July 20, 2006
Temporary Disruption in Old Mammoth Reap Long-term Community Benefits:
July 20, 2006
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:
L. Andrea Clark, Executive Director Mammoth Lakes Housing, Inc.
(760) 934-4740, aclark@qnet.com
TEMPORARY DISRUPTION IN OLD MAMMOTH REAP LONG-TERM COMMUNITY BENEFITS
Old Mammoth Rd and its patient residents continue to see quite a bit of activity this summer. For the past several construction seasons, the combined development of The Lodges, Aspen Village at Mammoth Creek and Tosca Townhomes has resulted in construction traffic and disruptions for the neighborhood. The disruption caused by Mammoth Lakes Housing, Inc.’s Aspen Village at Mammoth Creek project will continue through the summer, but will result in a community benefit once completed. “The utility work that is disrupting traffic flow at the Aspen Village project is associated with the construction of an off-street bike and pedestrian path that will make that narrow stretch of road safer for all residents to travel along Old Mammoth Rd,” states Andrea Clark, Mammoth Lakes Housing, Inc. Executive Director.
Mammoth Lakes Housing, Inc. (MLH) was successful in helping the Town access $500,000 of State Community Development Block Grant Funds specifically for the construction of the off-street trail that will meander along Old Mammoth Rd from Warterford to the Snowcreek Athletic Club to help carry pedestrians safely to the Athletic Club and the nearby bus stop. “These funds would not have been available for this kind of infrastructure construction without the housing development,” states Clark. “We’re very pleased that we can offer benefits to the community at large with our housing projects, such as this trail, a school-bus pull out along the property and placing the current overhead utilities underground on the north side of the street.”
The Aspen Village at Mammoth Creek Apartments broke ground in Fall 2004 with the goal of an 18-month construction schedule. “MLH was hopeful to complete the project early due to the efficiencies gained by the factory-built construction, but difficulties with soil quality, utility construction and sub-contractor disputes has turned our 18-month schedule into a two-year schedule,” Clark said. “But we can now see the light at the end of the tunnel and are planning on occupancy before the end of the year.”
The Aspen Village at Mammoth Creek Project consists of two phases. Phase I is a 48-unit apartment project and Phase II consists of 24 purchasable town homes. As the first phase wraps up this fall, Phase II will be gearing up. In response to questions about the challenges the Aspen Village project has encountered along the way Clark says, “development and construction is a tough business no matter what your building, and all the financing challenges that come with the 6 different funding sources for this project, and the public scrutiny associated with workforce housing makes it that much more difficult.” She adds, “Visit any construction site in Mammoth and you’ll find similar challenges – turn over in contractors, finding qualified labor, schedule delays and cost overruns – its tough.”
In related news, Phase II of this project received a shot in the arm this week from the California Department of Housing and Community Development. The Town, in association with MLH received $300,000 in funds from the Building Equity and Growth in Neighborhoods program to provide 10 qualified households with a $30,000 down payment toward the purchase of the Aspen Village at Mammoth Creek town homes that will sell next year. These BEGIN funds allow the workforce to purchase a home with very little of their own cash resources. According to Clark, “MLH has loaned almost $1 million of these and similar funds to help people purchase units at Meridian Court – many households were able to purchase a home with less than $5,000 cash.”
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