ELK GROVE, Calif. — Correction: A previous version of this story contained the wrong location for the new plan. It has since been changed.
Protests from Elk Grove residents in the city's Old Town neighborhood drove city officials to relocate a proposed supportive housing complex in the area, but now an even larger affordable housing complex plan is being considered by city officials.
The Elk Grove City Council approved a plan Wednesday to partner with two affordable housing developers to plan for as many as 329 new units in two areas of the city for residents at risk of homelessness.
Adobe Communities plans to build 240-units of family housing in seven buildings within the Sheldon Farms North area.
Meanwhile Mutual Housing mapped out a plan for 89-units of senior housing in a three-story building planned for construction at 9220-9244 Elk Grove Blvd. — next to the lot originally proposed for the Oak Rose Apartments.
Last year, Old Town residents spoke out against the Oak Rose Apartments proposal over concerns an influx of new residents at risk of homelessness could create an unsafe environment for businesses and longtime residents.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta filed a lawsuit against Elk Grove when city officials attempted to walk away from the project after more than a year of community backlash.
“We reject the notion that Elk Grove is engaged in unlawful discrimination. We remain committed to supporting solutions that balance the needs of all in the community,” Mayor Bobbi Singh-Allen previously said in response to the lawsuit.
City officials later announced they reached a "settlement in principle" with the Oak Rose Apartment developers to move the site away from the Old Town neighborhood.
Just over a month after the announcement, city officials are again planning for an affordable housing site next to the same area.
Elk Grove resident Randy Bekker, who was previously outspoken against the Oak Rose Apartments project, attended Wednesday's city council meeting and said he's met with city staff for the last six months to discuss the new Old Town senior housing project.
"We're going to cautiously move forward and be extremely involved, as the five of you [councilmembers] know," Bekker said. "We're going to make the best design and best project for a senior project as it's been stated, and if it's going to change—we're going to be highly involved."
Residents eligible for the future senior affordable housing must be over 55-years-old and earn between 30-70% of the city's average median income.
The three-story building's design is set to be in line with the Old Town aesthetic and historical character.
While Elk Grove city officials entered into an agreement to develop affordable housing plans with Adobe Communities and Mutual Housing, potential construction is still at least two years away.
