This campus of a thriving Santa Ana United Methodist Church was repurposed, built in 2 years, and opened in June 2023.
93 unit housing complex, 33 units are dedicated for the homeless population.
Tenants are vetted by Mercy House with property manager on the site, ready to enforce the community rules and address repair issues.
Stacks of funding were provided by the city, county, state and church’s fundraising efforts while the church leased it to the developer for 65 years, after which, all improvements will be owned by the church.
Instead of razing the structure to the ground, as an example, the First United Methodist Church downtown LA, it is a legacy square with 93 units of housing, a multipurpose complex, a courtyard where some of the units are facing, and an office where piano lessons will be provided, and the hands of grace mission provided by the Santa Ana United Methodist Church.
The complex was built by Renaissance Core who also agreed to put in neighborhood improvements of roundabouts, streets paved, sidewalks renewed.
The housing complex was built next to a transportation station stop, next to a row of French styled houses on French St. and built right in the heart of downtown Santa Ana.
Not a blighted ghetto area anymore!
What are the intentions behind this project? Pastor Adiel de Pano shared that due to the declining church population, they are cash poor yet building-rich.
So by repurposing with a Land lease for 65 years, they can also help solve part of the housing crisis by offering programs of rehabilitating, ensuring the residents thrive and survive on their two feet, and not become permanent wards of the state, while the church earns land lease payments, as landlord.
By ensuring they partnered with agencies with the skills and talent to train the residents, for job placements, teach them life skills, the residents then become productive citizens, with higher sense of self worth, and quite responsible for their own lives.
SCAGS awarded this project for its innovative use of space, sustainability with solar power, electric stoves, and sensors to turn on the lights if used.
#santaanaunitedmethodistchurch
I just want to thank our good, diligent and hardworking Karen Bass for putting her concerted leadership efforts in resolving homelessness in Los Angeles as our Mayor Karen Bass. Thank you really! It shows that there is a #movementofgoodness for #gentlehumanity. I wish similar unused church and city properties are repurposed for affordable housing to positively support college working students, working families, caregivers, nannies, bus drivers, carpenters, plumbers, truck drivers, cleaning ladies, housekeepers, teachers, artists, poets, musicians, theater directors, actors and drive America to positivity, a positive way of surviving and thriving, instead of simply funding alcoholic and drug addiction programs of rehabilitation and military weapons.
It is time for government public policies support healthy ways of living, trail walking pilgrimages, healthy eating and Park amenities and programs for schoolchildren.
