 percent of the money is derived from apartment rent; the remainder comes from government and private grants, individual donors, special events and property development reimbursements.

In addition to receiving housing, residents of Many Mansion developments get practical assistance through service programs that include life skills training for adults and free homework and literacy programs in some complexes.

A renovation celebration will be held at 5 p.m. Thurs., Aug. 28 at Shadow Hills, 227 E. Wilbur Road.

The deadline for reservations is tomorrow, Fri., Aug. 22.

To make a reservation, call Kellie Lighthizer at (805) 4964948, ext. 236, or e-mail Kelli@manymansions.org.