After a long period of trying, building department staff and the dwelling owners agreed the house must be torn down as it would be impossible to bring it into compliance; in addition, the city determined the dwelling - located on New Street - must be demolished for reasons of health and safety of the residents and the general welfare of the community, according to a report by Ken Cott.The RDA is not participating in the demolition of the dwelling and has no obligation to provide alternate housing for the residents once the building codes and demands for the destruction of the dwelling are issued.In addition, the RDA has a deficit in both the very-low, low- and moderate-income categories of its inclusionary housing obligations.It would cost the owners of the New Street property about $95,000 to rebuild but they qualify for only a $65,000 loan. In return for the $30,000 RDA grant, the home could only be sold persons and families of moderate-income for 30 years.There is $500,000 budgeted this year for expenditure from the RDA low- and moderate-income housing fund.
Council eyes RDA housing grant to rebuild house
December 20, 2000
Santa Paula City Council
An information item presented to the City Council at the Dec. 4 meeting centered on a request from the Redevelopment Agency’s low and moderate income housing fund.
By Peggy KellySanta Paula TimesAn information item presented to the City Council at the Dec. 4 meeting centered on a request from the Redevelopment Agency’s low and moderate income housing fund.A homeowner has asked the city for a $30,000 grant out of the RDA housing set aside funds of approximately $1.2 million. Such funding is used exclusively for housing purposes.It’s been a slow process, according to the staff report: the Building Department completed a Site Evaluation Report in June 1999 on a dwelling that lacked a foundation, cracks in the interior walls, roof and floor sags, substandard electrical and inadequate heating facilities. In addition, the home is overcrowded.
