Building affordable housing units is a solution that is often looked at to fix housing and rent issues that plague many LA residents. However, getting these projects approved and built can take up to half a decade.
Alhambra citizens hope the Mariposa Project, a four-story building with 40 large family units that are a mixture of one- and two-bedroom units and one level of underground parking, can finally get underway.
This project is intended to replace a parking lot in the downtown Alhambra area between 1st and 2nd Street, south of Main Street.
The Mariposa Project was proposed in November 2020 as a seven-story, 50-unit affordable housing project.
In 2020, UT Community News revealed that 90% of the city’s approved new units from 2013-2018 were for “above moderate income levels” and the outlet later reported on this proposed project.
Years passed as the project could not secure funding and a 4% tax credit from California, according to a city of Alhambra agenda report.
American Family Housing, a non-profit housing group, was originally working on the project but the Cesar Chavez Foundation, a non-profit organization with eight affordable housing projects, took it over more recently.
Lewis McCammon, a member of Alhambra’s HCDA Citizen Advisory Committee, spoke at the recent city council meeting and was hopeful that the adjustments to the Mariposa Project can make it easier for the foundation to get the funding it needs: “It’s a difficult time, particularly for the state on getting money.”
Alhambra residents like retiree Shirley Tatsuno raised questions about the project, including whether the units would have two or three rooms, how much parking would be offered, and what varying income levels would be available.
The project initially had two floors of parking, half for residents and in a nod to business owners’ concerns, the rest for the public since it’s in a downtown area notable for traffic and visitors.
Tatsuno said despite concerns, she sees the value in the project especially since “affordable housing is necessary.”
If funding is received, McCammon said that construction would start in January 2027 and end in July 2028, more than three years from now.
Planning and building these affordable housing units is a process that Jeffrey Koji Maloney, an Alhambra council member, described at the meeting as “arcane” and “byzantine.” He pushed for the need to streamline these procedures to help the community better.
Maloney also urged residents at the meeting to let their elected officials and others know the importance of getting affordable housing built if they want to see it happen.
The Cesar Chavez Foundation plans to present its revised project plan to the city in January 2025.
The foundation was not available for comment.
