Affordable Housing project breaks ground in the Springs
The movers and shakers, planners and funders of Fetters Apartments gathered in the hot summer sun August 14 to celebrate, congratulate and symbolically initiate construction of the 60-unit affordable housing project on Hwy. 12, just south of Sonoma Charter School.
Supervisor Susan Gorin struck a strong note when she praised the persistence of project director Scott Johnson, dubbing him the “junk yard dog, biting ankles to move the project along.” She also described Kathleen Kane, ED the county’s Community Development Commission, as “a true leader in the County.” Gorin acknowledged the rental crisis when she spoke of the people “yearning and pleading for housing in the Valley.”
Scott Johnson of MidPen praised County staff for their responsiveness. He also acknowledged the support of project lenders. And heaping high praise on the Springs community, he said he appreciated “above all, spirit of cooperation in the Springs, which is mind-blowing.”
La Luz Executive Director Juan Hernandez told The Sun that as he was leaving the office for the event, two more people had come to find out how to sign up for this housing. Veronica Vences of La Luz said that there are daily inquiries about this affordable housing.
The plans call for 19 one-bedroom, 22 two-bedroom, and 19 three-bedroom apartments open to individuals and families earning up to 60 percent of Area Median Income, which, for example, is $49,560 for a four-person household.
MidPen projects commonly receive 1,000 applications per 50 homes available. The selection process for the Springs campus has yet to be established. Johnson said MidPen expects families will be able to move in to the Phase 1 units by November of 2016.
The $27.5 million project will include a playground to be shared with the Sonoma Charter School, frontage and infrastructure improvements, a public bike trail, and a commercial center developed by the Vailetti Trust, which sold the land to the project.
Phase 2 of the development will provide 40 affordable rental homes for seniors, and a public park and garden. It should begin in 2017.
