Construction under way on Whittier's first low-income rental housing project

Construction under way on Whittier’s first low-income rental housing project

Whittier Daily News, December 31, 2011
By Mike Sprague, Staff Writer

WHITTIER — Construction is under way on the city’s first low-income rental housing project for non-senior citizens.

LINC Housing Corp., a Long Beach-based affordable housing developer, is building Mosaic Gardens, a 21-unit, three-story, 27,900-square-foot development on a vacant half-acre parcel at the southeast corner of Pickering Avenue and Philadelphia Street.

“It’s going to be beautiful,” said Hunter Johnson, LINC’s president and chief executive officer. “It’s the first housing project built under the Uptown Specific Plan.”

The property has been vacant since the 1987 Whittier Narrows earthquake.

The project is expected to be completed in about a year, Johnson said.

Whittier Councilman Joe Vinatieri said the project is a great one for the city.

Contractors pour concrete footings and work on the block wall at Linc Housing’s 21-unit low-income housing project on Philadelphia Street in Whittier on Friday on Dec. 30, 2011. Construction being under way on Linc Housing’s 21-unit low-income housing project at the southeast corner of Pickering Avenue and Philadelphia Street. (SGVN/Staff photo by Keith Durflinger)

“It’s in an area near Whittier High School and will positively impact property values,” Vinatieri said.

Vinatieri said he believes LINC will do a good job with the project.

“I have great faith in LINC,” he said. “We have a long track record with them. They’ve done an outstanding job at the Seasons at the Hoover.”

Rents will range from an estimated $523 to $1,266 per month, depending on household income.

LINC will not take applications from prospective renters until the project is four to five months from being completed, Johnson said.

There will be six one-bedroom, eight two-bedroom and seven three-bedroom units.

They will be rented to 14 households who have very low incomes and six who have moderate incomes.

While these numbers are likely to increase because of inflation, currently to qualify as very low income, a family of three would make no more than $22,380 annually.

The same sized family with a moderate income would make no more than $44,000.

Residents will save more than just on rent, Johnson said.

“They should be able to save on utility costs and we’ll have a variety of services,” he said.

Funding for the $9.4 million development comes from a number of sources including a loan from the city using federal housing and redevelopment funds and tax credit equity from Bank of America.

The property will include a large community space where residents will enjoy special events and resident services programs.

LINC will provide a number of services, including after-school programs, homework center, and help with health, fitness and finances.

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