Hollister council members, acting as the Redevelopment Agency
Board, last week approved a loan to the low-income Vista Meadows
project for seniors in the amount of slightly more than $1.5
million, bringing the total commitment from the city to South
County Housing in the agreement to $3.7 million.
Hollister council members, acting as the Redevelopment Agency Board, last week approved a loan to the low-income Vista Meadows project for seniors in the amount of slightly more than $1.5 million, bringing the total commitment from the city to South County Housing in the agreement to $3.7 million.
Council members approved the supplemental appropriation to fulfill the amount deemed necessary by the nonprofit housing organization, and in doing so they OK’d an owner participation agreement with South County Housing.
Vista Meadows is a 72-unit, very low- and low-income senior housing project located on Park Street near Rancho San Justo Middle School. At a previous board meeting, the RDA Board had approved the total loan amount for $3.7 million, according to a staff report.
The project would remain under its affordable designation for 55 years, the report notes.
The action taken by the RDA Board was the last necessary step, before construction, in the process for the agency.
The project does not fall within the RDA’s official project boundaries, but agency officials made a case that it benefits people within the specified zone by increasing the stock of affordable housing for those who live or work near the project area, stimulates more investment in the community, and provides a stable residential base within the community to provide goods and services marketed at the commercial establishments within the RDA area, according to the report.
Construction is scheduled to start in the spring, according to the city report.
RDA officials had been working on the Vista Meadows housing facility before the building moratorium hit in 2002, leading to the delay, said Councilwoman Pauline Valdivia, who represents the district where the housing will be built, and also executive director of Jovenes de Antano that oversees senior programs here.
She noted how there is a great need for senior housing in Hollister and that other facilities have long waiting lists.
“It’s going to provide a lot of housing for seniors in this community,” she said. “They’re still either living at home with family members, which isn’t good, or they’re living in (bad) conditions.”
Valdivia said the senior population is “really excited” about it.
“It’s much needed and it’s still not enough housing,” she said.
