Santa Clarita / Antelope Valley : City OKs Apartment Complex for Seniors : Housing: A Lancaster agency will provide a $475,000 loan. The developer will set aside some units for low- income residents.

A 182-unit senior apartment complex that will provide affordable housing units to low-income senior citizens will be built in Lancaster.

The City Council on Monday approved an agreement with Lionsgate Ltd. of Woodland Hills for the development of the apartment complex on vacant property at 10th Street West and Avenue J-6. The city’s redevelopment agency will provide a $475,000 loan to the developer to cover some of the building permit and impact fees that the company must pay.

Lionsgate will, in turn, set aside 20% of the apartments for low-income households and 10% for very-low-income households. Half of the units must be designated for senior citizens. Monthly rents charged to very-low-income residents will be as low as $335 for a one-bedroom unit, a Lionsgate representative said.

Because Lionsgate is building housing units for senior citizens and low-income residents, the council agreed to allow the company to build more apartments than the city zoning ordinance would have allowed.

Councilman George Root objected to the increased density, which is allowing 53 more apartments than would otherwise have been approved.

Other council members, however, said they were pleased with the project. Henry Hearns said, “I think it’s going to be an exceptionally good project.”

Mayor Arnie Rodio said the project will have benefits for the community, including a boom in business at a nearby shopping center where the complex residents will probably shop.

Construction is scheduled to start next spring.

If Lionsgate fails to meet the terms of its agreement, such as having 36 apartments for low-income tenants, then it will have to pay back the $475,000 loan with interest. Otherwise, the redevelopment agency will forgive the loan in 36 years.

The complex will have a security gate, covered walkways, a spa, recreation building and a laundry room.