Turlock now has more affordable housing units available, thanks to a unanimous City Council vote on Tuesday to sell three city-owned properties to local nonprofits to be used to house low-income residents.
A multi-family duplex at 901 High St. and two single-family homes located on one property (829 and 831 Vermont Ave.) were sold to the United Samaritan Foundation to manage and lease to low-income residents. Additionally, a four-plex located at 1205 Lambert Way was sold to the We Care Foundation to manage and lease to low-income residents.
These properties were purchased by the City of Turlock with federal CDBG (Community Development Block Grant programs) and/or HOME funds with the intent to be sold to an eligible non-profit organization to be used as affordable rental housing.
“This is not transitional housing, this is permanent, affordable housing. So, it doesn’t take housing out of our housing stock. It actually increases our affordability by providing affordable housing to citizens who otherwise may not be able to afford their housing and could potential be homeless,” said Adrienne Werner, Development Services Director, about the housing projects.
The property located at 901 High St. was purchased in February 2020 for $258,087.60. The rehabilitation of the property began in August 2020 and was completed in March 2021 for a cost of $221,490.36, for a total of $479,557.96. This property was purchased and rehabilitated with CDBG funds and currently houses income eligible tenants. The property was appraised on Feb. 20 for $550,000.
The property located at 829-831 Vermont Ave. consists of two single-family homes on one property. The property was purchased in July 2022 for $722,046.50 and currently houses two income eligible veteran families. No rehabilitation of the homes was needed. The property was purchased with CDBG funds. The property was appraised on Feb. 20 for $840,000.
The property at 1205 Lambert Way was the most controversial project. Both Interim City Manager Gary Hampton and Vice Mayor Pam Franco stated their displeasure at the “mismanaged” rehabilitation project that was overseen by city staff who are no longer with the city. The Lambert Way property rehab put the city at a loss of over $200,000.
The four-plex was purchased in October 2020 for $533,509. The rehabilitation of the property began in June 2024 and will be completed by the end of this month for a cost of $461,670 for a total of $995,179. This property was purchased and rehabilitated with HOME Investment Partnership (HOME) funds and Permanent Local Housing Allocation (PLHA) funds and currently houses one tenant. The property was appraised on Feb. 20 for $725,000.
“We could do a lot more good here. We could do much better here. We could have many more low-income houses in this area. And they should be here. And they would’ve been here, but they’re not. We’re doing something, but it’s so little, it’s hardly anything,” said Turlock City Council candidate Milt Trieweiler during the public comment period.
While Trieweiler voiced his opinion that the city should do more affordable housing project rehabilitations, Vice Mayor Franco had a differing point of view.
“This cleans up two properties that have been in inventory for four years and two years (respectively). It never was part of my pick on what we did. I hated it. I still hate it. I don’t like the ‘flips.’ To me, it takes somebody out of the housing market that could have bought the house that was a Turlock resident and puts it out for anybody who lives in the state of California,” said Franco.
Councilmember Cassandra Abram said she disagrees with Franco on the housing projects.
“This is going to help a lot of people for a lot of years,” said Abram.
Hampton also said that using the federal funds for housing rehab projects at least brings housing dollars into Turlock.
“If we don’t grab every federal or state grant that we can that’s funded by your tax dollars, we’re not bringing your tax dollars back to your community. We’re allowing it to pass on to some other community,” said Hampton.
Deed restrictions will be held for a minimum of 30 years for all three properties so they must be used for affordable housing.
