LA PALMA : City Housing Plan Upsets Neighbors in L.A. County

Jim McMahon lives in Cerritos in Los Angeles County. So why is he concerned about a project for low- to moderate-income families in La Palma, in Orange County?

It’s because the project would be just across Denni Street, the county line.

McMahon contends that the proposed La Palma housing project is badly planned. But City Manager Pamela Gibson says it would be “a quality project.”

“I definitely think this project would be an asset,” Gibson said. “It not only meets our (state-mandated) legal requirements for this type of housing, but it also has a gorgeous design--a walled, gated community.”

McMahon strongly disagrees. “This project lacks good urban planning,” he said.

At issue is a 6.7-acre site at the northeast corner of Denni Street and La Palma Avenue. La Palma purchased seven now-empty houses at the intersection, and the city plans to have a private developer build a 111-unit affordable-housing project on the properties. Another 12 units may be built in the future.

The city’s current plan calls for the site to have 20 single-family houses, 35 apartments for senior citizens, and 56 condominiums. Gibson said the cheapest condo, a two-bedroom unit, would sell for $115,900, and the cheapest single-family house, a four-bedroom home, would cost $240,000. Apartments rented to senior citizens would be in the $500- to $600-a-month range.

“The term ‘low income’ in Orange County is not typical of other places,” Gibson said.

McMahon, 39, is a real estate developer. He lives on Squaw Valley Way, just off Denni Street, in an attractive Cerritos area of homes valued up to $500,000. McMahon, however, said it is not income level vs. income level, nor city vs. city that has caused him and some other Cerritos residents to oppose the La Palma project.

“We realize that (low-cost housing) has to be built, but we think this plan is bad,” he said. “It needs more upgrading, more parking, more recreation space.”

Gibson said she thinks the current plan already has adequate parking and open space. But she said the city is open to suggestions. “We’ve already incorporated some of the suggestions people like Mr. McMahon have given,” she said.

The City Council is scheduled to vote on the plan in March.

In the meantime, McMahon vowed, he will continue seeking more changes. “This cannot be substandard,” he said. “If you’ve got good, quality-built units, even if it is low-cost housing, there’s no problem with that.”