Developers have broken ground on a 54-unit affordable housing community with the help of a CalOptima Health grant to support housing for Medi-Cal members.
Under development by C&C Development and Riverside Charitable Corp. in Buena Park, California, Lincoln Avenue Apartments will include 11 units for veterans and 13 permanent supportive housing units for families and individuals with special needs.
“C&C Development is honored to be working to strengthen the affordable housing options in Buena Park,” said Todd Cottle, principal at C&C Development. “Building communities like Lincoln Avenue Apartments is our passion, as we embrace collaborative public-private partnerships that lift up low-income Orange County residents.”
The $42.7 million development is supported by a number of funding sources, including the county-organized health system.
“CalOptima Health’s award of $8 million toward Lincoln Avenue Apartments reflects our ongoing commitment to secure housing as the foundation of health,” said CEO Michael Hunn. “These new housing units will improve the lives of many of our Medi-Cal members, especially our kids who will enjoy the fun tot lot and teen outdoor fitness areas.”
CalOptima Health serves nearly 918,000 members with a network of more than 8,300 primary-care doctors and specialists and 43 acute and rehab hospitals.Financing for Lincoln Avenue Apartments also includes a low-income housing tax credit investment by Bank of America through the National Equity Fund. Bank of America also provided a construction loan, and Citi Community Capital provided a permanent loan.
Other supporters include the California Tax Credit Allocation Committee, California Debt Limit Allocation Committee, the city of Buena Park, Orange County, and the Orange County Housing Finance Trust.
Units will range in size from approximately 500 to 900 square feet and will be both Americans With Disabilities Act-accessible and adaptable. The development will incorporate sustainable design elements and practices, such as drought-tolerant landscaping and installation of energy-efficient HVAC systems, water heaters, and appliances. Residents will have access to a community room, laundry room, children’s tot lot, teen outdoor fitness area, and a barbecue pavilion.
They will also have access to the LifeSTEPS program that will be on-site to provide adult education classes and after-school activities for children. “These life-enriching experiences will help Lincoln Avenue families grow stronger and transform their lives,” Cottle added.
