Home » Santa Clarita News » Politics » Santa Clarita Approves Affordable Housing Project For Newhall
A look at a housing plan to add more low income units to Santa Clarita, near the intersection of Newhall Avenue and Silverado, in Newhall
A look at a housing plan to add more low income units to Santa Clarita, near the intersection of Newhall Avenue and Silverado, in Newhall

Santa Clarita Approves Affordable Housing Project For Newhall

Santa Clarita City Council members approved Tuesday night a low-income housing project to add 30 homes to Newhall.


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Council voted 3-1 in favor of the plan, with Councilman TimBen Boydston as the lone vote against. Councilman Dante Acosta was in Washington, D.C. and missed the meeting, according to city officials.

The move was in response to a state report identifying a need for over 5,700 low- and moderate-income housing units for area residents, said Erin Lay, housing program administrator for Santa Clarita.

Boydston shared concerns about the area’s water supply, echoing concerns he read in emails from residents.

Santa Clarita resident Sandra Cattel mentioned that when the project was approved before the current drought conditions. She expressed the need to put in drought-tolerant plants and play areas for children.

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The Planning Commission approved 30 units to be added to Newhall Avenue on July 19, 2011. The original plan included 29 affordable units and one unit reserved for an on-site property manager. Eight of the units are three-bedroom units and 22 are two-bedroom units.

Dan Masnada, general manager for the Castaic Lake Water Agency — which wholesales the Santa Clarita Valley its water — said the water supply could support about a half-million people, more or less, if the area has the appropriate infrastructure. He also urged people to conserve water as much as possible. There are currently about 280,000 residents in Santa Clarita.

In 2010, the city and RDA acquired two adjacent parcels, the Caltrans parcel and the Jang parcel, in the Project Area with the intent of using them for the development of affordable housing.

The parcels are in an ideal location for affordable housing given their proximity to transit, schools, a major transportation corridor, and other services.

They are also zoned appropriately for multi-family rental housing and are located in an area with housing of a similar density.

Caltrans Parcel – A 1.6-acre parcel used as a park-and-ride lot on Newhall Avenue. The terms of the acquisition require this parcel to be used for a public purpose. Acquisition of the parcel used $1,050,123 in NSP funds and $45,877 in CDBG funds.

Weste asked what the options are for park and riders. There was no response.

Jang Parcel – A privately-owned parcel of land. This .45-acre parcel was acquired by the City and RDA through an Assignment and Assumption Agreement in which the Developers negotiated an acquisition agreement with the owner. Acquisition of the parcel used: $45,877 in CDBG funds and $438,249 in RDA housing funds.

There will be 75 parking spaces for residents and guests, approximately two parking spaces per unit.

The project’s total cost was nearly $15.5 million. To view the full breakdown of the costs, click here.

A recreational amenity package, including a tot-lot, landscaped open space, laundry facilities and a community center to be used for management and social services were also approved.

Lay explained that depending on a household’s income, rent could be offered for as low as $384 per month for a two-bedroom apartment in the low-income project under City Council.

This need for affordable housing was quantified when the State of California conducted its Regional Housing Needs Assessment, or RHNA, for the years of 2013-21.

California and the federal government require the city to address the need for affordable housing in a number of ways.

The State of California Department of Housing and Community Development, or HCD, requires the city to create policies and programs to address the housing needs of low and moderate-income residents as part of the Housing Element of the General Plan.

The Department of Housing and Urban Development, or HUD, requires that the Community Development Block Grant, or CDBG 5-Year Consolidated Plan consider and address the housing needs of low- and moderate-income residents in the use of CDBG funds.

The HUD-required Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice, or AI, identifies a lack of affordable housing as a main impediment to fair housing in the City of Santa Clarita. HUD requires the city to address each impediment identified in the AI.

Do you have a news tip? Call us at (661) 298-1220, or drop us a line at community@hometownstation.com.

KHTS AM 1220 - Santa Clarita Radio

Santa Clarita Approves Affordable Housing Project For Newhall

11 comments

  1. If these apts. will be renting for as low as $384/month, why must residents in mobile home parks pay over $800/month!!!

  2. Great Job Santa Clarita! You’re on your way to becoming Antelope Valley II!

  3. City Council, are you listening??? NO new housing until water shortage is over! Now you’re making us mad! NO,NO,NO!! You are not representing us responsibly!

    • One other thing…I have lived near the “low income” housing projects in Culver City and seen “rent control” where I lived in Santa Monica. Both tend to draw those who don’t care about their residences and this usually draws heavy crime to those places. City of Santa Clarita, are you ready for this–our very own South Central Los Angeles right here in Newhall? Get ready, here it comes…

  4. One other thing…I have lived near the “low income” housing projects in Culver City and seen “rent control” where I lived in Santa Monica. Both tend to draw those who don’t care about their residences and this usually draws heavy crime to those places. City of Santa Clarita, are you ready for this–our very own South Central Los Angeles right here in Newhall? Get ready, here it comes…

  5. Just like I replied on the previous article about the senior housing and a YMCA development approval by city council to developers… . WE ARE SLOWLY GOING TO BE THE SOUTH CENTRAL OF FHE NORTHWEST LA COUNTY….WE WILL BE, south central northwest Los Angeles!!!

  6. The construction cost seems very high. Even if you subtract the land purchases you still are paying $463,000 per unit with 30 units. The los angeles market rate is around $188,000 a unit. Add underground parking and you’re looking at $330,000 which includes living space and parking. Sorry, I think I’m over thinking this with incorrect information. I’m glad we are providing subsidized living.

  7. i would like to apply for this program please let me lknow when I can apply for this program

    Thanks

    Ms Arrington

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About Heather Harbin

Heather grew up in the Santa Clarita Valley and graduated from West Ranch High School in 2012. She recently graduated from College of the Canyons with an Associate's Degree in New Media Journalism. She was involved in College of the Canyons' "Cougar News" for two years, where she became the senior producer. She will be studying for her Bachelor's Degree at Cal State Northridge in the spring. Heather became a staff writer at KHTS AM-1220 following her internship in the newsroom. She has been writing news and feature articles for the KHTS website since May 2015.