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CALIFORNIA CITY - The City Council, seated as the Redevelopment Agency, has agreed to move forward on a proposal for a low-income senior housing development in a defunct subdivision.
The council, as the agency board, ultimately agreed to direct staff to develop a plan to purchase The Legends, a planned retirement community of single-family homes, then open construction of the multi-unit senior housing to a public bid.

Three councilmembers - Bill Smith, Mike Edmiston and Mayor Larry Adams - came to a consensus to proceed at Tuesday's meeting, but did not take a formal vote.

Councilmembers Nick Lessenevitch and Cathy Strong recused themselves for conflicts of interest, as they have business interests with the parties involved.

The $4.1 million proposal was presented by local development group Viento Inc. and included purchase of the existing Legends subdivision and construction of 12 additional units for a total of 18 senior housing units.

The property would be turned over to the city's Housing Corporation for operation.

A subsidized senior housing project has been in the works for more than a year, as the city's existing Desert Jade projects have proven successful and have waiting lists for new residents.

An earlier proposal, brought forth by Viento and Fourstar Construction, called for building at least 40 units on 6.8 acres of RDA property on South Loop Boulevard.

That proposal ran into public opposition to the exclusive agreement with the developers, which did not allow other builders to bid on the project.

The Legends property, which its owners are offering to sell for $2.84 million, includes six completed single-family homes as well as the subdivided lots and associated infrastructure: utilities, streets, curbs and gutters.

Viento's proposal included an additional $1.2 million for construction of three four-unit buildings, for a total of 18 units.

The additional units would use the same proprietary design of the existing Desert Jade developments.

The proposed project would involve "all local people, local contractors that have a stake in this community - always have and always will," said John Wilson, an engineer for Viento who presented the proposal.

"These people are known. They're your neighbors."

Unlike earlier proposals considered by the agency, this one would not involve financing but would use money the RDA has set aside for senior housing, Adams noted.

"As commissioners to the RDA, it is our responsibility to make the best deal we think we can make for the city," Adams said.

The agency has frequently requested proposals for senior housing from local builders, he said, but the Viento proposal was the only one to come forward.

"Sounds like a win-win to me. (We have) a piece of property that may turn out to be a blighted property if we don't do something with it shortly," Adams said, referring to The Legends subdivision.

The proposal, using the already prepared subdivision, presents a means for the senior housing to be completed quickly, he said.

"I'm going to vote for the project I think is the best project for the people of this town to get the most number of units to rent to people who need low- (to moderate-income housing). That's how I'm going to vote. I don't care who does it," Adams said.

The property has been on the market for more than two years, according to its owners.

"Anybody in town who wanted to buy that property could do it," Adams said.

Local builder Ed Collins, who was one of the most vocal opponents to the earlier proposal, supported the agency's purchase of The Legends property, but felt construction of the housing units should be opened up to other contractors.

"If we're going to use public money to buy land, we should let contractors know this before they bid the job," he said. He said he understood that contractors had to own the land themselves before preparing a bid for construction of the senior housing.

Although he eventually agreed to proceed with the project, Edmiston opposed purchasing additional property at the outset.

"I have a real problem using taxpayers' money for a project when we have an adequate piece of property," he said.

That RDA property, however, is completely unprepared and will need all the infrastructure installed, he was informed.

"I still have trouble with us spending money that can be used for construction to buy property when we already have property that's usable," he said. "We're still going to have to put money out to build, and we're still only going to get 18 units out of it."

Smith supported the idea of the agency purchasing the property directly, but not the Viento proposal.

"I believe that this is a project … the agency itself should buy. I think it is a great deal for the agency," he said.

The proposal, however, does not include breakouts of individual costs for the construction and no breakdown of unit sizes.

If the agency purchased the property itself, it could then open construction of the housing to local contractors and therefore maintain transparency in the process, he said.

"I think the agency needs to step up and be the people that buys this thing and we run this thing. We get off our dead butts and we pay attention to it so we don't have fiascoes like we've had before," Smith said.

Adams took exception to charges that the city has been less than transparent in the proceedings.

"It hasn't been hidden from anybody. The damn proposal's been out there every meeting we've had. Nobody came up with a proposal. The land's been for sale for 2½ years," Adams said. "Nobody's sneaked around and planted invisible dust on that project.

"This whole cloak-and-dagger stuff is a bunch of crap. If you want to build something, step up and build it. Nobody's stopping you from doing any of this stuff. You just have to put the money out there and do it."

Several residents and local builders also spoke up in favor of purchasing the land.

"You ain't going to find a better deal than that or look at a bigger gift horse in any way, shape or form," builder David Stafford said. "That land right there is one heck of a way to start (on a senior housing project). This piece of property, I guarantee you, is worth every penny.

"This is a win-win situation. (That area) is blighted" and the city needs to do something to help clean it up, he said.

"I think you guys need to move forward, do something soon," resident Kim Collins said. "I think you're taking too long, spinning your wheels too much."

With the consensus of the three councilmembers, city staff will return with a concrete proposal to purchase the property, with further discussions about bidding for the construction process.

agatlin@avpress.com
 

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