Media Advisory

WHAT:          The City of Glendale Housing Authority (Housing Authority), in partnership with Linc Housing and National CORE, is hosting a groundbreaking event for 515 Pioneer Drive, currently one of the largest affordable housing projects in the State of California. The Housing Authority acquired the 2.8-acre site in Fall 2019 for future affordable housing development.  515 Pioneer Drive will be developed with a 340-unit, 100% affordable rental project reserved for seniors and small families. The Housing Authority has provided a total of $28.4 million in subsidies to develop the approximately $168 million project, consisting of 32 studios, 260 one-bedroom units, 45 two-bedroom units and three, two-bedroom resident manager units. 515 Pioneer Drive will be reserved for seniors ages 62 and up and small families, earning between 30% and 80% area median income (extremely low to low income) for a minimum of 78 years. Ninety-two units will be reserved as affordable for seniors and 245 units will be reserved as affordable for small families.

           The two-to five-story new construction development will provide 342 parking spaces in a two-level subterranean parking garage, including 35 EV-ready stalls.  515 Pioneer Drive will feature all-electric appliances and will meet Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold rating from the U.S. Green Building Council.  The new project will provide 13,600 SF of private open space and 37,750 SF of common open space including community centers, outdoor recreation stations, tot lot playground, community gardens, outdoor courtyards with BBQ picnic areas, programmed rooftop decks and a walking path.  Site improvements include pedestrian enhancement amenities along the Kenilworth Avenue cul-de-sac and the existing pedestrian tunnel, which may include overhead lighting, surveillance, art applied to the pedestrian tunnel walls, benches, decorative pavers, trees, and an enhanced/inviting entrance on the south end of the pedestrian tunnel.

            Financing for the project includes multifamily housing revenue bond proceeds through Bank of America construction lending, low-income housing tax credits, Measure S Funds, Low- and Moderate-Income Housing Asset Funds, HOME Program Funds through HUD, CalHFA HUD-Risk Sharing Program Funds, Mixed-Income Program Funds, and other private and public funding sources.  Construction of 515 Pioneer Drive is expected to last approximately 36 months with an anticipated completion date of December 31, 2025.  Marketing of the units will take place approximately six months prior to the anticipated construction completion date. 

WHERE:       515 Pioneer Drive, Glendale, CA 91203

WHEN:         Tuesday, March 14, 2023, 11am – 1pm

WHY:            The groundbreaking of 515 Pioneer Drive concludes over a three-year planning process by City staff. This process has involved the acquisition of land, developer selection, Exclusive Negotiation Agreement (ENA), Density Bonus and Inclusionary Housing Plan application and associated environmental review, entitlements, Letter of Loan Commitment, Lease Option, Affordable Housing Agreement, Ground Lease, and construction financing event.

ADDITIONAL
HOUSING

UPDATES:    Citrus Crossing is a new-construction,127-unit, 100% affordable rental senior-housing project located at 900 E. Broadway. The Housing Authority has provided a total of $15.05 million in subsidies to develop the project, consisting of 87 studios, 39 one-bedroom units, and a two-bedroom resident manager unit in a five-story structure above two levels of subterranean parking with 92 parking stalls. The project is reserved for seniors ages 62 and up, earning between 30% and 70% of the area median income (extremely low to low income) for a minimum of 72 years. The $60 million project is 12 months into construction with expected completion no later than June 2024. 

Adjacent to Citrus Crossing is Harrower Village, a 40-unit, 100% affordable rental senior-housing project located at 912-920 E. Broadway and 117 S. Belmont Street. The Housing Authority has provided a total of $10.7 million in subsidies to develop the project, consisting of 14 studios, 25 one-bedroom units, and a two-bedroom resident manager unit. The project is an adaptive re-use and preservation of the historic Harrower Laboratory complex, more recently occupied by Tobinworld, who vacated the site in late 2019. Citrus Crossing will provide parking for the project. The existing alley between Citrus Crossing and Harrower Village will be converted to a pedestrian paseo, accessible to the public during daylight hours. Harrower Village will be reserved for seniors ages 62 and up, earning between 30% and 60% area median income (extremely low to low income) for a minimum of 75 years. The $30.2 million project is eight months into construction with expected completion no later than November 2023.

515 Pioneer Drive, Citrus Crossing and Harrower Village, are the culmination of the City of Glendale and the Housing Authority’s commitment to balanced, quality, affordable housing. These three projects represent a $54.15 million investment over the last three years. They will provide a total of 507 units of affordable housing to extremely low, very low-, and low-income seniors and small families.