4A Public Hearing 2014 1006 - Laserfiche WebLink

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WORKING DRAFT FOR HCD REVIEW EVALUATION OF 2010 ELEMENT 2-7 SAN LEANDRO HOUSING ELEMENT While the Lakeside Apartments conversion did not result in a net gain in the number of units, it was an important gain in terms of the City’s inventory of affordable units. The complex represents almost three percent of the City’s total housing stock, and has more housing units than all other affordable housing developments in San Leandro combined. Rents are $962 for a studio, $1,028 for a one-bedroom, and $1,229 for a two bedroom. Comparable units in nearby complexes are $1,200 to $1,700, providing a substantial margin of savings for qualifying tenants. Additionally, the City provided technical assistance in the rehabilitation of 75 units for seniors at Fargo Senior Center by the non-profit Christian Church Homes(CCH). CCH used State and federal low income housing tax credits to upgrade major building systems in this affordable project and did not require City funding. The City did provide funding assistance to Eden Housing, enabling their acquisition and rehabilitation of the 46-unit Surf Apartments. Twenty-two (22) market rate units had previously converted to affordable in 2003 (during the last planning period), and another 10 units were converted in 2011. These units have a 55-year affordability term. land use goals related to housing The Housing Element is one of the ten elements of the San Leandro General Plan. The other nine elements include 52 goals and over 400 policies. Goal 3 (which appears in the Land Use Element) is technically not part of the Housing Element but is cross-referenced because it states the City’s broader commitment to “improve access to housing for all economic segments of the community.” The City has made considerable progress toward this goal since adoption of the General Plan, working proactively with developers to expand the type and price range of housing units available to San Leandro residents. There are nine policies under Goal 3, itemized below. Policy 3.01 calls for the City to encourage a “mix of unit types,” including single family homes, town- homes, live-work units, planned unit developments, and multi-family housing. Despite the economic slowdown and recession, most of these housing types were produced during 2007-2014, including two large multi-family developments, several townhome developments, and several projects featuring small lot single family homes. The city also continued to see development of duplexes, second units, and single family homes on infill lots, albeit at slower rates than it did during the early 2000s. More than half of the units added during 2007-2014 were multi-family apartments. Policy 3.02 calls for a mix of price ranges as new housing is produced. Price diversity was achieved, although not to the extent desired. Units were generally produced at the very low and above moderate income ends of the spectrum, with very little produced in the low to moderate ranges. The City also continued to see almost no new market-rate rental housing during the period and relatively few entry level condominiums appropriate for first-time buyers. In the affordable rental housing market, the two developments built served small households (Casa Verde) and seniors (Estabrook Place). There were no affordable rental units for larger families produced. The City is addressing this shortfall through the proposed 200-unit BRIDGE housing development, Cornerstone Apartments, scheduled for construction in late 2014.