Project on the level

Lolita Harper

NEWPORT BEACH -- A crucial piece of the city’s affordable housing

plan will at last be tangible soon, as backhoes prepare the land for

the much-anticipated senior housing complex near the corner of

Jamboree Road and Back Bay Drive.

Grading has begun on Lower Bayview Landing for the senior housing

complex, as well as contouring of the upper portion, which will be a

passive park, Asst. City Manager Dave Kiff said.

The 120-unit senior housing project was the linchpin in the

certification of Newport Beach’s general plan, officials said, which

the state Housing and Community Development Department reviews to

make sure there is adequate affordable housing. A large chunk of the

120 units will be available to low and very low income senior

citizens, Asst. City Manager Sharon Wood said.

“The one condition to certifying [the general plan] was that we

develop the senior housing project,” Wood said. “So it is very

important that this is going forward.”

The project was in jeopardy earlier this year, when

environmentalists reported that the property appeared to qualify as

wetlands, which are protected.

In November, the California Coastal Commission approved the

project 7 to 4 but only after Newport Beach scaled-down the project

from 150 to 120 units and agreed to maintain a wetland area.

Mayor Tod Ridgeway said the city was “really proud” of the project

and looking forward to seeing it built.

Senior housing has become a critical issue in some areas across

the nation because of costs associated with development and years of

cutbacks in federally-assisted programs, said David Schless, the

president of American Seniors Housing Assn. in Washington, D.C. This

trend has led to a lack of affordable senior housing for the elderly,

who are often on fixed incomes.

The apartments will be available to low-income seniors. About two

dozen of the units will be set aside for moderately low income

households: individuals who earn less than $31,700 or couples who

earn less than $36,300. About 95 of the apartments will be available

to individuals who earn less than $26,450 or couples brining in less

than $30,250.