Veterans housing project submitted to city planners

Ground could be broken on Veterans Day for a Poway project that would provide affordable housing for veterans and their families.

It might even be a little sooner, according to Lori Holt Pfeiler, president and CEO of the sponsoring San Diego Habitat for Humanity.

“We have submitted our proposal and awaiting comments from the planning department,” Pfeiler said this week. “We had a pre-meeting with them. The traffic study is underway, and we expect good results from that study.”

As proposed by the non-profit group, between 28 and 30 two-, three- and four-bedroom homes will built on 2.15 acres on Twin Peaks Road, next to the Circle K store. The land was purchased in 2004 by the city’s redevelopment agency and was transferred to the Poway Housing Authority after the state dissolved all local redevelopment agencies. The city has long anticipated using the property for low- or moderate-income housing to help it meet state-imposed affording housing mandates. If built, the veterans project would count toward that obligation.

A key component of the project will be the offering of “wraparound” services to the veterans, such as financial planning, coordination of medical needs and the educational needs of the veteran and family, and counseling and job placement services.

Pfeiler said she already has a list of 11 families working their way to being approved.

Pre-qualified veterans would purchase the units and sign no- or low-interest 40-year loans with average monthly payments of about $1,200, according to Councilman Jim Cunningham, who has been spearheading the project for the past two years. There would be no down payments but each purchasing veteran would be required to invest 500 hours of “sweat equity.” Twenty percent of the townhouses would be set aside for disabled veterans.

There will be opportunities for community groups to assist with the construction of the veterans’ homes, Cunningham said. Habitat for Humanity will provide experience on-site construction managers.

Breaking ground on Veterans Day, Nov. 11, “would be the dream of dreams,” said Cunningham.

“We’re moving along a good clip,” he said. “There was a neighborhood meeting in May attended by between 10 and 15 residents. Traffic and water conservation were the main topics brought up.”

Earlier this year Pfeiler estimated the project will cost about $6 million. Habitat for Humanity will be responsible for financing the construction and funding any needed “buy-down” second mortgages.

The city and San Diego Habitat for Humanity have until Nov. 27 to work out project details under terms of an exclusive negotiating agreement.