Apartment plan back to board

Posted: Friday, March 23, 2012 9:54 am | Updated: 10:01 am, Fri Mar 23, 2012.

Alex George

An afternoon study session highlights the Calaveras County Board of Supervisors agenda for next Tuesday.

The study session is scheduled to begin at 1:30 p.m. and will discuss Behavioral Health Services Department’s proposal to build permanent supportive housing for mental health clients. The study session has twice been postponed from the Jan. 24 and Feb. 28 agendas.

Behavioral Health Director Rita Downs said the complex would provide 26 units for low-income families and four units for mental health clients.

“We want to find a way to use our money for a population of adults with mental illnesses who are trying to get their lives together,” Downs said. “It isn’t about four little units, but it is more about rehabbing a property in very poor shape.”

Stockton-based developer Visionary Home Builders and Behavioral Health are eying the 30-unit Hillside Apartments complex at 342 E. St. Charles St., San Andreas, a property that is in foreclosure.

Visionary’s Director of Development Matt Thompson said Visionary is also looking to purchase land just west of the apartments that could be converted to a parking lot and community center. Currently the land is owned by Fannie Mae.

Prior to taking on Behavioral Health’s proposal, the board will review the county’s submission of a Community Development Block Grant (CBDG) to the State Department of Housing and Community Development for the amount of $645,000 for food distribution programs here.

CDBG is a program that provides communities with resources to address a range of development needs including ensuring decent affordable housing, providing services to vulnerable members of the community, and helping create jobs by expanding and retaining businesses.

The board is also scheduled to approve a Government Center’s electronic keypad security system for $177,661. County Administrative Analyst Zachariah Collom, who will present the item to the board, said the keypad will save money because “reissuing keys can become very expensive.”

“If the key is lost, it’s real easy, we can just deactivate it,” Collom said. “We don’t need a new key cut.”At past board meetings, critics have voiced concerns about the cost of implementing the electronic keypad system.

Contact Alex George at ageorge@calaverasenterprise.com