City Gives Affordable Housing Project Cash Infusion

<b>MR. UBIQUITY:</b> Architect Detlev Peikert is changing the face of Haley Street.

Santa Barbara City Hall appears poised to increase its financial support of a high density, affordable housing project slated for the intersection of Haley and Salsipuedes streets. The council’s Finance Committee voted to commit an additional $500,000 in its HUD funds to what’s now dubbed the Jardin de las Rosas housing project. This would bring the city’s contribution to the $15.9 million development to $3.4 million.

The additional support will enable the developer — People Self Help Housing — to better compete for limited tax credit funding, upon which low-end affordable housing development heavily depends. People Self Help Housing is proposing to build a three-story, 40-unit rental project for low- and very low-income residents. As such, it’s the first in an experimental new program allowing far greater densities to low-income housing proposals that traditional zoning would otherwise prohibit.

Last year, many neighboring businesses appealed the project to the City Council, contending it would create ”height shock, “canyonize Haley Street,” and cannibalize limited on-street parking. Many councilmembers sympathized, but rejected the appeal nonetheless.