More affordable housing on the way in Alhambra
Expanding affordable housing options dominates recent city council meetings
Screenshot of Alhambra city council meeting in October.
December 4, 2020
Alhambra is taking action to offer residents more affordable housing.
Last month, it approved an agreement with nonprofit housing developers American Family Housing and National Community Renaissance to build a 50-unit affordable housing project at 2nd and Main streets.
All but one unit will be for low- and very-low income housing. The city plans to subsidize about $5.8 million out of the $27.8 million needed for the project, according to the agenda report. “The City’s contribution will be made in the form of a land sale and a construction loan,” according to the report.
The city council also approved issuing a request for proposals for a second affordable housing project.
That project, on Chapel Avenue, was discussed in detail during a city council meeting in October, when officials approved removing a restriction on the Chapel Avenue land, which is currently being used as a parking lot. That paved the way for allowing affordable housing to be developed.
At the Oct. 12 meeting, council members unanimously approved a change to a 1999 agreement between the city of Alhambra, the now-dissolved Alhambra Redevelopment Agency and Hillcrest Development Partners, LLC.
“[I’m] happy to see this is on the agenda,” council member Ross J. Maza said at the October meeting. “I know that we talked about this as a possibility of being a project in lieu of 2nd and Main. Now, it is going to be in addition to 2nd and Main. There’s a lot of possibilities here.”
Vice Mayor Katherine Lee agreed it was a great move.
“I’m glad that we were able to locate a second site for affordable housing units which we desperately need in the city,” Lee said.
The 2021-2029 Housing Element Update of the Alhambra General plan was also discussed during the meeting.
Chris Blackney, a director from Econorthwest, a consulting firm that deals with housing, led the presentation. Based on Econorthwest’s projections, Alhambra would need to add an additional 6,808 units over the next eight years — a significant increase from the goal of 1,492 units in the previous cycle.
After the presentation, Lee had a question regarding the allocation of housing types.
“About 60% of our residents in Alhambra are renters. That clearly means that most of them cannot afford to purchase a home in Alhambra because of the cost. So, I’m a little surprised that the allocation of above-moderate income housing is at 43%…It seems to me that it should lean the other way. The higher percentage should be allocated to low income, or at least moderate income percentage. What is the allocation based on?” she asked. It “doesn’t look like it’s based on the median income of Alhambra.”
Blackney said that it’s “based in part on the existing allocation of households within the community, and I can get some documentation for the council on the exact methodology, but on the top of my head, I don’t have the information to go through that whole process right now.”
The city’s moves the past year or so reflects a major change compared to years past. The vast majority — 326, or 90 percent — of 360 total permits approved for new units in Alhambra from 2013 to 2018 were for “above moderate” income levels, according to city of Alhambra records obtained by the University Times early this year.
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I think our city would benefit more with program to help potential home buyers with down payment assistance. Prepaid mortgage insurance for 5 – 10 years.
What is the City of Alhambra doing about rent control to help those of us who are facing extraordinarily high rent increases and/or face eviction. Investors buy apartments buildings and are legally allowed to evict all tenants, many of whom are left homeless. I experienced this myself, and the City offered no help. Rents are beyond what a single income person can afford. Yes, I’m a LAUSD teacher and I was homeless with my two cats for four months. I’d rather be homeless than get rid of the my cats. I feel that this city cares more about investors.
vivi alrrededor 18 anos en la hermosa Alhambra. Y quiero regresar por favor. Yo quiero por favor 323- 309- 4668. Gracias
If you can’t afford to live in a city, that means you don’t make enough money and should find a city you can afford to live in.
A city should look after its tax paying residents FIRST and not look at how they can bend over backwards for those that don’t care about the city.
It should not be a burden on tax payers to pay for people to live above their means. I grew up poor and we lived were we could afford to live and wouldn’t think to move to a city where rent was expensive.
I grew up, graduated, became someone, bought a house here in Alhambra, and pay taxes. Now you want to bring in crime to the city? Shame on you!
Nowadays politicians want to give hand outs to those that rack up credit card debt, live above their means, and not save money.
Why don’t politicians think about us that bought houses here and pay ridiculous amount of property tax?
Why not give us a tax break instead of giving us fines because our lawns have grown 1” above the allowed grass height?
Why not give us a tax break instead of spending tax dollars on fiberless city needs?
How about instead of patting each one on the back for approving affordable housing, how about fixing streets, sidewalks, cleaning up the city, and improving the most dangerous intersection at Chapel and Mission for those making a right on Mission to go east?
Affordable housing only brings in less than desirable people with family that will cause crime in the city.
What you are doing is insuring our kids to have to deal with low life’s that will bring gangs and a gang mentality into our schools and neighborhoods.
Alhambra has been getting worse every year for the past 8 years and has got to a point where 3 of my neighbors have sold their homes and moved to other cities because crime has been getting out of control. Robbery is on the rise, attacks on the rise, murders are now becoming normal.
But city council wants to continue to bring in crime by building more affordable housing..
Soon Alhambra will turn into East El Sereno and watch how fast politicians will start asking themselves, when did it go wrong. I’ll tell you, 2nd and Main.
This is an awesome opportunity.I hope my family could be considered thank you.