Senior Housing Plan or Show Me the Money

Grandpaterrace isn't against providing low and middle income affordable housing in Grand Terrace. GrandpaTerrace does have questions in regards to Schwab's Senior Housing Boondoggle. I will Write my comments and concerns directly related to the article in which Schwab was quoted.

GT plans its first senior housing
By Stephen WallStaff Writer
Friday, July 29, 2005 -

GRAND TERRACE - At 74, Dolores Schmechel is ready to start a new chapter in her life.

The retired business owner plans to sell her home and move into the city's first housing complex designed exclusively for senior citizens.
"I have a large home and a yard,' said Schmechel, who owned a dry cleaning shop and gift store in Grand Terrace for 27 years. "There are many senior citizens who have homes and would like to get into something smaller and not have all this responsibility. After a while, you can't do all the things you used to.'

Understanding Mrs. Schmechel's desire to downsize she may want to think twice before selling her home, and her security. There may be better options. Don't be like those seniors in Colton who are being evicted from their Senior Housing. They sold their homes and moved in to their Final Stage of Life. Now they are being forced out of the development used to entice them to sell their homes. Will the City Guarantee all residents of the New Facility a Place to Live for the REMAINDER of their LIVES??

Schmechel has expressed interest in renting an apartment at the proposed 120-unit Blue Mountain Senior Villas on Grand Terrace Road between Mount Vernon Avenue and Terrace View Elementary School.
The project, which would include a 6,500-square-foot senior center and four-acre park, is expected to be considered by the Planning Commission on Thursday. If approved, it would go to the City Council for a final OK on Aug. 11. (Where are the financials, and contracts?)

Construction could start in the fall, with the complex opening in late 2006, officials said.

The city Redevelopment Agency would pay $9 million of the $16 million project. The remaining $7 million would come from private investors and federal tax-credit dollars, City Manager Tom Schwab said.

The City Redevelopment Agency will be using $9 million of funds it has available as a result of incurring a DEBT which the CRA will have to pay back to the lender, where will the funds come from to pay back the loans of the CRA? What Private Investor is providing Money and what is the Payback Plan for the "Investor"? What Federal Tax-Credits are available specifically? Are the construction bids, and contracts being put out to open bid? Are the contracts public Property. These are reasonable questions that need reasonable and full answers.


"Right now, our seniors have to move out of Grand Terrace to find an affordable place to live,' Schwab said. "There is simply no senior housing in Grand Terrace to accommodate them.'

How many seniors HAVE to move. How many CHOSE to move. What are the reasons for their Choice. Hmm, perhaps we can start with threats of eminent Domain taking their property, perhaps the threats of code enforcement, perhaps the inability to convert their homes into Senior Group homes or Multi Family homes, perhaps because there is no public transportation to the hospital, and other places seniors need to visit. Seniors move for many reasons. Enticing them to sell their homes with the idea they will have a place to live... Well it doesn't pass the sniff test when it is a Schwab and Friends plan.

If a private citizen wanted to build small homes or apartments they would be run out of town. We have housing requirements which are written to "Protect" the ever increasing property values. Small homes, and apartments don't increase surrounding property value. Just ask the City Council, and Mr. Schwab about those darn APARTMENTS, and RENTERS... You seniors will become "RENTERS" worse yet RENTERS in LOW INCOME HOUSING. See how much attention will be paid to your concerns then, even if you are paying full rent.

There is senior housing in Grand Terrace. There is housing available at The Terrace, the Nursing Facility, Mobile Home Parks, Azure Apartments, and other Apartments in the Community. What there isn't in this city is LOW or Moderate Income, or Affordable HOUSING.

How many of our GT seniors would actually qualify for the lower rental units? How many of our seniors would be able to pay for "Market Value" apartments? How many of our seniors would be able to live on the 3rd floor of a building when the power goes out? How about letting seniors "Improve" their homes so they can share their homes as a group home, and invite other's to live in their existing homes? Woops,, there would be no sale of prop 13 protected homes to finance the city's coffers and realtors pockets.!!


Ninety percent of the units would be set aside for low- and moderate-income seniors at rents from $450 to $650 a month, Schwab said.
Ten percent would be rented at market rates of about $1,000 a month, he said. ( Doing the math that means 12 will be at market value, and 108 will be rented to qualified low and middle income residents, are they single or double occupancy?)

An age requirement hasn't been determined.

The Corporation for Better Housing, a Sherman Oaks-based nonprofit company, would build and manage the project.

(Why is a non profit company giving a donation to the City to Have a Band Concert/Party at the same time this is being decided?) (Non profit does not mean that someone is not making money, don't be fooled by the status of the business.)

The city plans to lease the land to the company for $1 a year for 60 years, Schwab said. After the lease expires, control of the land would revert back to the city, he said.

In return what guarantees and performance requirements are deliverable by "the company". What would be the fair market value of a lease for 60 years of the property? What is their income to be earned as a result of their contract to operate. What if they default? Where would the seniors go if there is a default?


The three-story housing complex would be next to the new senior center with its library, crafts room, kitchen and administrative offices.

A library: Where have we heard this before? How many Libraries do we need in Grand Terrace? If there is to be a Library Building Owned by Grand Terrace and Operated by the County this is a better placement than Town Center, however, the duplication is a waste, and an attempt to oversell the facility.

The existing modular 5,000-square-foot senior center on the site would be moved during construction and removed when the new structure is built.
The four-acre passive park that runs through the complex would include walkways, a citrus exhibit, garden and other amenities. It would be open to the public.

( Some times the park's use is called "Restricted" Access" What does that mean? Where is the parking for the Park Users? Why on earth are the driveways flanked by view blocking trees? Don't create visual impediments to traffic and safety.)

Some neighbors think the project is inappropriate for the area.
"I don't have anything against seniors,' said Kim Hathaway, 57, who lives on Vista Grande Way near the site. "I don't think it's the right place for it to be next to the school.'

A school can be a good neighbor... A senior housing project can be a good neighbor to a school. Will senior sex offenders, alcoholics, drug users be excluded from the senior housing and center? Will there be full background searches of all residents of the senior center. Will doing such background searches be a disqualifying Factor for Federal grants and loans? Will the city provide for public transportation to "Down Town" or to Colton, ARMC, KAISER, LLUH, and the VA? Perhaps seniors should live closer to public transportation and hospitals. If this is being planned as the "Final" residence for our seniors how will they cope with 3 floors and no elevators? How will their building be energy efficient or livable when the power goes out? Will there be a back up generator for medical support, elevators and so forth? Will the Seniors be able to drive a golf cart to the store? Will they have rooms for pets?


Don Bartee, 77, who wants to live in the complex when he turns 80, disagrees. "Some people don't like anything,' said Bartee, who has lived in Grand Terrace for 45 years. "Would they rather have a commercial building or a home for ex-convicts or something like that? What could be better than a senior center?'

Will Don Bartee be qualified to live in the complex? Would a person who has been self employed qualified? Will he have to sell his property, in order to qualify to reside in the Senior Complex? How about senior ex-convicts Mr. Bartee. It is the planer, and the plans which most object to, not the idea of a senior center and park.

Why not put the park between the Seniors and the School? This change could provide a better collaboration of use of the two populations, and a east facing window for the center would be cooler in the summer months. West Walls made of Glass... Haven't We don't that enough in this town??? Try going to City Hall when the air conditioning breaks, or the library. It is not a good thing.

These are the questions, will there be answers, or just shoulder shrugging, you don't have a right to know attitude of the Schwab and Council, the Planning Department, and Planning Commission... Hmmm. one can hope.