New community breaks ground in downtown San Diego!

Affirmed Housing Begins Construction on Cypress

in Downtown San Diego

A San Diego Housing Commission Partnership Development, Cypress Provides Affordable Housing for Homeless

San Diego, CA, December 17, 2015 – Affirmed Housing broke ground today on Cypress, a 63-unit affordable apartment complex in the East Village District of Downtown San Diego in partnership with the San Diego Housing Commission (SDHC). Cypress is a Permanent Supportive Housing development serving homeless individuals, with $3.4 million in development funding and 62 Federal rental housing vouchers awarded by SDHC through HOUSING FIRST – SAN DIEGO, SDHC’s three-year Homelessness Action Plan.

Cypress will offer resident services by St. Vincent de Paul Village, Inc. and is being built to meet a LEED Gold level of sustainability.  Uniting affordability, sustainability, and a transit-friendly location in Downtown San Diego, Cypress epitomizes smart growth in an urban setting.

Todd Gloria, Councilmember for the City of San Diego, states, “Cypress will be a great addition to East Village.  It will offer much-needed affordable housing to many of the approximately 800 homeless individuals living on the streets in Downtown San Diego.” 

Located at 1435 Imperial Avenue in San Diego, Cypress will offer 62 studio units with supportive services for homeless individuals, and one manager’s unit.  The efficient homes will range from 275 to 350 square feet, and have access to a large, 4,000-square-foot common area. Shared amenities at Cypress will include a community kitchen, tech tables, lounge areas, and outdoor open space.  The community will also have a solar array to offset 60% of its common area usage, and will offer rents at 30% and 40% of the Area Median Income (AMI).   Designed by Carrier Johnson, the six-story community will be on a .22 acre lot. 

The project will utilize 9% Federal Tax Credits, $3,837,545 from HCD Transit-Oriented Development funding, and $3,450,000 in loan funds from SDHC, which include $2,850,000 from U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development HOME Investment Partnerships Program funds granted to the City of San Diego and administered by SDHC and $600,000 from the City of San Diego’s Inclusionary Housing Fund, also administered by SDHC.  Also, the 62 federal housing vouchers have an annual value of $612,312.

Richard C. Gentry, President & Chief Executive Officer of SDHC, states, “Cypress brings together Affirmed Housing Group, St. Vincent de Paul Village, and the San Diego Housing Commission for the kind of collaboration we envisioned to address homelessness with HOUSING FIRST – SAN DIEGO.”

James Silverwood, President of Affirmed Housing, states, “Cypress will bring essential affordable housing to Downtown San Diego.  Affordable homes are particularly important in urban locations, and we are proud that Cypress will provide 62 new homes to those who are the most vulnerable”

Headquartered in San Diego, Affirmed Housing is dedicated to improving and sustaining the viability of California through the development of affordable housing.  The company aims at enhancing communities and our environment by building professionally-managed, high-quality, green, multifamily housing.  For more information, visit www.affirmedhousing.com. 

###

Housing is important

Housing is important

During a recent political outreach campaign in favor of Los Angeles County allocating funds (taken from affordable housing when redevelopment was demolished) back to affordable housing, I realized, some people just don’t understand how important housing is.  SCANPH, (Southern California Association of Non-Profit Housing), recently shared some astonishing facts that make it much easier to comprehend and convey the harrowing fact that housing can and does affect the entire society

FACT:

Children…

…Living in overcrowded homes

·         More likely to be held back a grade

·         Score lower on math and reading tests

…Adolescents who experience housing instability

·         Have higher rates of depression, teen pregnancy, and drug use

…Those who experience homelessness

·         Have higher rates of acute illness, emotional issues and learning difficulties.

Nationally about 30% of children in foster care cannot reunite with families because the family lacks safe, affordable, stable housing. 

Housing is important

The One Paseo development in Vista, CA

 The landscape of San Diego County is changing.  New developments are happening so often now moving homes, offices and stores closer, lowering commute times, expenses, etc.   One development which aims to do just that is One Paseo.  A master planned community, One Paseo will boast private residences, stores and offices all in one location.  Thoughtfully developed, One Paseo promotes walk ability combined with other green aspects and is sure to raise property value throughout the area.  Despite the apparent good the new project will do for the community at large, there are Nay-Sayers fighting tooth and nail to deny the development of the new project. 

Truth: Community growth is good for the local economy.  Community growth brings new jobs, amenities or opportunities and housing options.  Growth symbolizes a healthy economy and prolongs the stability of the community.  If a community does not evolve or revitalize itself, it will become idle and eventually unused;  Infrastructure will age and not be repaired. 

To learn more about One Paseo, visit their website @ onepaseo.com 

Affordable housing development continues to thrive...

On March 20th, Thor Kambam Biberman, of the Daily Transcript published an article about affordable housing development in San Diego.  Featuring comments from our own CFO Nicki Cometa, the article mentions that right now, affordable housing is thriving. 

                             "We are experiencing an average 2% vacancy 
                                          at our properties," Cometa said, adding that with
                                          move-outs followed by quick move-ins, there is 
                                          virtually no vacancy at all.

The article goes on to discuss funding for affordable housing as well as developments underway by Affirmed including Cielo Carmel.  Located in Carmel Valley, Cielo will feature 197 affordable homes.  Another Affirmed community mentioned is Paseo Pointe.  Scheduled to be complete summer 2015, the beautiful new community will feature 69 studio, one, two and three bedroom homes as well as 83 thousand sq. ft. of retail and an adjacent 40 thousand sq. ft. park.  To read more of the great article, visit: www.sddt.com 

Paseo Pointe, under construction

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!

As we enter into the 23^rd year of Affirmed Housing the company, it’s always beneficial to reflect on where we’ve come from.  The year of 2014 brought Affirmed numerous groundbreaking events, marking the beginning of four new affordable housing communities; one of which will be housing for senior homeless Veterans.  The company has also celebrated two grand openings resulting in 100 new affordable homes in Los Angeles County.  Arbor Green in Carson CA., has been named LEED Platinum and is virtually net zero (the many green aspects offset utility costs to being just a couple dollars a month).  Lotus Garden, in downtown Los Angeles, has been built to achieve LEED as well and boasts a car matrix, the first affordable housing in California to do so. 

2014 also saw the hire of three new employees.  The accounting team gained Tyler Rich and Sydney Cordova while the development team brought on seasoned housing coordinator, Jeanne Blake. 

And though 2014 was a productive year, we look forward to 2015.  With four groundbreakings to come and four communities to be completed, Affirmed Housing will be busy working on innovative, efficient homes for our community at large. 

Cheers to a prosperous 2015!

Top: Arbor Green Below: Lotus Garden