Proposed low-income housing unit threatened

Eron Ben-Yehuda

HUNTINGTON BEACH -- The fear of attracting criminals into the

neighborhood threatens a proposed affordable housing project.

Local developer Amwest Environmental Group Inc. plans to build a

three-story, 106-unit apartment complex at 8102 Ellis Ave. The

single-room studios, each with a kitchen, bathroom and storage space, are

expected to rent for about $500 per month, although regulations permit

stays as short as a week at a time, said James Lu, the developer’s

president.

To qualify, tenants must meet the criteria for low- and very low-income

families, which make roughly between $17,000 and $38,000 annually, he

said.

The project, known as a single-room occupancy hotel, is the first of its

kind in the city. It will help ease the housing crunch among the local

poor, he said.

“We really need this type of facility,” he said.

But some nearby property owners and residents say they worry their

middle-class neighborhood will become crime ridden because of the type of

people who move into these projects.

Robert Butler, who owns apartments on Demion Lane, is concerned that “ex

cons” and “sex perverts” will end up “ransacking” the area.

“The nightmare scenario is drugs,” he said. “Dealing and using [drugs] is

a big thing.”

Such fears are unfounded, Lu said. All you have to do is check similar

facilities in Irvine and Fullerton, he said.

“It’s not there,” he said. “None of this has happened.”

Jane James, the city’s associate planner, agrees with the developer.

“People are assuming low income equals crime,” she said. “I don’t think

that there’s any evidence that is true.”

Instead of troublemakers, Lu expects teachers, students, nurses and

waitresses to apply for housing, he said.

“Usually, they are hard-working people providing basic service to the

community,” he said.

To ensure safety, the facility will run background checks on potential

tenants, post a security guard on site during the night, install 24-hour

closed-circuit television monitors in the common areas and require

visitors to check in, he said.

The Planning Commission is expected to rule on the project March 14.