From KSBY: New affordable housing units planned in San Luis Obispo

By: Alexa Bertola, January 31, 2018

There will soon be more affordable housing options in San Luis Obispo.

A new complex, The Courtyard at Serra Meadows, is set to go in on Violet Street. The nearest large cross streets are Prado and Higuera.

The complex will include 36 rental units. Twenty-seven are for low-income and 9 are for very low-income.

“There are 9 one-bedroom apartments, 18 two-bedroom apartments, and 9 three-bedroom apartments,” said Scott Smith, Housing Authority of San Luis Obispo (HASLO) Executive Director.

The units, all rentals, are geared toward those on a fixed-income or low-income, excluding students.

“For example, for a family of four moving in, the maximum income is around $49,000 per year,” Smith said.

How much you pay in rent, will depend on your salary.

“One-thousand to $1,100 is probably around the range for that higher-income family,” Smith added.

During next Tuesday’s San Luis Obispo City Council meeting, the council could give the green light on a $600,000 loan to help fund the project.

“Housing is one of our major city goals and so this new project that we’re going to be considering supporting this coming up council meeting is an aspect of that,” said Mayor Heidi Harmon.

Some neighbors who live within view of the future site say they have some concerns.

“I’m all for providing low-income housing but there has to be an adequate number of streets and parking places and so on,” said Deborah Light-Pacheco. “I can see the streets becoming incredibly congested here. Right now, it’s very peaceful and wonderful. I moved here for that. I hope that’s not taken away.”

Joe Shubitowski says, when he bought his home, he knew affordable housing would go up.

“I think when I realized where it’s going to be, I mean I thought, well gosh, that’s like the most remote piece of property away from public transportation,” Shubitowski said.

With construction targeted to get underway by October of this year, the Housing Authority hopes those who need it can move in by 2019.

“The family, the senior citizen, the disabled person that is already here struggling to find a place to live,” Smith concluded.

The waitlist has not yet opened for this project, but HASLO says to keep an eye on their website.

There are currently about 300 affordable housing units in the City of San Luis Obispo.

Another 46 affordable housing apartments are currently under construction on Broad Street. Those will be rented out this fall.