Condo project work’s begun

Construction has begun for a 145-unit condominium project, the first in Costa Mesa’s downtown redevelopment area to combine upscale units with affordable housing.

The project at 1901 Newport Blvd. is expected to help revitalize downtown near Triangle Square.

The Pacifica at Newport Plaza development will include two-bedroom condominiums estimated to start at $500,000, said Michael Eadie, vice president of Rutter Development Corp., the company building the project.

Seven affordable housing units will be built by Rutter and five will be built by the city at a different site.

Rutter is required to provide affordable housing units because its project is in the city’s redevelopment area.

“Pacifica is the first modern condominium project in downtown, and it brings much-needed residential housing to our downtown area,” said Councilman Gary Monahan, who attended the groundbreaking last Thursday. “It’s really been a catalyst for our mixed-use development, moving from downtown to the Westside.”

Monahan was mayor when the council approved the project in 2004. Before it was approved, it faced opposition from residents who thought it was too tall and too dense. That same year, residents attempted to get the project on a ballot for a vote, but failed.

The project consists of four Spanish and Mediterranean-style buildings that are four stories. The sides of the buildings will be three stories.

The project also includes a five-level parking structure and a two-level one still to be built. The five-level structure is almost complete and was built first because it will serve the businesses next to the construction site. The condos are expected to be available in the fall of 2007.

But are low-income residents going to be able to afford the 12 affordable housing units? That is a question Jean Forbath of the Costa Mesa Housing Coalition posed.

“I think it’s wonderful that affordable housing units will be provided,” Forbath said. “But how affordable are they?”

The starting price for the affordable housing units is not known yet, Eadie said. The price depends on the Orange County median income, which changes every year, depending on the cost of living, he said.

Seven of the units are described as “low-to-moderate-income units” and five are called “very low-income-income units.”

“It all factors in on what somebody can afford,” Eadie said.

Something important to note, Eadie said, is that the project will bring between $500,000 to $1 million in property tax increment to the city annually for the next 20 years.

That money can be put back into the downtown area, he said.

Planning Commissioner Bruce Garlich said the project will bring in more consumers to the downtown area and West 19th Street.

“The project will provide shoppers who can take advantage of the dinning and shopping and this will help businesses,” said Garlich, who is running for City Council.