The Santa Clarita City Council is expected to award over $1 million for affordable housing, and discuss the proposed Newhall Gateway development.

Community Grants

Each year, the council distributes Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), according to the agenda for the April 23 meeting.

The funds must be used primarily to assist low- and moderate-income residents in the areas of decent housing, a suitable living environment, and expanded economic opportunities, said City officials.

In order to receive CDBG funds, the City is required to submit a consolidated plan at least every five years, according to the agenda.

The current plan was developed to address the five-year period of 2013-14 through 2018-19 and is set expire on June 30.

To develop a new plan, the City conducted a Community Needs Assessment included a survey and outreach meetings for local non-profit providers and the general public, according to City documents.

After the City compiled the five-year plan, nonprofit organizations were encouraged to apply for the Community Block Grants.

Six nonprofits applied for the grants, funding 10 programs, with about 70 organizations eligible for the CDBG grants, according to City officials.

HUD has not yet released the allocation of funds for 2019-20, but has given direction that an estimate based on the 2018-19 allocation be used for planning purposes. Using that calculation, the estimate of funds available for use in 2019-20 is $1,212,260, according to the agenda.

Bridge to Home, Family Promise, the Senior Center, Carousel Ranch, Single Mothers Outreach and Fostering Youth Independence are all expected to receive funding, said City officials.

“This funding is crucial for our program,” said Michael Foley, executive director for Bridge to Home. “We use these grants to fund our assessment and outreach, which is some of the most important work we do.”

Foley added the grants are part of ongoing support from the City, with the shelter receiving similar funding last year as part of the program.

Newhall Gateway

The City Council is also expected to receive a conceptual plan for the Newhall Gateway project, a commercial development proposed near Newhall Avenue and Sierra Highway.

In 2008, a similar project, Sierra Crossings, was proposed at the same Newhall intersection, but it was later was withdrawn in 2010.

That same year, the City Council directed staff to enter into an agreement with Poliquin Kellogg Design Group (PKDG) to conduct a conceptual design and economic analysis for the entire southeast quadrant at the Newhall and Sierra intersection.

Photo courtesy of the City of Santa Clarita.

This area would come to be known as the “Newhall Gateway,” and included the proposed 2008 Sierra Crossing site, as well as parcels owned by the University of Southern California (USC), Rouse and Rouse, LLC, Leon’s Transmission Service Inc., and Whitney Canyon Ranch Associates Residential, according to officials.

In total, the Newhall Gateway project would encompass approximately 18.6 acres of land, with 75,900 square feet for a hotel, 169,000 square feet of office space, and 23,800 square feet of restaurant and retail space, according to City documents.

To learn more about the project, click here.

Ed Note: Michael Brown contributed to this story.

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