Why Not Build 40 Unit Sunset Lane Apartment Project

Bernard Carlson, March 26, 2012

On the March 27th Agenda, item #17, Health and Human Services is recommending BOS accept study on “Exterior Housing Conditions Study” (EHCS), which is dated February 8, 2012.  This study was performed for data that will lead to application for CDBG Grants.

Page 8 of this EHCS report states that EDC has 181,000 residents, and 88,000 housing units.  Of these units, the study states that there were 17,800 vacant units in 2010, counting seasonal, recreational, and other occasional uses.   It further states, “without taking such homes into account, the vacancy rate is approximately 6.5%.  That is 5,720 vacant units out of the 88,000.

March 20th Board Members Knight, Briggs, and Santiago approved items #15, 16, 17 the very expensive HHS 40 unit Sunset Lane Apartment project.  WHY?? 

How many of the 5,720 units could have been purchased with that same amount of money; improved the real estate market; and provided immediately available housing? 

This issue should be reviewed with “units cost analyzed” and if there are anywhere near that number of vacancies, the 40 unit Sunset Lane Apartment project should be cancelled.