Quarterly Newsletter - Q3 2022

ICLT’s commitment to affordable housing development was once again validated when it was honored with a Special Needs award for its Salerno Apartment project at the annual Affordable Housing Awards Breakfast on September 8. In its 39th year, the Affordable Housing Awards honored five organizations for creating housing solutions to meet the needs of some of the community's most vulnerable individuals and families. It was attended by affordable housing developers, housing advocates, community members and elected officials interested in honoring individuals and organizations committed to creating affordable housing in Orange County. ICLT Executive Director Mark Asturias was joined by board members Anthony Kuo, Leon Napper and Russell Felbob to receive the award.

“It was an honor to be among these individuals and organizations who are all committed to developing new housing, especially for populations that face a greater need for assistance and a support network,” said Mark Asturias, ICLT Executive Director.

ICLT’s Salerno Apartment Community, which opened in January 2020, sets aside nearly half of its 80 units for special needs populations including veterans and their families, adults with intellectual and/or physical disabilities, and families at risk of homelessness.

The awards breakfast was co-hosted by Orange County Community Housing Corporation in collaboration with the Kennedy Commission and the Affordable Housing Clearinghouse – three organizations committed to affordable housing development and advocacy in Orange County.

Fall has arrived, the kids are back in school, and the residents of the 68 beautiful new Sage Park townhomes have settled in. Phase One residents moved into their homes in January and February, and the second phase moved in during May.

What’s next? We congratulate three Sage Park residents who have been voted the first Sage Park Homeowners Association Board of Directors: Sergio Preciado, Edward Johnson and Mauro Niebla. An election was held on August 29, and they were elected to be the inaugural leadership for Sage Park.

All three are energized to be involved with helping shape the new community.

Sergio Preciado is thrilled to be a board member and he wants to help keep the community’s unique flavor, which he says harkens back to an earlier, simpler time. He lives with his wife, Cinthia, and two daughters, Vivienne, 12, and Felicie, 2.

“I want to help preserve what we have here at Sage Park,” says Sergio. “Our community is filled with kids, many play right in our cul de sac. They feel safe playing here and we intend to keep them safe. We have gotten to know many of the parents by watching over the kids playing.”

Sergio points out what a “crazy, diverse community” is found at Sage Park. “It’s a beautiful thing, but there also are challenges with people from different cultures getting to know each other.”

Sergio is planning to propose a potluck at the pool and community center, where everyone can bring food from their native country, to share their unique culture.

As a new community that includes many families with children, the board is fortunate to have Edward Johnson who has been an educator in the Irvine Unified School District and an Irvine resident for the last 30 years. Edward and his wife are longtime artists, performers and educators and have two children.

Edward believes that in addition to the things they have in common, it’s the vast differences and backgrounds residents bring to the community that makes Sage Park so special.

“As a board member, I look forward to working with Sage Park residents to define a collective vision that will help foster connections and build community,” remarked Edward. “I am excited that we as a board will work with the families who make up this community, bring together their stories, and provide leadership for everyone who calls Sage Park home.”

Mauro Niebla is a welcome addition to the new board particularly for his financial acumen. Mauro, who is a CPA and holds a Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree, does budgeting work for local government.

“I am looking forward to providing my experience in finance to benefit all of my neighbors,” explains Mauro. “My goal in serving on the board is to be of service to all of Sage Park community members by finding solutions to benefit Sage Park.”

Mauro, who previously lived in Lake Forest, is enjoying his new community and likes to spend time hiking, building puzzles, and spending time with his wife and young daughter.

ICLT Vice Chair and Board member Ryan Aeh has been providing solutions for Southern California’s housing challenges, including the development of affordable housing, for nearly 20 years. Enticed by the USC urban planning program that packaged his many interests, he ventured out of Ohio and found in California a place to live he could both enjoy and help improve.

Over the past two decades, Aeh has been instrumental in the development of more than 2,500 homes in many of Southern California’s supply-constrained markets by working with public agencies and private landowners to rezone underutilized commercial sites for residential development. He has spent the last 12 years with City Ventures, addressing what’s called the “missing middle,” providing housing options positioned between expensive detached single-family homes and denser high-rise apartment buildings.

A few years ago, as challenges mounted for availability and development of affordable housing, he felt a need to contribute his knowledge and talent in a different way. He learned ICLT was recruiting for its board of directors and now had an opportunity to sit in a different chair – of oversight. He is proud to have been a part of the leadership team that oversaw development of ICLT’s Salerno Apartments and the Sage Park affordable homeownership communities.

Aeh doesn’t hold back his passion and commitment for seeking solutions to these challenges. He said, “We need organizations with different missions and different business plans to be working together toward success, and not competing with one another.

“NIMBYism is a huge obstacle. Development is complex and challenging. It’s important we find ways to break down stigmas and misperceptions and look at why developing more housing, including affordable housing, is necessary. Making space for others – to be accepting of others. Building diverse communities for all sorts of people benefits us all.”

Aeh touts many benefits to developing new housing such as helping small businesses, retail, and local schools thrive while minimizing issues related to commuting such as clogged freeways, loss of free time and pollution.

Reflecting on his growing up, he believes home ownership can be the best form of rent control. His parents worked multiple jobs when they bought their first home. As they progressed professionally, they had more time to spend with their kids playing and coaching sports. Attainable, affordable homeownership allowed his family to grow and allowed for stability.

Asked what he loves about living and raising a young family with his wife Jackie in Southern California, he had plenty to list. As a runner, the diversity of topography – ocean, hills, hiking, all in close proximity. Professionally, Southern California is a mega region – a huge learning lab where professionals can connect and grow. “Some days you start in OC and end up in LA. On the way you see many cities, each with their own uniqueness. I am stimulated by the built environment and the possibilities of what more we can do to help all who contribute to the fabric of our community.”

For many individuals and families of limited means, finding affordable housing is just the first step to gaining a sense of safety and security. ICLT recognizes this and is committed to supporting the social and emotional needs of residents of all ages at its properties, in particular Salerno which was developed to serve some of our community’s most vulnerable populations.

Salerno opened during the peak of the Covid pandemic, prohibiting staff from creating opportunities for the new residents to meet one another. These past several months, as things have opened up, ICLT is working with organizations, including Families Forward, to bring the Salerno community together through a variety of programs and workshops such as monthly Teen Nights for youth in grades 6 and up; monthly breakfast bagel mingles for families; and various youth activities such as movies, arts & crafts and more. Residents continually express their gratitude for these opportunities to bond with neighbors and form a stronger sense of community.

The most recent Youth Night on financial literacy, presented by the Raise Foundation, was attended by 11 enthusiastic youth who learned about budgeting, saving, investing, goal setting, and more. Several teens – all of whom would be the first in their family to attend college – were eager to learn more about ways to finance a higher education.

“It’s gratifying to see the positive response to these activities,” said Crystal Peralta, Supportive Services Coordinator with Families Forward. “We are honored to partner with ICLT in providing ways to help residents become more self-sufficient.”

We are thrilled to announce that after passing the Senate in August, Assembly Bill 2651 was signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom on Wednesday, September 28. The bill was introduced earlier this year by assembly member Cottie Petrie-Norris at the request of ICLT and the California Community Land Trust.

Now signed into law, the Revenue and Tax Code Section 214.18 will be amended to extend the five-year sunset provision that exempts property tax on property owned or leased by a community land trust prior to or while under development.

We were honored to be able to use our Sage Park affordable homeownership development as an example of how this legislation can be beneficial to the development of affordable housing across the State of California. With the welfare exemption, ICLT saved $194,000 in property taxes during the two years of development, freeing up more funds to invest in the project. Sage Park will generate more than $319,000 in new property taxes in its first year of occupancy, nearly covering the two years of savings provided to ICLT for this development.

In addition to reading our quarterly newsletters and email communications, a great way to stay up to date on ICLT projects and legislative efforts is to follow our social media channels. In addition to maintaining our Facebook page, we are excited to announce a ramp up of up our profile on LinkedIn. Our focus will be on providing relevant news and content related to housing issues and development, and more specifically, stories that address challenges and solutions for developing affordable housing in Irvine and nearby communities. We encourage you to join us by clicking the icon below to follow our LinkedIn profile. You can also do the same to follow us on our Facebook page.