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Workers raze Humboldt Street structure to build apartments over commercial space
By KEVIN McCALLUM
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT
Workers using heavy machinery began demolishing an aging Humboldt Street office building this week to make way for a five-story structure with low-income apartments above commercial space.
Workers clear debris from a county building being demolished in downtown Santa Rosa Friday, Sept. 7, 2012 to make way for a five-story housing and mixed-use building. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat)
Construction on what will be one of the largest new buildings in Santa Rosa in several years is expected to get under way later this month and be ready for occupancy about a year later, developer Hugh Futrell said.
The brown wooden structure at 499 Humboldt St. had housed county offices and a landscape architecture firm. It’s being razed to make way for a 52-unit apartment building for low-income and very-low-income residents.
There will also be 2,500 square feet of retail space on the first floor and 41 parking spaces for residents. The project is expected to cost $12.9 million.
It’s located in a part of the city Futrell knows well. The site at the intersection of Humboldt and Seventh streets is just one block away from two other Futrell projects: The Burbank, a five-story condominium building that opened in 2008, and Beaver Street Apartments, 34 low-income apartments over commercial space that opened in 1996.
A smaller market-rate apartment building was once planned for an adjoining site on Seventh Street that houses a single-story building and until recently was home to a hair salon. The status of that project is unclear.
The site is on the edge of the Cherry Street Historic District, home to some of the city’s most notable Victorian-era residences.
Units in what is being called Humboldt Apartments will range from $749 per month for one-bedroom units to up to $1,249 for three-bedroom units, according to city reports.
The project is being financed through a $3.1 million loan from the Santa Rosa Housing Authority, up to $6.4 million in city-issued tax exempt revenue bonds and $4.3 million from investors who will receive tax credits.
Forty-three of the units will be dedicated to people who are low-income, defined as earning less than 60 percent of the median household income for the area. Eight units will be for very-low-income residents, or those earning less than 50 percent of the median.
The federal government considers the median income for a family of four in Sonoma County in 2012 to be $82,600.
(You can reach Staff Writer Kevin McCallum at 521-5207 or kevin.mccallum@pressdemocrat.com.)
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Kind of funny that a city planner who has pushed smart growth and ‘advance planning’ actually lives on one of the corners opposite this Futrell-land stack and pack. Nice view!
By the way, has anyone noticed that Futrell’s project on the corner of 3rd and Davis or is it Wilson (office building directly across from the freeway on-ramp southbound on Third) has NEVER BEEN OCCUPIED? That’s a lot of money sitting there. Never been occupied. Right there next to Beyers Costin law offices. Never occupied in, what? 5 years?
Futrell, the visionary, or Futrell, the player in public grant money?
Our money.
“Money money money MONEEE!” Mixed use! whoooeeee! Smart Growth! Stupid taxpayers! Has anyone built anything in this town besides Futrell?
I’m going to guess that, gasp, to qualify for section 8 aid you must have proper ID and prove your financial status meets the criteria.
The nerve of government to ask for ID!!
Missy-prove to us that illegals are voting in California. Give me proof of the fraud that “sways” our elections towards liberal candidates getting elected or quit harping about the myth that the Republicans have put out to their ignorant voters who will believe anything. Many Republican politicians have even admitted that the voting laws being created across the states are not because of fraud but for Democratic voter suppression and are rubbing their hands in glee that their ignorant voters actually believe the fraud myth. It’s not a oddity that they’ve picked this year, 2012, during a presidential election and after the primaries, to start all their purging of files, requiring ID at the polls but making it impossible for some to get IDs, cutting voting hours, limiting polls and machines in some inner cities, altering districts to favor Republicans and so on. They are rigging the elections to favor Republicans. THIS IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL and yet you citizens out there who happen to be rightwing AREN’T SAYING ANYTHING ABOUT IT and are buying their arguments wholesale. Are you patriots or not? Don’t you believe in CITIZENS’ constitutional right to vote or do you believe in Jim Crow voter suppression?
We need Jimmy Carter to monitor our elections for honesty like he does for 3rd world countries.
I can say for certain that EVERY democrat believes EVERY citizen has the right to vote, EVEN REPUBLICANS.
Bear,
I understand the clarity that comes with crises.
Sometimes, grace gives us solace when we feel lost and alone.
You seem like a person that is willing to look at another point of view, and not be stuck in anger and blame like Mockingbird.
Thank you for acknowledging that we are not your enemies. We see our country in distress, and wish to stop the decline if we can. Sometimes, we get caught up in petty debates that are meaningless.
From a song;
“May the blessings of God be upon you,
may his peace abide in you
may his presence illuminate your heart
now and forever more.”
WARRING WARRING !!
” Sacramento — City leaders in Hercules [ any other city ? ] spent nearly $50 million of the city’s redevelopment agency funds on questionable transactions … according to a pair of audits released Wednesday by state Controller John Chiang.
In fact, the controller found that between January 2007 and December 2010, the council adopted 40 ordinances, 679 city resolutions and 360 redevelopment agency resolutions, and all but one were by a unanimous vote. Remind you of any one ?
Chiang said … the problems should spark civic engagement. “Hopefully, the local citizenry will get involved with their hometown government and actively follow what’s transpiring,” he said. ” That’s what I’ve been saying too.
Wyatt Buchanan is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. E-mail: wbuchanan@sfchronicle.com
http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Hercules-misspent-millions-audits-find-3861407.php
Italic’s by me.
According to the latest census figures 1 in 7 Americans live in Poverty, a record number.
http://www.census.gov/newsroom/releases/archives/income_wealth/cb12-172.html
Obviously the poor economy is to blame and in an economy like this we MUST do what we can to help people get through it but…
We have spent the last several decades making poverty as comfortable as possible.
I realize that this isn’t the intent, but “the road to hell is paved with good intentions.”
When people become comfortable living in poverty, many will just accept it as “the new normal” and sink into a life of surviving until the next check comes.
Of course there are those who will not accept this and will fight their way out of poverty having been given a “hand up” by Government programs such as “Affordable Housing”.
But how many of you look forward to the day when you can pay 10 times the rent you’re paying now?
How many of you will work hard and save you money in the hope that someday you’ll pay your rent with no help from the Government?
The current system of “Affordable Housing” is just like the wars we have been fighting. A good cause built on good intentions with absolutely NO EXIT strategy!
So instead of helping people achieve the American Dream, we end up making people comfortable with the idea that they never will.
There has to be a balance and NOBODY is trying to achieve that.
Why should they?
Corporations like Burbank Housing gets rich off of the system.
Bureaucrats remain employed by the system.
They both contribute to the re-elections of people promising to maintain and expand the system.
The only way I see of ever ending this cycle is a total and complete collapse of our entire economy because NOBODY is going to vote for the candidate promising to stop giving you a cut of your neighbor’s wealth.
Great, encourage MORE illegal aliens to come here, feed off of our tax dollars & get low cost housing! In return, they will vote Dem for the rest of their lives. The cycle of corruption continues.
Bear…Mrs. Bear…
I pray everyday and sometimes continuously for world peace, the poor, underprevileged, the sick, our military, our leaders, those with special needs, disabilties, illnesses and more.
Today you and Mrs. Bear are on the list.
Keep a steady keel and straight ahead.
Bear, was the name of one of my beloved Lhasa Apsos, A little pugnacious, but well loved and loving in return. You are not in your fight alone, I myself am battling cancer. We do not have a choice in the matter. In many ways for me at least it appears to be harder on my loved ones than it is on me. Take care of yourself so you can take`care of your wife. Most of all do not be so proud that you do not ask for help. You are in my thoughts and prayers. Joe P Donegan
Bear-I work where I understand what families like yours go through when one is diagnosed with a serious illness. It will be a long haul but I’ve seen MIRACLES even in some of the worst cases. I’m not religious but I have tears in my eyes and I’m hoping that Karma hits your family because I know you are a good person, so is your wife and you deserve better.
I hope you have good insurance because that’s the key to surviving these days. Most of the posters on this website resent that we public workers (I’m assuming you are one from your posts) even have health insurance. We are, apparently, ripping off their tax dollars. Being hit with a serious illness can happen to ANY FAMILY and we all need coverage. Too bad we don’t have single payer, but I guess OBAMACARE WILL DO IN A PINCH.
@bear – sorry to hear about your devastating news. My thoughts go out to you and your spouse.
Bear,
My sincerest wishes for a swift recovery for your loved one.
May God’s blessings and mercy surround you and bring you peace.
@Bear; while you post is off topic, and we often disagree, if, indeed, you are dealing with a very difficult family crisis at this time please know that I wish you and your family the very best in facing the challenges ahead.
To all:
I have enjoyed these discussions.
Someday your spouse may be diagnosed with terminal cancer and have critical brain surgery.
Then you will learn how little meaning there is in these petty debates. I have learned, and I regret any bad feelings I may have caused.
There is more meaning in this question: did I eat today? Did my spouse eat?
You are all great in your own way.
Mockingbird?
Can you pray? That is the question.
I request prayers from all of you.
Adios.
- Bear
California law is quite clear that there must be a parking space for each and every bedroom in the complex. I wonder how this variance was approved and how much the fees were to allow this violation?
Dear Steveguy
RE: ‘Section 8 will pay … subsidies for rent… I know someone that pays $120 for a $1,200 apartment … $300 for a $1,400 place.’- S
So these alleged humanitarian developers get public financing, tax advantages and because of public rent subsidies still get to collect market rate rents.
People at city hall have some splaining to do. Let’s asked them about this, OK ?
The story mentions 41 parking spaces…which a normal project could not get away with, (ie. 52 apartments plus retail).
So they’ll flood the streets is my guess, parking in front of homes inconveniencing those homeowners who have been using those parking spots for decades.
Basically the City’s grandiose vision of a “bicycle boulevard” will become a jammed parking lot.
As any bicyclist will tell you, parking lots are dangerous places for riding.
Nice going Santa Rosa.
Only to over-post, but the rent rates are ‘market rate’. Section 8 will pay for varying degrees of subsidies for rental costs. I know someone that pays $120 for a $1,200 apartment ! I know someone else that pays $300 for a $1,400 place. Others get a typical $3-400 a month rent subsidy.
Sure some will be full price, but how long will they stay, as I can’t figure out where they are all going to park. In a paid city lot ? How affordable is that ?
RE: “Units … will range from $749 per month for one-bedroom units to up to $1,249 for three-bedroom units…”
These are market rates. Is this what the low and very low income tenants will be paying ? If they will be paying at this rate, why public funding ?
RE:”2,500 square feet of retail space” Will this be use for a food store ?
Santa Rosa retail space is way over built. An entire retail building has never had a tenant. Most of the retail space in that building on Healdsburg AV at College has never had a tenant.
It seems Santa Rosa Housing Authority and city-issued tax exempt revenue bonds are out of control.
Please tell us, Who on the council voted for this ?
How are those rents affordable? Most of the low income people in this county are women who historically make less income than men, yet we care for and raise the future. If the Housing Authority really wanted to help people drop the rents a few hundred dollars more! And if the median income is $82,600 then i must be destitute at my $31,000 a year.
Private investors are investing because there is more of return through tax credits…10-12% return than conservative t-bills, CD’s , stocks, etc. It’s about money. It’s not about supporting the poor it’s captialism supporting affordable housing!!
Hey Grey, I read it, and most all housing like that ends up section 8. Read history of these projects.
We will be subsidizing these rents. Guaranteed.
$265, 384. per unit!!! While there are hundreds of single family homes on the market for considerably less. Why is taxpayer money being diverted to this type of housing? Makes me wonder what rate of return is guaranteed to the “private investors” and who are they?
Cool, Section 8 housing downtown. Nothing could go wrong. Where is the parking ?
‘Low Cost Housing’ in another term for Smart Growth.
J.R.: the first part of your post helps define what Smart Growth is all about.
Every unit in a ‘Mixed Use’ gulag would be filled with a life that could have been much better. It ‘Back-Fills’ the Free Market, Capitalism and real private property ownership.
A space once used for productive people is removed for a space for unproductive people, using the money of the productive. America in a nutshell.
“Mixed use” in this case means the future occupants will be using several different kinds of drugs, sometimes at one time.