AMCAL Announces Completion of Santa Ana Special Needs Community

Jeffrey Steele, Contributing Writer

Santa Ana, Calif.—California workforce and affordable housing builder AMCAL Multi-Housing has announced its Vista Del Rio special needs community in Santa Ana has achieved full occupancy.  A ribbon cutting ceremony will be held today at Vista Del Rio, 1600 W. Memory Lane in Santa Ana.

The creation of the special needs community was the result of a collaboration between AMCAL Multi-Housing, non-profit affordable housing developer A Community of Friends, and the Foundation for Affordable Housing.  The new 41-unit community, featuring one- and two-bedroom units, will offer high-quality affordable housing for those with physical and developmental disabilities.

On-site independent living training and vocational services will be provided.  Many areas of Vista Del Rio are accessible by those with disabilities, to ensure residents a living environment with optimal levels of convenience.

Modern amenities featured at Vista Del Rio include classrooms, a courtyard with fountain, meditation garden and expansive community room with kitchen.  The community is near a golf course and park, bicycle trails, an OCTA bus line, UCI Medical Center, an open-air shopping mall and a grocery store.

The architectural firm behind Vista Del Rio, KTGY Group, delivered a traditional Craftsman design that complements the environs in this historic area of Santa Ana.  Construction is two levels of Type V, with 52 surface parking spaces.

An allocation of $6.4 million in nine percent low-income housing tax credits was awarded in 2011.  The city of Santa Ana funded $5 million via Redevelopment Agency and HOME funds.  Vista Del Rio was constructed to exceed Title 24 energy standards, as well as to LEED Silver certified standards.

“We are proud to be a part of Vista Del Rio and the unique partnership with the city of Santa Ana to provide affordable housing and enhance the quality of life for adults with physical and developmental disabilities, says Percival Vaz, CEO of AMCAL Multi-Housing.

Dora Leong Gallo, CEO of A Community of Friends, adds “A Community of Friends is excited to expand our housing expertise to Vista Del Rio, a new housing development focused on adults with developmental disabilities.  We believe an affordable home is essential to allow people with special needs to not only build healthy independent lives, but to thrive.”

Vista Del Rio represents a seven-year “labor of love” that has finally transitioned from dream stage to bricks-and-mortar reality, observes Deborrah Willard, president of the Foundation for Affordable Housing.  “We are tremendously excited to take this next step, and we are grateful for all of those who so generously participated in giving life to Vista Del Rio.  It will be a blessing to its neighborhood, and to the future residents who will call it home.”