[July 15, 2011] Historic angle to senior center Tweet OAKDALE, Jul 15, 2011 (The Modesto Bee - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- The city held a groundbreaking Thursday for a $12 million apartment complex for low-income seniors, which may be its last housing project using redevelopment agency funding. The city's redevelopment agency provided about $5 million toward the Heritage Oaks Senior Apartments. The nonprofit developer came up with the rest of the funding from the state. "Today makes it historically significant to have this groundbreaking because it may be one of the last housing projects funded through the redevelopment agency," Mayor Pat Paul said. Gov. Jerry Brown's budget calls for local governments to close their redevelopment agencies or give the state $1.7 billion to schools this budget year and additional money in the next budget year. For Oakdale, the state payment is estimated at $635,000 in this budget year and $196,000 the next budget year, though the amounts could change. Oakdale Finance Director Albert Avila said if the city decides to pay the money, which he called ransom, the redevelopment agency still would generate enough money to take on smaller projects. But Avila doubts the housing component of redevelopment will survive. The League of California Cities and the California Redevelopment Association are expected to file a lawsuit against Brown's plan. Merced-based Central Valley Coalition for Affordable Housing is developing the 50-unit apartment complex at Old Stockton Road, next to the Oak Haven Senior Apartments and near the Gladys L. Lemmons Senior Community Center. The complex will have 40 one-bedroom and 10 two-bedroom apartments. All apartments would have one bathroom. Residents would have to be at least 55 and make no more than 60 percent of the county's median income. For instance, a single person could not have an annual income of more than $25,020, and a husband and wife could not have an income of more than $28,560. The rents, which include utilities, will vary based on residents' incomes. For example, a tenant with an income that's 45 percent of the county median would pay $502 a month for a one-bedroom apartment. The complex's amenities will include a landscaped common area, a sunroom, crafts room, community center and office with Internet access for residents' use. Construction has started and the complex should open in July 2012, said Chris Alley, chief executive officer of the coalition for affordable housing. Bee staff writer Kevin Valine can be reached at [email protected] or (209) 578-2316. To see more of The Modesto Bee, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.modbee.com/. Copyright (c) 2011, The Modesto Bee, Calif. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For more information about the content services offered by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services (MCT), visit www.mctinfoservices.com. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]