Salinas housing project for more affordable housing

Improving housing and quality of life in Salinas are top priorities for the city. But neither one will be an easy fix.

Affordable housing, overcrowding, housing for the disabled and a seven-year road map for a path forward were among the main topics discussed at a workshop Thursday night. The problem is the city is under constraints from the state, as it deals with some serious issues.

“A lot of people struggling here in Salinas,” resident David Valencia said.

For some, it’s too expensive to live here. That’s one of the main goals for the city’s housing element. According to a fact sheet, more than 17 percent of households are overcrowded and 5 percent are severely overcrowded.

“They (are) living six people in a little room,” Valencia said.

The city’s target is to add more than 2200 housing units to ease some of the burden. While standing room only is uncomfortable, it’s also a huge safety hazard.

“More people come with more things. The more people you put there, the exit pathways get constricted,” Fire Marshal Sam Klemek said.

A fire at an apartment complex last October started in the garage area in the middle of the day and as many as 40 people were displaced but no one was hurt. Fire Chief Ed Rodriguez said if it had happened at night, it could have been deadly with so many people living in one area.

“We need to start doing something,” Valencia said.

Valencia has a wife, 4 kids and a successful construction job in Salinas. While he isn’t struggling he said he comes to these workshops so he can deliver the information to his community.

“I think everybody deserves a better life, not just me, everyone,” Valencia said.

Firefighters said new buildings and housing will be safer because as of January 2014 new structures built statewide are required to have sprinklers.

A public hearing on that housing will be held at the planning commission meeting August 5th. They hope to send it to the state by mid-August for approval.