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Affordable housing demand grows in Hesperia
Fifty-eight new units already filled at San Remo Apartments
Hesperia’s affordable housing units just grew by 58, but the demand continues to outpace multi-family construction geared for low-income families.
“They’re already sold out,” Hesperia Mayor Thurston “Smitty” Smith said about the recently completed second phase at San Remo Apartments.
And the new units at San Remo, which brings the complex’s total to 123, have plenty of modern amenities and curb appeal. Housed in two-story, garden-style buildings, the apartments include central heating/cooling, kitchens equipped with frost-free refrigerators, and each unit includes a private outdoor area.
However, said Hesperia’s deputy director of economic development, Steve Lantsberger, “They’re not opulent or over-the top. They’re mainly designed to be functional.”
But San Remo, whose grounds sport palm trees and trendy exterior fixtures, also has a community center, laundry facilities, swimming pool and a computer lab.
“We try to make them [affordable housing complexes] blend into the community so there’s no appearance of affordability,” he said.
About $4.4 million in gap financing was invested by the Hesperia Community Redevelopment Agency to compete for tax credit financing through the California Tax Credit Allocation Committee.
“We have a legal mandate to invest those funds in affordable housing,” Lantsberger said. “We’re required by law to produce affordable housing in the city’s redevelopment area.”
On Tuesday, Lantsberger and Smith were joined by principals from Palm Desert Development Company, the Hesperia Chamber Ambassadors and others to celebrate the project’s completion. Eligibility requirements for potential tenants at San Remo include low-income status verification, rental and credit history as well as a criminal background check.
“[There are] no drugs, no gangs, no problems here,”the mayor said.
Besides San Remo Apartments, the city’s redevelopment agency also has helped fund such projects as The Village in Hesperia, Mesa Vista, and The Villas at Hesperia.
“We have a few others in the pipeline that are at various stages of entitlements,” Lantsberger said.
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| Get on board with this for hesperia CAL Camera Getting ready for riders Adelanto's first BMX skate park to open by March February 04, 2010 Natasha Lindstrom ADELANTO, Bikers and skaters across the Victor Valley will soon be invited to ride at the city’s first BMX skate park, with the plaza nearly complete and set to open in coming weeks. The 14,500 square foot BMX skate park is being built over two dilapidated tennis courts in Richardson Park neighboring Adelanto City Hall. The City of Industry based Spohn Ranch Skateparks built the park’s components and transported them to Adelanto for installation on Wednesday. Spohn Ranch has built more than 450 skate parks courses, including a 15,000 square foot concrete skate plaza at Fort Irwin Military Base. Park features include a 2 by 8 fun box with rail, 4 by 8 and 3 by 8 quarter pipes, 4 by 8 radiused wedge, Spohncrete low grind box, 3-by-8 bank and 18-inches-by-8-foot beginner fun box with rail. |
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| Greg - Feb 05, 2010 02:46:52 PM | Remove Comment |
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| Build the kids a Bike park already Cal Camera. Bikes BMX and Parks Cities should always allow bikes to use the skateparks. They are building a park for recreational purposes and it is not right to exclude these kids. Private parks have the option to decide who uses their park. Cities need to provide a safe, challenging and fun environment for children if they expect to compete with drug dealers. Should you allow bikes in your park. YES Do bikes ruin the ramps. NO We have been surveying parks for several years and have not come up with any evidence that they cause anymore wear and tear than skateboarders or inline skaters. Can bikes and skateboarders use the park at the same time? YES If you have a very busy park you may want to designate special hours for bikes. CIVIL RIGHTS ISSUES If you are a private park then you can decide who uses the park. If you are a city park and you discriminate against the biker who is usually accepted into private parks then you may have a civil rights issue. You may be required to build a separate bike park. There are over 1 million freestyle bikers in the USA. This is a growing sport with a national following and one of the most exciting to watch! Active children should be appreciated for the athletes that they are and given every opportunity to excel at their chosen sport. Freestyle biking is a great sport and these are great kids. They deserve better treatment from their cities and communities |
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| Greg thomas - Jan 31, 2010 03:16:00 PM | Remove Comment |
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| How spending some of the money on flood control on Main St by Escondido instead of redoing 7th in front of city hall again? |
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| Chuck - Jan 31, 2010 07:11:42 AM | Remove Comment |
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| Hysteria in Hesperia. But what about that facelifted, government slush fund facaded downtown district beautification? That library's fireplace is still burning, right? It's all good. |
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| perimeterview - Jan 30, 2010 10:57:40 AM | Remove Comment |
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| Unbelievable. The city needs to build low income housing so they get government money, then turns around and gives the government money for low income housing. What the heck? Whatever the source of the money, it comes from the taxpayer. The state is broke. In fact they are out of cash in two months How can they be mandating anything? These places are filled with children which put further stress on our local schools who are already struggling. Enough is enough. |
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| taxed out - Jan 29, 2010 12:26:25 PM | Remove Comment |
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| What Hesteria really needs is a Bike / Skateboard park for the youth.
Get it done Cal |
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| John steepin - Jan 29, 2010 11:47:53 AM | Remove Comment |
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| Build them and they will come. What we need instead of affordable housing are People who can Afford Housing! Enough of the Apartment housing, we're going to pay for the Section 8's and other welfare programs. Want an example, just look to Victimville! |
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| Really? - Jan 29, 2010 06:46:46 AM | Remove Comment |
