Developers Making Progress on Proposed Mixed-Use Development

Progress continues to be made on a controversial housing development being proposed along Route 66.

The project, titled the Gables on 66, would establish 106 three-story townhouses along Route 66 between Grand and Vermont avenues, 20 detached two-story, single-family homes along Colorado Avenue to the south and two commercial store front spaces integrated into the townhouses.

Developers estimate the project would bring the city $2.4 million in development and permit fees, $425,000 annually in school fees, $26.6 million in local income during construction, 400 construction jobs and 67 long-term jobs.

Charles Tourtellette, president of LaTerra Development, said the goals of this project are to bring housing that is tasteful and distinctly Glendora to the community and help revitalize the Route 66 area.

The initial work presented a very modern design, and a color scheme that Planning Commission members said clashed with surrounding homes. Developers have worked to make the design meld much more with the area.

"We have redesigned the townhomes along Route 66 significantly, we also redesigned the single-family homes from what was more of a contemporary architecture to what I would call a traditional cottage-style architecture," Tourtellette said, adding that the specific area was chosen, not only because of the availability of the site, but the zoning for the Route 66 corridor allows for higher density redevelopment.

Five homes and a mobile home park occupy the proposed site in addition to a vacant lot and if approved, the mobile home park's 90 or so residents and residents of the homes to the south would be forced to move.

The properties are currently in Escrow and still require approval from the city to be purchased.

Little has quelled the frustration felt by the affected residents.

"Even still now, we live in fear that our lives will be uprooted. We call Magnolia Mobile Home Park our place of residence," said Tina Gonzales, president of the Magnolia Mobile Home Park Home Owners Association.

Gonzales, a 30-year resident of the park, said many elderly residents, including veterans, live in the mobile home park and survive on a fixed income. If the property were to be sold, few residents could afford to live elsewhere in town.

"The city council and the planning commission approved plans based on a mandate. The state requires affordable housing in every single city," Gonzales said.

The Public Review Draft of the 2013-2021 Housing Element for Glendora explains under the city's Housing Programs that the Government Code requires the city to "conserve and improve the condition of the existing affordable housing" and "assist in the development of housing for low and moderate income households."

To view the city's Housing Element Draft, click here.

Glendora reportedly has the zoning capacity, even in the event of the mobile home park closure, to provide designated land for the construction of affordable housing, said Michael Forbes, Glendora city planner.

"We would still be in full compliance with state law and what we call for in the Housing Element," Forbes said. "The city is not responsible for building any affordable housing. We just have to demonstrate that we provide through our zoning and through our General Plan the appropriate capacities to allow developers to build affordable housing."

Cities and Redevelopment Agencies often partnered in years past to provide affordable housing, but since the end of those Redevelopment Agencies, many cities do not have the funds to pay for such development, Forbes said.

"Every time a developer comes in with a new project, we ask if they intend to have any affordable housing component, but so far we have not seen any interest in that from developers," Forbes said.

Tourtellette said LaTerra Development is aware of the frustration felt by affected residents and is sensitive to their concerns.

"We, are first and foremost, subject to the state laws on that, but we're also objective to be as fair and compassionate as possible as we can be to the residents," Tourtellette said.

Although not finalized yet, a closure impact report for the mobile home park is being drafted.

Closure impact reports, which are required by state law, detail how the closure would affect residents as well as list options to compensate the displaced residents. More than one option could be available, including assistance with relocation and monetary compensation, Tourtellette said.

"The owners are allowed to sell to whoever they want. We the residents are not disputing that one bit. All we want is the opportunity to make our case to purchase the property as an independently-operated mobile home park," Gonzales said.

LaTerra Development is tentatively set to present the project again to the Glendora Planning Commission in early February, where a recommendation to the city council could be made to either approve or deny the project.