Help is on the way, closer than ever before, for seekers of affordable housing in Culver City.
A scant 10 years after a formerly unpopular Globe Avenue housing project was conceived, the international builder Habitat for Humanity broke ground this morning beneath a brilliant mid-morning Westside sun.
Forty-year-old volunteer- based Habitat, which is putting up buildings in 70 countries, is counting on Culver City volunteers to bring the ambitious project in on the forecast schedule.
Nearly every City Council member, present and past, upright and/or breathing, reported for duty to the long-vacant, rectangular 1.2 acre plot on the east side of Globe Avenue, bracketed by Washington Place on the north and Washington Boulevard.
Eleven days out from the April 12 election, City Council candidates Scott Wyant, who played a lead-up role as a Planning Commissioner, and Goran Eriksson were prominent in the crowd of dignitaries.
Only the maintenance crew from City Hall was absent.
Community Development Dept. Director Sol Blumenfeld predicted the 10 units – each ranging from 1300 to 1500 square feet— will be ready for occupancy in 12 to 18 months.
Wearing a tongue-in-cheek expression as if to ask what-is-the-hurry?, Mr. Blumenfeld cracked, “Only took 10 years to get to this point. It is a lot quicker to build than to actually get through the process.”
Culver City residents who are seeking affordable housing will be given an edge in the bidding for the three units classified as “affordable.”
Mr. Blumenfeld said a lottery will be employed. “We are going to pre-screen applicants because there is a desire to make sure Culver City residents have priority.”
Turing to Housing Administrator Tevis Barnes, Mr. Blumenfeld asked about the preference priorities.
“There is a preference for people who live and work in Culver City,” said Ms. Barnes.
“Not by type of job?” Mr. Blumenfeld inquired by way of clarification. No, Ms. Barnes replied. “They only are given a preference in the application process.” No guarantees.
Background and credit checks will be made on each family, “and the family has to be willing to do the 500 hours of ‘sweat-equity,’ which is 250 hours for a single-headed household,” Ms. Barnes said.
“They also have to do first-time homebuyer training.
“Throughout this application process, a preference will be given to people who live and work in Culver City.”
CalTrans held the land after the state widened the 405 Freeway. City Hall purchased the property for $3.1 million, with the intention of splitting the 10 units between affordable and market-value.
Neighbors objected. If the original noise has not been vanquished, it has been sharply diminished.
“Residents began to back away,” said an unnamed city official, “because they saw this plot as a gathering place for doing drugs and attracting other undesirable types.”
