A 60-unit affordable housing project is starting to show signs of visible progress in northern Palm Springs, indicating it’s well on the way to opening next year.
The news: Ground was broken at the Monarch Apartments at the southeast corner of North Indian Canyon and San Rafael Drive 11 months ago. Last week, the organization developing the project, the Community Housing Opportunities Corporation (CHOC), released an update online showing that behind the fences there are “major strides” being made.
- Construction crews have laid the foundation and are building frames from steel instead of wood, a report states, due to a spike in lumber prices.
Why it matters: Breaking ground on the Palm Springs project has been instrumental in securing funding and approval for five similar projects.
- “The Monarch has given CHOC a position at the table and helped us shape the funding apparatus, not just for CHOC, but for others,” said Kenny Rogers, who oversees a partnership between the Low Income Investment Fund (LIIF) and We Lift: the Coachella Valley’s Housing Catalyst Fund.
Looking ahead: When complete, the $31 million complex on 3.6 acres will feature one-, two- and three-bedroom units, a community building, a dog park, a play area with splash pad, and more. Rents will be capped to a limited percentage of residents’ household income.
But wait: The Monarch isn’t the only eagerly anticipated project in the area. Across the street, a new Tower Market was expected to open earlier this summer. That opening was pushed back until late October, its developers reported recently, as they wait on some needed electrical components.
