Irvine, CA – Jamboree Housing Corporation, along with a crowd of more than 125 avid supporters – including City of Irvine officials and community leaders - broke ground on the future site of Granite Court in the Irvine Business Complex (IBC). Nearly 4,000 residential units have been approved and/or are under construction in the Irvine Business Complex (IBC) – a mixed-use, mixed income development area that features compact-design housing adjacent to office and retail space. This will create a live/work environment to minimize commutes and lessen pollution. Located at the corner of Murphy and Kelvin, just off Jamboree Road and east of the 405 freeway, Granite Court is the first workforce housing development in the IBC.
“Granite Court is becoming a reality through a leveraged partnership,” said Irvine Mayor Beth Krom.
She emphasized that market-rate developers are listening and responding to the City's need for a well integrated, full spectrum of housing and, consistent with its successful track record to partner with market-rate developers, Jamboree Housing has worked diligently with these market-rate developers to secure the site.
According to Laura Archuleta, President of Jamboree Housing, one of the market-rate developers on this project actually purchased and held the site for the nonprofit housing developer for several years. “This effort represents the best of the City, market-rate developers and Jamboree Housing coming together to pool funds, resources and expertise to build more affordable housing that works for the future of the City of Irvine,” she added.
In addition to the City of Irvine, Archuleta thanked her board and staff as well as other strategic and financial partners with which Jamboree Housing is collaborating on Granite Court, including the California Department of Housing & Community Development Multifamily Housing Program, the County of Orange Housing and Community Services Department, Supervisor Bill Campbell from the Third District of the Board of Supervisors and the County of Orange, Union Bank of California, and MMA Financial, Inc.
Jamboree Housing was awarded more than $6.3 million in Proposition 46 funding from the Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) for Granite Court. Proposition 46 is the $2.1 billion housing bond approved by California voters in November 2002. Proposition 46 funds are awarded twice annually to entities that are construction- and compliance-ready to build workforce housing; special preference is given to those building affordable housing for large families.
“What excites me most is that we are creating more than housing for future residents,” said Archuleta. “It’s an opportunity for families integral to the economic fiber of this City to now live in the same community in which they work. Granite Court will serve not only the first 71 families who live here but all future residents as well by securing this as a permanently affordable development.”
About Granite Court (Fact Sheet, renderings, green features available upon request)
Granite Court will offer one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartment homes to 71 working families who earn between 30% to 60% of the area medium income in Irvine, a community with excellent job and education opportunities. These homes exemplify Jamboree’s commitment to family-oriented design and high-quality, innovative finishes and materials.
Families living here will have access to a central courtyard with a tot lot and shaded seating/dining areas. The Community Center includes a computer lab, activity/meeting rooms, kitchen, fitness room and laundry. Each apartment will feature energy efficient appliances, window/floor coverings and a balcony. The property is a modern, compact design, residential complex with community amenities such as shopping, medical services, churches and schools all located within a mile.
In its commitment to provide more than housing, Jamboree’s resident services division, Housing with HEART, will offer onsite resident services and programs tailored to meet the needs of residents. Programs will include services such as after-school tutoring, workforce training, and classes for both children and adults.
About Jamboree
Founded in 1990, Jamboree Housing Corporation is an award-winning, broad-based nonprofit housing development company that develops, acquires, renovates and manages permanently affordable rental and ownership housing for lower-income families and seniors throughout California. Housing with HEART (Helping Educate, Activate and Respond Together) is a 501 (c)(3) organization and a division of Jamboree Housing Corporation. Jamboree Housing is Orange County’s leading nonprofit developer with a portfolio that includes the development of and/or ownership interest in more than 5,000 affordable rental apartment homes in more than 35 California communities. Currently, Housing with HEART programs and services are offered at 24 JHC communities with designated staff at each location. More information is available on the company’s Web sites at www.jamboreehousing.com and www.housingwithheart.org.