A 60-unit apartment complex at the intersection of North Indian Canyon and San Rafael Drive, designed to provide affordable housing, got a major funding boost Thursday with the announcement of $21 million in contributions from the state.
The money, in the form of tax credits for developers, was announced jointly by the California Debt Limit Allocation Committee (CDLAC) and the California Tax Credit Allocation Committee (TCAC). It’s more than enough to move the project forward and eventually result in the first new affordable housing project in the city in 12 years.
Community Housing Opportunities Corporation (CHOC), a non-profit affordable housing developer, is behind the project, named Monarch Apartment Homes. At an expected cost of $29 million, it will feature one-, two-and three-bedroom apartments, a community center, and a playground with splash park. The project was first approved by the Palm Springs City Council in 2019 and was designed by Interactive Design Corporation of Palm Springs.
“CHOC has been unwavering and tenacious in pushing this forward in the midst of a global pandemic,” said Vincent Nicholas, vice president of real estate development for CHOC. “It has been a true labor of love totally focused on creating equitable communities throughout the Coachella Valley and this funding pushes this 60-unit development from theoretical to a reality.”
There are currently 15 affordable housing options for residents listed on the city website. Costs for tenants are on a sliding scale depending on income and there are often long waiting lists for those qualifying to live in the units. It is not known yet what the income requirements will be for the Monarch Apartments.
“We know that too many working families in the Coachella Valley are unstably housed, making impossible decisions every month between paying for housing and other necessities such as healthcare, healthy food, and childcare,” said Taylor Libolt Varner, regional affordable housing planner for Lift to Rise, a nonprofit group working to address poverty and inequality. “We are grateful to CHOC, the City of Palm Springs, and everyone involved for investing in Coachella Valley families through this development.
“By bringing more units of quality affordable housing to the region, the Monarch Apartments expand access to safe, stable, and affordable housing to more families.”
The North Indian Canyon and San Rafael Drive intersection could soon see more than just the apartment project under construction. Currently, a Tower Market is planned for a parcel at the southwest corner. A developer also purchased the unfinished portion of the Palermo townhome development on the northeast corner in 2020. The developer’s plans for that land have not been made publicly available.
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BRIEFLY
MUSEUM ANNIVERSARY: The Palm Springs Air Museum is celebrating its silver anniversary through Saturday with special events, including entertainment by the pop vocal group The Company Men and the Wartime Radio Singers, patterned after The Andrews Sisters, all while guests enjoy cocktails and food. Tickets are available for tonight (Friday) and Saturday celebrations, and cost $225. Festivities kick off at 6 PM each evening and are hosted by actor Joe Mantegna.
HOTLINE REPORTS: The city’s weekly code compliance report was released Wednesday. Overall, there were 113 reports to various hotlines and the city’s app, and 23 citations issued. Those numbers represent 19 fewer reports and five additional citations compared to the week before. The majority of the citations were for code violations. Detailed weekly reports can be found here.
EVENTS
TODAY
- ‘DIA’ EVENT: Children’s Librarian Nancy Validivia reads a special Día story in English and Spanish at 10 AM on YouTube and Facebook. El día de los niños/El día de los libros (Children’s Day/Book Day), commonly known as Día, is a celebration of children, families, and reading that culminates yearly on April 30. The celebration emphasizes the importance of literacy for children of all linguistic and cultural backgrounds.
THIS WEEKEND
- FLEA MARKET: A flea market and food fest is held both Saturday and Sunday at 675 Crossley Rd., from 8 AM-3 or 4 PM Saturday and 11 AM-4 PM Sunday. Information can be found here.
- GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY: The Palm Springs Genealogical Society holds a Zoom Meeting titled “Breaking Brick Walls by Using Your DNA Matches” from 9:30-11 AM on Saturday. For more information and the Zoom Meeting Link, please email President Sondra Lucas at [email protected]
- DINO DIG: “Dinosaur kits” are being given away through the Palm Springs Public Library starting Saturday. Students in grades 6-12 can schedule an appointment to pick up a kit, then enter a contest for $25 gift cards from Door Dash. “Unearth the dinosaur, and create something with it,” Library staff wrote on the event page. “You can follow the instructions on the box, or you make something else! Add to it (paint? feathers? other things?), but at least, use the dinosaur. Then, send a pic we can post on our Instagram of your creation, and you’ll be automatically entered in a raffle to win a prize”
- LIVE MUSIC: The Palm Canyon Roadhouse, 535 South Palm Canyon Drive, has live music all weekend. For a list of entertainers and times, turn here.
ONGOING
- OUTDOOR ART: Desert X art installations are on display throughout the Coachella Valley, including several within the Palm Springs city limits. The free event runs through May 16. A map of the installations can be found here. Some require reservations to view.
- VACCINES: Anyone 16 and older now qualifies for a COVID-19 vaccine in Riverside County. If you qualify, you can get one at the Palm Springs Convention Center, 277 North Avenida Caballeros, from 8 AM-5 PM Monday through Friday. Appointments are encouraged, but not required, and can be reserved online at www.rivcoph.org/COVID-19-Vaccine. You can also find a list of community providers such as pharmacies here.
