HomeMy WebLinkAbout06_28-29_2017 PC Correspondence - Avila Ranch (San Luis Obispo County Housing Trust Fund - Rioux)KeW'Vy.,.) CJ U1zV1,7 PC Mtlhk�
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Comments to SLO Planning Commission 6/28/17
Avila Ranch
To paraphrase George Carlin "a cynic is a disappointed idealist." Tonight, I'm probably the most
cynical person in the country.
Based on my training as a planner, Avila Ranch is a fabulous project. It will add much needed housing
to our community. It will also make public improvements that the city should have paid for long ago.
As a housing advocate, however, Avila Ranch is an epic fail. Only 42 of its 720 units will be affordable
to very low, low or moderate income households! That's dismal. The Housing Element says that
58.2% of our new units need to be affordable, not less than 6%.
Most of those who support Avila Ranch because they hope to buy a home will also become cynics once
they realize how expensive these market -rate homes will be. That's because home prices are based on
the market, and not hopes, dreams or wishes.
The local market is tight, so prices are high. For example, there is only one home listed on Realtor.com
that is affordable to a moderate income buyer. ONE! If old condo conversions are too expensive for
moderate income buyers, how can anyone expect that new town homes or single family homes will be?
Granted, the proposed condos and perhaps some of the town homes will be affordable at the so-called
"workforce" income level. However, everyone needs a big dose of reality regarding those units, too.
The reality is that a one -bedroom unit at the Avivo Townhomes is over $500,000. In case you don't
remember, this project was the City's first that was "affordable by design." Hopefully, Avila Ranch
will be the last because it will be just as unaffordable!
I agree that housing our workforce is critical. But let's also get real about our workforce. According to
the BLS, the median wage of employees in this county is $17.39 per hour. That means that more than
half of our workforce earns less than $3,000 per month even if they work 40 hours per week.
Incidentally, the monthly cost of owning a $500,000 "workforce" home is more than $3,000.
While I'm extremely disappointed about Avila Ranch, I don't blame the developer. He's following all
of the rules. He's even offering a broader housing mix than almost any other developer before him.
He's also investing in needed city infrastructure. After all his efforts and costs, this project deserves to
be approved.
I mostly blame the market for our high housing costs, but I also blame the City for adopting policies
that make it difficult and expensive to build the housing that our community and real workforce need.
In closing, I ask each of you to do three things tonight:
Re -read the letter that I sent to you concerning San Luis Ranch. Most of those comments apply to this
project as well.
Look at Realtoncom and see how much homes really cost in San Luis Obispo.
And, finally look in the mirror and ask yourself "Is this the best we can do?"
Thank you.
Jerry Rioux, Executive Direcor
San Luis Obispo County Housing Trust Fund
RECEIVED
CITY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO
JUN 2 9 2017
COMMUNITY DLEVELOPMENT