Public-private partnership for
147-apartment community includes the City of La Mesa, CalHFA, WNC Inc. and KeyBank
LA MESA, Calif. – USA Properties Fund has completed 8181 Allison, an affordable apartment community in La Mesa’s Downtown Village, offering lower-income residents easy access to a trolley station and several bus stops in one of the most walkable neighborhoods in Southern California.
The transit-oriented development – located at 8181 Allison Avenue, just west of Spring Street – provides much-needed workforce housing a few blocks from a grocery store and pharmacy, more than 30 restaurants, City Hall, the city library and a weekly year-round farmers’ market. 8181 Allison is also just south of Interstate 8, the major east-west freeway that connects residents to much of the San Diego region.
“The site has been transformed into a beautiful place to call home – right in the heart of La Mesa,” said La Mesa Mayor Mark Arapostathis. “Its proximity to downtown, transit, and everyday amenities makes this a valuable addition to our city. The city is very proud to be able to help fill a need for multifamily housing in such a desirable location next to transit and commercial businesses.”
The 147-apartment community helps address the burgeoning need for affordable housing in the San Diego region. The county has a shortage of about 135,000 affordable apartments for extremely low-income renters, according to the National Low Income Housing Coalition.
The critical shortage of affordable housing forces many low-income residents to commute from outside the region or live in market-rate apartment communities and pay much higher rent, creating an ongoing financial hardship. Almost three of every five renters spend at least half of their income on housing in the San Diego region, according to the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard.
“8181 Allison helps address numerous challenges for the community and saves low-income residents a significant amount of time and money,” said Geoff Brown, President of USA Properties Fund. “The apartment community provides cost-effective, quality housing in a neighborhood where many businesses and services are just a few blocks away.”
8181 Allison
Housing that ‘can truly change the lives of tenants’
The $71.4 million development is possible thanks to a public-private partnership that includes the City of La Mesa, the California Housing Finance Agency (CalHFA), WNC Inc. and KeyBank.
8181 Allison was approved for CalHFA’s Mixed-Income Program (MIP), making the apartment community available to residents who earn a wider range of income levels, from early-in-their-career professionals such as teachers and tech-industry workers to retirees living on a fixed income. Under the special financing program, the apartment community is for households that earn 30% to 70% of the area median income for San Diego County, from $34,740 for one person to more than $125,000 for a five-person family.
“This development shows what can be accomplished when government partners like the State Treasurer’s Office, CalHFA and the City of La Mesa unite under the common goal of providing affordable housing that is a true benefit to the entire community,” said CalHFA Executive Director Tony Sertich. “When government partners can collaborate like this, it makes it easier for our private partners to produce housing that can truly change the lives of tenants.”
The affordable housing – one-bedroom apartments start at $831 and two-bedroom units at $995 – will allow residents to worry less about rent and focus more on their future, from cutting credit-card debt and saving money to maybe even enrolling in college classes.
“Affordable housing helps improve the lives of residents, from building a sense of community to more financial stability for residents,” said Brown of USA Properties Fund. “8181 Allison is a conduit to employment, transportation and security.”
An amenities-rich apartment community, from a parking garage to a rooftop deck
In addition to affordable rent, the five-story building features a long list of amenities, including a community room with a kitchen, fitness center, courtyard with barbecues, rooftop deck, a hot tub, on-site laundry and a dog-wash station. 8181 Allison includes a large solar-panel system that will provide power for the community and save residents money.
The apartments – 103 one-bedroom apartments and 44 two-bedroom units – feature energy-efficient appliances, ceiling fans, wood-plank flooring, and either a balcony or patio.
8181 Allison will also offer a range of social services for residents — from budget and financial planning to health-related talks – through longtime partner LifeSTEPS.
The apartment community has a 108-space parking garage with two EV-charging stations. But many residents can avoid driving and enjoy a meal, shop for groceries, find a hard-to-put-down book and much more within a few blocks of 8181 Allison in the Downtown Village.
“8181 Allison is in a prime location right in the center of downtown La Mesa,” said Jessica Captanis, Vice President of Originations West for WNC. “WNC is thrilled to welcome the wonderful tenants who will call this place home as they benefit from proximity to amenities, services, schools, and the rest of the vibrant La Mesa community.”