By Mary O’KEEFE

The saga of the Abode Communities 66-unit project at the corner of Briggs Avenue and Foothill Boulevard will be stretched a few months further.

The Los Angeles County board of supervisors on Tuesday of this week was to hear, and make a decision on, the funding for the non-profit Abode Communities project in the unincorporated area of LA County/La Crescenta. 

The funding for the project in order to move forward needs approval from three of the five supervisors. Abode, a non-profit organization, is asking for funding from LA County. On May 12, the board was supposed to vote on the approval of “funding for a multifamily affordable housing development” and a “resolution declaring intent to issue multifamily housing mortgage revenue bonds or notes for the development and construction of affordable multifamily housing.” However, it was “referred back” and will return to the board of supervisors in the fall. 

“That was at my direction,” said Emilio Salas, executive director of the Los Angeles County Development Authority (LACDA).

He decided to refer it back because he had been made aware of another Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA). NOFA is a loan program that provides funds for special housing projects, like the Abode Communities is proposing. 

“Eligible projects applying for funding under a Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) must be new construction or acquisition with substantial rehabilitation, providing at least 15 units of permanent rental housing. Affordable rents and income restrictions are required in exchange for favorable loan terms. Eligible applicants include non-profit and for-profit organizations, limited liability companies, limited partnerships, public agencies, other local jurisdictions and joint ventures among any of these entities. Apartment buildings or complexes that receive financing assistance from the LACDA are required to submit annual compliance reports that are monitored by the LACDA staff,” according to the LACDA website.
LACDA had recommended the board of supervisors approve funding the Abode Communities project. The new funding availably was released in late April. 

“I became aware that the developer [Abode] may submit another application for this round of funding as well,” he said. “If that was the case, and they were successful, we would have to go back to the board again … I decided to refer the item back.”

To get a recommendation from LACDA, the applicants must fit a rubric of specifications … Abode’s project fits those specifications. Abode could get additional funding. 

The decision to “refer back” had nothing to do with the community’s opposition to the project. As of Tuesday’s meeting there were about 267 comments against the project and seven in favor of it. 

“Rather than [Abode] going back multiple times, we wanted to wait for this [round of funding] to actually conclude, and then determine how to best move forward,” Salas said. 

The comments go before the board of supervisors; it will then determine whether or not to provide funding for the project. It will take three of the five supervisors to vote to approve or not to approve funding for the project. 

Salas did point out that Abode had reduced its number of units from 80 to 66, even though that was not required; however, it made the reduction after meeting with the public. It also did not have to be part of a community meeting in order to move forward with the project. 

At the May 4 meeting there was a lot of public comment regarding the proposed project. Although there were many issues discussed, the risk of fire was often repeated. The property as proposed is in a high fire risk area not far from the neighborhood of Briggs Terrace, which has one way in and one way out for residents. This area has always been a concern for residents but even more so after the tragic Eaton Fire. 

Among the concerns mentioned was the issue of parking. Abode has proposed building 70 parking spots, although more vehicles are expected than those that accompany the 66 units. Those vehicles will have to be parked on local streets, creating evacuation issues.

Abode will be back on the board of supervisors agenda sometime this fall.

“I will be resubmitting the recommendation again once the current NOFA cycle has concluded,” Salas said. 

Salas added he will recommend the supervisors approve the project. He has worked with Abode on several other projects and said he found Abode to be a reputable organization.