Applications for affordable housing project in Aptos due May 18th

UPDATE 4/18/18 5:35PM The first phase of the affordable housing project in Aptos is well underway.

65 residential units are being built in Aptos Village, 10 of those will be sold under Measure J. Those units will be priced lower than the surrounding units.

“These are available to individuals or families where at least one member is a resident or works in Santa Cruz County, and these are available to people that make up to 120% of the area median income. I think that’s a good point to underscore because people have a misnomer about what affordable housing is. They think it’s for people that have almost no income and that’s not true. In this case if you’re a family of 2 you can make up to almost 85,000 dollars and still qualify,” says County spokesperson Jason Hoppin.

Five of those units are expected to be available in Fall of 2018. Families or individuals must apply through the county to be considered for those units. Two times the number of bedrooms, plus one individual will be allowed to live in the unit. For example a three bedroom house can hold 7 people. A two bedroom house can hold 5.

Hoppin says hundreds have shown interest and hundreds more are expected to apply, “It’s clear from what is happening with the measure J housing units that the demand is there. These will be an extraordinary gift.”

Applications for the phase one homes are due May 18th. There will be a drawing to decide who gets the first 5 units on June 1st.

The Measure J homes will also include a permanent resale price restriction through the County of Santa Cruz, keeping the selling price lower than the average market price.

The homes are 1-3 bedroom townhouses with a price range from $250,000 to $360,000.

Measure J was passed in the 1970’s designating a certain percentage of homes in new developments to affordable housing.

The other five affordable housing units are expected to be available in late 2019.

People working and living in Aptos say they have mixed feelings about what the development will bring, Peter Otvos who works in Aptos Village says, “Kind of a mixed bag it’s going to definitely bring more business to our community so that’s great, employ a lot of people, bring a lot more money, but will definitely have an impact on traffic and things like that but overall I think it’s a net plus.”

Aptos resident Steven Wilson says, “I think in the long run it’s going to be good for the town, this is a beach town and everyone wants to be here. But in the short run getting there, it’s new, and the traffic is going to be kind of bad.”

For more information on the housing development and how to apply click here.

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The first phase of the affordable housing project in Aptos is well underway.

65 residential units are being built in Aptos Village, 10 of those will be funded under Measure J. Those units will be priced lower than the surrounding units.

Five of those units will be available in Summer/Fall of 2018. Families or individuals must apply through the county to be considered for those units.

The Measure J homes will also include a permanent resale price restriction through the County of Santa Cruz, keeping the selling price lower than the average market price.

Measure J was passed in the 1970’s designating a certain percentage of homes in new developments to affordable housing.

The other five affordable housing units are expected to be available in late 2019.

KION’S Ashley Keehn will have more tonight at 5 & 6 p.m.