There are several nonprofit agencies in Santa Barbara County trying to resolve the issues outlined in the above editorial by attempting to provide housing and services for the county's low-income seniors, farm workers and even some of what used to be middle-class workers, such as school teachers and public safety workers.
But these groups are running smack-dab up against the real estate bubble.
Six years ago, an official with the Lompoc Housing and Community Development Corp., a nonprofit, was offered two acres of Lompoc property for $200,000, as a place to build affordable housing. The official turned down the deal because she thought the price ridiculously high.
The group bought the two acres in 2001 - at a cost of $800,000, four times the original asking price. Work will begin on 35 affordable units there sometime this year. In April, the land appraised at $1.6 million.
The same thing happened to Habitat for Humanity, which builds affordable units. Its officials found a perfect spot on West Street in Santa Maria last year for $125,000, which was within the organization's budget. The purchase wasn't made, and today the parcel is on the market for $750,000, which is most decidedly not in the group's budget.
This escalation of land values only worsens the situation with regard to providing affordable housing, but strengthens the argument for in-fill development, including mixed-use zoning in a city's core.
It looks like everyone is going to have to get more creative to accommodate the area's work force in the future.
Jan. 19, 2005
Email a friend
Printer friendly