Palm Springs moves closer to contract for affordable housing development off North Gene Autry Trail

Palm Springs officials are moving closer to finalizing an agreement to construct the city’s next affordable housing development, with Housing and Community Development Director Jay Virata saying his staff intends to bring a recommendation to the City Council at its July 21 meeting.

Virata told the council Wednesday that while no contract has been executed yet, the city expects to reach that milestone soon after negotiations with the selected developer. The project involves two contiguous city-owned parcels totaling 5.65 acres at the northeast corner of North Gene Autry Trail and Mission Drive.

The city issued a request for proposals in March seeking qualified development teams to design, construct, manage and provide tenant support services for the affordable rental housing project. The RFP requires developers to have at least 10 years of experience in affordable rental development.

What sets this project apart from other affordable housing developments is its specific focus on special needs housing designed to meet the unique requirements of individuals with physical, mental, or developmental disabilities. The development will provide specialized care, accessibility features, and support services to ensure residents can live safely and with dignity, with the goal of fostering an environment that promotes independence while addressing health, mobility, and daily living challenges.

The city specifically requested bids from developers with experience delivering housing that meets special needs requirements. Virata said the developer selected for the project is expected to provide detailed plans within 30 days.

“The housing development process takes a long time, and at the moment, we have a project, but … we just have to come to the point where we’ve executed a contract that would legally bind the city to the developer’s project,” Virata explained.

The Gene Autry project represents the latest in a series of affordable housing developments the city has completed or has underway.

Recent projects include the 60-unit Monarch Apartment Homes in the northern part of the city — for residents earning 30% to 60% of area median income — the 61-unit Vista Sunrise II providing permanent supportive housing on the DAP Health campus off Sunrise Way, and the 71-unit Aloe Palm Canyon senior housing project on North Palm Canyon Drive that broke ground in October 2023 with completion anticipated by September.

The Gene Autry site consists of two parcels: a 1.35-acre vacant lot and a 4.30-acre vacant lot, both acquired by the city in July 2019 as part of a legal settlement. The property has never been developed and is currently zoned for planned research and development, though the city plans to rezone it for high-density residential use.

The development will be subject to a covenant required under California’s Surplus Land Act, which governs how public agencies dispose of surplus property. The city completed the RFP selection process with proposals due in April, and interviews with top candidates took place in May.

The project is supported by the city’s $12.2 million affordable housing reserve fund to support such developments.

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