CHW Breaks Ground on New Affordable Community in Vista

SAN DIEGO - April 22, 2014 - PRLog -- Vista, Calif. – Apr. 22, 2014 – Federal, state and local leaders will celebrate the groundbreaking of Community HousingWorks’ new affordable apartment community on Wednesday, Apr. 23, 2014 from 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at 301 North Santa Fe Avenue, Vista, Calif. Situated on a 1.4 acre site, the new construction will provide 68 apartment homes to lower income working families, with 10 apartments set aside for transition-age youth who are aging out of foster care, with North County Lifeline as service provider.

The Apr. 23 community event will feature distinguished speakers, including the Honorable Judy Ritter, Mayor of Vista, and Sue Reynolds, President of CHW. Multiple public and private community partners came together in funding this new development, with permanent and construction financing as well as Low Income Housing Tax Credit investment provided by Union Bank; Ground Lease from the City of Vista; Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) from the City of Carlsbad; and additional funding from NeighborWorks®.

“Union Bank is pleased to serve as a partner with Community HousingWorks and the City of Vista in the development of North Santa Fe Apartments for working families in the community,” said Executive Vice President Annette Billingsley, head of Union Bank’s Community Development Finance division. “It is gratifying to support Community HousingWorks in providing this important transit-oriented development that will serve the lives of its residents and the greater Vista community. This marks our seventh financing partnership with Community HousingWorks.”

North Santa Fe Apartments are part of Vista’s Downtown Specific Plan, realizing the city’s vision for the revitalization of the downtown area as a pedestrian-oriented village. The development will be located in the central area of the city across from the North Santa Fe Transit Station where residents will have access to the SPRINTER train and Breeze bus lines.

“Providing lower income residents with easy access to public transit was a significant factor in the plans for this development,” said Sue Reynolds, President, CHW. “With rising gas prices, car insurance costs, and expensive repairs, it is crucial that families have alternative options for reaching their jobs, schools, and other resources.”

Consistent with CHW’s commitment to sustainability, North Santa Fe Apartments is designed and will be built as an energy-efficient development. Plans include the use of “green” and recycled building materials, Energy Star appliances, high efficiency fixtures, “cool” roofs, and upgraded insulation. The landscaping will utilize drought tolerant and native plants in order to conserve water. Thermal solar hot water will augment the gas-fired central boiler is expected to save at least 50 percent of energy use compared to a standard system.

Designed to be energy and water efficient with rooftop solar thermal, North Santa Fe Apartments is part of the Green Point Rated certification program. The design includes three stories of apartments set on a concrete podium over subterranean parking with a 2,500 sf community building which will include the leasing office, a learning center, computer room, reading nook, and a community meeting room with a full kitchen. Additional amenities include bike racks, garden, barbeque area and a laundry located adjacent to the patio and tot lot so parents can oversee children at play while doing the wash. Construction is scheduled to be completed in summer 2015.

Highlights:

Transit-oriented and pedestrian-friendly development
Cost effective sustainable, green design including solar thermal technology
68 one, two, and three bedroom apartments
Affordable to working families, seniors and individuals earning from 30% to 60% Area Median Income
10 apartments to be set aside for transition-aged youth aging out of foster care with North County Lifeline as service partner
Close proximity to neighborhood amenities including schools and retail

Funding Sources:

Union Bank, Construction and Permanent Lender
Union Bank, Low Income Housing Tax Credit Investor
City of Vista, Ground Lease
City of Carlsbad, CDBG
NeighborWorks®
CA Tax Credit Allocation Committee, Low Income Housing Tax Credits

Design and Construction Partners:

Rodriguez Associates Architects & Planners, Architect
Ivy Landscape Architecture and Planning, Landscape Architect
Sun Country Builders, General Contractor
Excel Engineering, Civil Engineer and Surveyors

About Community HousingWorks

Founded in 1982, Community HousingWorks (CHW) is a nationally-recognized 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that helps people and communities move up in the world through opportunities to own, rent, and achieve. CHW has a successful 32-year history developing multi-family, affordable rental apartments and rehabilitating single-family homes for resale in urban, suburban and rural communities in Southern California. We have developed nearly 1,700 rental apartments in 31 communities. CHW’s rental communities are designed to be healthy and vibrant communities that improve their neighborhoods, offering residents an array of programs to help them move up. Through our comprehensive programs, we proudly serve more than 8,000 children and adults each year. CHW is San Diego County’s only member of the national NeighborWorks Network® and an award-winning affiliate of the National Council of La Raza. Learn more at www.chworks.org.