Senior housing project going downtown

Santa Maria Planning Commissioners say they're excited about a downtown project that would bring a senior assisted-living home to the heart of the city. The commission voted 4-0 Wednesday night to allow the Sun family to develop the project at 117 N. Broadway. The commission's newest member, Adrian Andrade, who was appointed Tuesday night by Councilwoman Hilda Zacarias, abstained from the vote. The applicants are proposing extensive remodeling in their building to create the assisted-living facility on the second floor while keeping the existing furniture store on the ground floor. Though commissioners said they are pleased to see an additional opportunity for seniors to live in the downtown area, Commissioner Lawnae Hunter insisted a condition of approval be added to require some sort of open space for the residents.

Developers dreaming of helping seniors

A few dozen low-income seniors, with fixed incomes vulnerable to escalating rents and mortgages, will soon have another housing option thanks to a tax-credit-assisted project that is coming to market in Wahiawa.
The affordable rental complex, California Avenue Apartments, will hardly satisfy pent-up demand in that market, as its 42 units are just a drop in the bucket compared to the estimated 17,000 or so apartments the state estimates are needed to ease the shortfall in Hawaii's affordable housing.
The developers, a Honolulu partnership named California Dreaming, will host an open house Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the site at 220 California Avenue. Applicants must be age 62 and above, with annual incomes ranging from $24,950 to $28,500. The three-story complex will feature a garden and senior community center as well as a coin-operated laundry on every floor.