Housing Authority City of San Buenaventura completes phase one of redevelopment
Courtesy photo.
VENTURA — Residents have begun moving into the newly constructed Westview Village apartments as the Housing Authority of the City of San Buenaventura (HACSB), a public housing authority dedicated to promoting quality of life through affordable, healthy housing and community-based development, completes phase one of a four-phase redevelopment effort.
The $60 million first phase of construction broke ground in 2017 and replaces 72 deteriorated public housing units with 131 modern affordable one- to four-bedroom apartments. When all four phases of development are complete, the community will provide 320 LEED?certified new construction homes, including 50 homes for seniors and 34 for-sale homes. The HACSB anticipates that the redeveloped Westview Village community will be the first LEED?Neighborhood Development certified community in Ventura County.
The HACSB is working in partnership with San Francisco-based nonprofit developer BRIDGE Housing Corp., to redevelop the Westview Village site through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Rental Assistance Demonstration program. Driven by 10 years of planning and community outreach, the redevelopment effort aims to revitalize and expand housing opportunities for Ventura residents by delivering affordability and improved infrastructure and amenities while achieving modern, current design and construction standards that better meet the needs of families and seniors.
“Our mission goes beyond building housing. We’re working to build healthy communities that connect resources with needs and create partnerships to enhance the quality of life for our residents,” said HACSB Chief Executive Officer Denise M. Wise.
HACSB Deputy Director of Real Estate Development Veronica Zimmerman Garcia explained how the design reflects the Housing Authority’s mission. “We are planning for three new parks where there used to be just one and instead of one community center, we are planning four new community centers, along with a 5,000 square foot community garden. There will be a new street connecting these amenities to the housing units to improve walkability and connectivity,” she said. In addition, the first phase will include sustainable features such as a bike closet for every new home, the use of greywater for landscape irrigation, onsite renewable energy via photovoltaic systems, a dual electric vehicle charging station and campus style WiFi connectivity throughout the site. “We have included features important to long-term future needs,” said Garcia.
Beyond the physical attributes of the project, the HACSB Community Services Department works to develop community partnerships to help residents achieve personal goals related to literacy and education, health and wellness, job training and employment. “Our housing authority is more than shade and shelter. We work to support residents’ personal growth and economic self?sufficiency,” said Wise.
In addition, residents participate and engage with the Westview Village Resident Advisory Council (RAC). The RAC relays questions and concerns to Housing Authority management and works to build a sense of community among residents. “Residents participate in a variety of initiatives, attend trainings and community meetings. The vision for the Westview Village community is to create a sustainable and healthy neighborhood that increases the number of much needed affordable homes. We did that with the first phase and will continue that vision through the other three phases,” Wise said.
Financing for the first phase of the Westview Village redevelopment is being provided through Citibank, N.A.; the Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco; the HOME Investment Partnerships program; Enterprise Community Investment; the California Tax Credit Allocation Committee; and the California Debt Limit Allocation Committee. The Housing Authority of the City of San Buenaventura is the developer, services coordinator and property manager. Mainstreet Architects + Planners Inc. is the Executive Architect and Cannon Constructors South is the General Contractor for the Phase I project.
Westview Village is the city of Ventura’s oldest and largest public housing complex. The barracks-style, single-story buildings run between Olive and Riverside streets along Barnett, Warner, Flint and Vince streets. The first 100 units and Housing Authority administrative offices were constructed in 1952, with an additional 80 units completed in 1961.
ABOUT THE HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF SAN BUENAVENTURA: TheHousing Authority of the City Of San Buenaventura (HACSB)is the largest residential landlord in the City of Ventura, currently managing 295 public housing units, 705 nonprofit affordable rental units, and more than 1,500 Section 8 vouchers. The agency is actively working to increase the supply of affordable housing and to improve the quality of life for hundreds more of the low-income residents of the City of Ventura.