Garden Court at De La Vina

Allocated: 1997

Completion: December of 1999

1116 De La Vina Street, Santa Barbara

98 Unit Senior Supportive Housing Development

9% LIHTC

$7,500,000 Total Project Cost

Redevelopment Agency: $3,250,000

Santa Barbara Bank and Trust: $320,000

Managing General Partner: Santa Barbara Housing Assistance Corporation

Master Lessee: Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara

Architect: Peikert Group Architects

The project has demonstrated the successful use of Project Based Vouchers with 9% Low Income Housing Tax credits and Redevelopment Agency funding to provide a wide range of amenities and universal participation in a single elective service package including three meals per day, transportation, telephone, internet, television and all other utilities. A master lease from the development entity to the Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara has permitted very low on-going costs for the structure so that services could be greatly enhanced. The Master Lease provides for a very low cost for housing and permits the Housing Authority to acquire the development at the competion of 15 years of operation.

Garden Court at De La Vina has received 21 major awards including two from the Pacific Coast builders Conference for multi-family design and for overall performance as a senior housing facility, from Santa Barbara Beautiful, and from the National Council on Senior Housing. The placement of 98 units on this downtown one acre lot originally zoned for 14 units demonstrated the possibilities for exemplary affordable housing structures at much higher densities, while still achieving public acclaim as contributing to the beauty and utility of Santa Barbara. With the inclusion of project based vouchers, residents pay 30% of their incomes for housing and utilities (average $273, not more than $545) and a flat fee of $395 for the meal, transportation, social and other services.