The city of Pleasant Hill has agreed to sell a quarter-acre of residential real estate to Habitat for Humanity for the low, low price of just $10 so the nonprofit can construct affordable housing.
Habitat for Humanity plans to build seven townhouses at 250 Cleaveland Road and make them available to low- and medium-income households when the group takes ownership of the property.
The land is owned by the Pleasant Hill Redevelopment Successor Agency, set up to oversee the affairs of the now defunct Pleasant Hill Redevelopment Agency, which was dissolved by the state Legislature in February 2012.
Due to the legal complexities involved, the property’s transfer had to be approved by the Contra Costa County Countywide Oversight Board, which adopted a resolution Sept. 23, approving the sale.
There were two other offers made on the property from private developers seeking to build market rate housing, including one offer for $100,000 and another for $200,000 to $250,000, but the city would not have gotten to keep that revenue.
“Any money that we would have seen from selling the property would have gone back to the county,” city spokeswoman Gayle Vassar said.
That was a factor when the successor agency’s board voted to accept Habitat for Humanity’s offer. The city will also be providing a $400,000 loan to help cover the estimated $5 million cost of the overall development.
Now that the city and county have both approved the sale, a spokeswoman for Habitat for Humanity says they hope to make progress before the end of the year on additional paperwork required before the project can break ground.
43 comments
Many studies have showed a correlation between low income homes / section 8 to increased crime. Seems like the City doesn’t care about the rest of the community that can afford our housing.
This way we can keep a closer eye on them.
Many studies are wrong. Market rate housing is a totally different zoning. Read up on zoning, abilities, and restrictions. CCand R’s.
Covenants Conditions and Restrictions.
It’s not like they have a choice in the matter. In 2017 Then-Gov Brown signed into law 15 new housing regulations aimed at affordable housing.
Now California will punish cities and counties that don’t meet their housing goals under a deal Gov. Gavin Newsom and legislative leaders recently announced.
If a court finds that a city or county violates a state law that sets targets for how much housing a community must plan to build, the fines could range from $10,000 to $600,000 per month. After six months of fines, the court could take over a local government’s authority over its housing plans.
So I say again, what choice did Pleasant Hill or any other city in the state have?
OOOOoooooooooooooh, I bet the old school Pleasant Hillians just love that idea… Nah… we can feel noble about it… location not really in my backyard……………..
The old school Pleasant Hillians have already left. You clean up the mess..
NOOOOOooooooooooo
Low income housing and people in a high uncome area?How will this work?Maybe they will shop at the pricey mall across the street?What are they trying to prove?
Get ready for the crime rate to sky rocket!
The new “low-income” will be subsidising their income with part of yours, by stealing from your fellow “pleasant hillians”, just how its happened in Concord, pittsburg, Antioch, etc.
Low income in Contra Costa County for some programs is considered to be close to $80,000/year for a family of four. At that rate, I doubt you’ll be getting the dregs of society. But, don’t let that create any noise in the convenient little echo chamber you’ve constructed for yourselves.
They are competing with walnut creek for the title of san Francisco east. Unfortunately the nut has a big lead on them. Go dubs!
Seven townhouses on a 1/4 acre is gonna be a tight squeeze, and a lot of low income families have several children
The neighbors must be thrilled.
You’ve never been to Foothill Pl off of Paso Nogal 🙂
I know this is completely incomprehensible for some people to understand, but when I was growing up, when we were priced out due to rent increases, we moved to a cheaper area that we could afford.
Crazy right?
Did you do it or was it your parents? A nostalgic look back at how easy things were when you were a child and no say in these decisions is not as helpful as you might hope.
I think they are going to house a bunch of butterflies. So that’s cool.
$5 million to develop 7 units? That is $715,000 per home with zero land cost. That development cost is absurdly high. Single family homes with uards are selling less then the build cost for these “affordable” homes.
How is that even possible when they get a huge discount and donations on material and labor!!!
Total Scam. But yuppies will feel good about themselves for hammering a few nails.
Any “deal” like this involving California government will require greasing of palms and payoffs to corrupt “public servants”.
Agree the numbers simply don’t come close to adding up.
None of the financial numbers make sense. There would be developers paying more for a 7 unit plot. And the building cost……..that’s ridiculous
Return the redevelopment $$ that was taken from local county agencies for years. Total scam. Thank god redevelopment siphoning stopped, but many city’s performed tricks like this to lock up much of that $$.
You have no idea what you’re talking about or how Redevelopment worked.
Hate to break it to you Pleasant Hillians but there are already 3 low housing apartment complexes in you area. Guess the city is already in the toilet based on all your comments.
I however think this is an awesome idea. Economically speaking a good city always has a balance.
Bet the home owners around there are thrilled their property values are going to tank. Way to go.
Doesn’t Habitat for Humanity require the future homeowners to provide labor ? Has that changed? I always thought that there would be more pride in the project if there was that requirement. Some are down on their luck not all at poverty level are drug users and thief’s
Unless I’m mistaken, the philosophy behind Habitat for Humanity is that the prospective homeowner works alongside the Habitat builders to construct and finish the units, investing sweat equity in building their unit. They are working families that just can’t go the normal route of a down payment and large monthly mortgage payments. They have an affordable mortgage and their sweat equity at the end of the process, and the unit is turned over to them. It’s not like Section 8 unless they have seriously changed the concept of Habitat for Humanity. Concord had a Habitat for Humanity development under construction on Clayton Road behind Petsmart back in the ’90s or early 2000. I think it was three or four small comes on a small piece of land on a corner there which I believe was later enclosed by a wall of some short, perhaps to reduce noise from the busy street, etc.
My mom had a colleague, a school teacher who was lucky enough to get one of those places. I’m pretty sure it still works like that.
I don’t think you really know him because he stole from many of his friends. I think that his family knew that he had problems but didn’t want to deal with them. I just think it’s teally sad!
Kids getting a better education. Families getting a better environment.
Sounds good.
I agree, $5m for 7 units, something’s wrong here, embezzlement?
I agree with the other commentators who question the numbers here. But I also wonder how this program would work. The article says that H for H will “make them available” for low and medium income families. Make available in what way? Are they selling the townhouses at a lower cost! How much lower? How do these families qualify for home loans? If the families are able to buy these places under market value – what prevents them from selling them at market value and pocketing the profit? Or are they going to be Section 8 rentals? If they’re Section 8 – or homeless housing – shouldn’t the residents be informed and given an opportunity to weigh in on this? The article is vague. Saying that there are “legal complexities” and “additional paperwork” involved, sounds like they’re telling the PH residents not to worry their pretty little heads about this – just let us push this through and don’t ask questions.
TramaRX I think your seatbelt is to tight. It seems to be restricting the oxygen to what is left of your brain cells. People in that program work. Just because someone is low income doesn’t mean that are any of the thing’s you insinuate. I’m also wondering when the last time you drove on that street because in all honesty that area is a pit . Nothing high class or high income about it. Try looking in the mirror as scary as that is.
Here are some facts:
No everyone on section 8 is a lazy, drug dealing ,baby making, criminal.
Many people are struggling to make ends meet but they are law abiding, hard working, honest people.
In fact most low income people can’t get into a H.H. House because it’s to much money!
If you all want middle class and poor out of California…who are you going to compare yourself to, who are you going to belittle then, who is going to put up with your rude and discriminating ways…..might be fun to watch.
If I was judging you from your comments on here….I would say you’re fronting, and inherited, you are not able to sit for long or look in the mirror, and perhaps like most people a few pay day’s or a medical emergency from…..well try to have a good day. Loosen your belt and look beyond the cover you might learn something or like something, including yourself.
I’ve worked smarter not harder to be financially stable and a multi house owner. I don’t agree with low income housing being placed next to high price neighborhoods where people actually own their property and take pride in maintaining it. How about working on your puting a full sentence together that makes actually sense.
It’s just another example of NIMBYism which is so prevalent in today’s society.
And at the end of the day, those multiple houses will get you what?
Envy from others?
That’s pretty shallow.
@Trauma Rx Google or DuckDuckGo (if you don’t want to be tracked) Habitat for Humanity to understand how it works. These are working families. They have obligations when they agree to be part of the program. Building supplies and labor to build the unit are donated. They must invest sweat equity in the construction of their unit. Habitat works with lenders to obtain financing. Knowledge is powerful — it might also reduce your obvious fear of the unknown.
I hope each and every neighbor of this project voted Democrat in the Statewide elections. You’re reaping what you sow. Good luck with your one party utopia.
POST DELETED
Please Note: Users who use multiple names will be deleted. Please choose a name so others can easily chat with you
The financing looks inflated because the rents don’t fully cover the costs to build and maintain the units over a long period of time (prob 20 yrs)..so in order for the project to pencil out, it needs an infusion of money.
Habitat for Humanity performs criminal background checks on applicants, and does a financial examination of applicants to make sure they can pay their mortgage. Applicants must also work 500 hours on the construction of the house, or another Habitat project.
https://www.ci.pleasant-hill.ca.us/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/3069 come spark at city hall TONIGHT! 3 minutes In in public comment!
For those who think they are going to fight this….good luck. SB 35 was passed at the state house and signed into law by Gov. Brown. Pleasant Hill and other east bay cities are “REQUIRED” to build or face monthly fines up to 600k. After paying fines for 6 months the state can assume control of local planning and make the decisions in a state committee.
Comments are closed.