Around 50 people attended a public hearing on a potential 55-unit housing project for formerly homeless seniors in Sherman Oaks at the Van Nuys Civic Center Tuesday, many airing fears and concerns about the project while others sharing support.
The project, which has received support by the neighborhood council and Sherman Oaks City Hall representative Councilman David Ryu, will be voted on by the City Planning Commission in a hearing on Aug. 8, according to city staff.
If approved, the development, dubbed ‘Burbank Boulevard Senior Housing’ , will be built and managed by non-profit housing developer Mercy Housing at 14534-14536 Burbank Blvd.
“I’m going to try my best not to be angry or even cry. My privacy is gone,” said a possible next door neighbor of the site, Marisol Hansen. “I would love to welcome this population maybe in another way. But my biggest nightmare is that my kids are going to be picking up dirty needles.”
Other attendees of the meeting held signs, booed and interrupted speakers in support of the project. Some decried project costs or expressed concern for the safety of children at nearby Van Nuys Middle School.
Such tense community debates over supportive efforts for LA’s growing homeless population have become commonplace in many communities, as city councilmembers attempt to meet Mayor Eric Garcetti’s goal to build 222 units of supportive housing in each district by 2020.
Yet at this Marvin Braude community center meeting in Van Nuys, just about half of the meeting attendees expressed support – some of them business owners, members of synagogues active on homelessness or residents of other Mercy projects.
“People operate from a place of fear and assume that people on the streets are more prone to violence,” said Caleb Crowder, an organizer with a United Way campaign to combat homelessness Everyone In. “But the studies say that people on the street are one of the most victimized populations of all of us.”
The proposed development consists of 55 low-income studio apartment units, 17 of which will be designated very low-income, with a live-in onsite manager. Supportive services like case management, substance abuse services and links to vocational training will also be on the property.
The lot was initially approved by the city last year for 58 eldercare apartments under a previous owner. But Mercy Housing is aiming to convert that use to house independent seniors 62 and older who have experienced homelessness. It is currently applying for a conditional-use permit to allow a density bonus and 10-foot height extension.
With opportunities for public input concluded, a vote by the LA City Planning commission is set to take place at City Hall downtown.
