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By Miriam Raftery
Photo: Little Flower Haven circa 1954, via Postcards.com on City of La Mesa's website.
July 6, 2017 (La Mesa) – Two public meetings are set for Silvergate Development’s proposal to redevelop the former Little Flower Haven convent and nonprofit home for the elderly at 8585 La Mesa Blvd. The Planning Commission will hold an informational-only meeting and environmental assessment on Wednesday, July 19 at 7 p.m. The City Council will hold a hearing on the project on August 8th at 6 p.m. Both meetings will be in Council Chambers at 8130 Alison Ave., La Mesa.
Plans submitted called for keeping the historic 1939 Spanish Mission style front structure and bell tower, which is eligible for listing in the California Register of Historical Resources. The property, recently sold, was formerly home to the Carmelite Sisters of the Divine Heart of Jesus. The sisters have relocated to Texas, the Reader reported in March.
The original plans called for apartments that would rent for an estimated $1,600 to $2,150 and would also include amenities ranging from a dog park to a vegetable garden. Critics complained that those rents are far from affordable in a region where affordable housing is in short supply.
The developer canceled a recent hearing on the project and has since revamped plans.
The new proposal takes advantage of state density bonuses by providing 10 percent of the project, or 13 units, as “affordable” housing for the next 55 years, which would be priced to be deemed affordable for households earning 80 percent of the area’s median income and rented starting at around $1,100 for a studio unit. The project would also contain one and two units ranging from $1,600 to around $2,500 for other tenants.
In exchange for dedicating 10 percent of the project to fit the state’s definition for the affordable housing units, the developer gets a key concession – a waiver of the normal parking requirement, meaning the developer would be able to provide 25 percent fewer parking spaces than the city of La Mesa normally requires, if the project is approved by Council, which will consider a mitigated negative declaration at its August 8th meeting, after finding no significant negative environmental impacts.
The revamped plan calls for adding 215 new trees to the project, covered and uncovered parking, and recreation areas including a swimming pool. The project would include seven studios, 67 one-bedroom and 56 two-bedroom units.
Some residents have voiced concerns about pedestrian safety crossing La Mesa Blvd. as well as impacts on the community and merchants if residents wind up parking in the neighborhood. Others have said the rental rates in the units designated as affordable are still out of reach financially for many people.
The public can submit comments at the hearing or before, via written comments sent to City of La Mesa, Allyson Kinnard, 8130 Allison Ave., La Mesa, CA 91942. Documents are available at www.cityoflamesa.com , specifically, here: http://www.cityoflamesa.com/Search/Results?searchPhrase=Little%20Flowers
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