Larkin Place Permanent Supportive Housing
Larkin Place Project - 2023
Updated 6/6/23
The City has approved Jamboree Housing's project application for Larkin Place, a proposed 33-unit permanent supportive and affordable housing project located on the vacant lot at 731 Harrison Avenue, a parcel currently owned by Pilgrim Place. The property is zoned Institutional Residential (IR), which permits multi-family residential housing. The City's General Plan designates the property as "Available for Very Low and Extremely Low-Income Households."
Previously, Jamboree Housing submitted a project application that was approved by the Architectural Commission on January 26, 2022. The Architectural Commission's approval of the project design was contingent on the granting of an easement over the southeast parking lot of Larkin Park. On June 28, 2022, the City Council denied Jamboree's request for an access easement. In January 2023, Jamboree Housing submitted the new project application with an alternative design that does not require an easement over City property.
Similar to the first project proposal, the new project design places parking at the back of the apartment building. The parking lot would be accessed from Harrison Avenue along a fire lane on the west side of the property. The new project building is rectangular in shape and tiered from two stories in the front (facing Harrison Avenue) to four stories at the back of the site.
The development will consist of eight studio apartments, twenty-four one-bedroom apartments, and one two-bedroom apartment unit for an onsite manager. The square footage of the studio apartments is 372 SF, and the square footage of the one-bedroom units range from 466 SF to 520 SF. The two-bedroom manager's unit will be approximately 698 SF.
Larkin Place will target chronically homeless individuals with household incomes at or below 30% of Area Median Income (AMI). Onsite supportive services will be provided by Housing with Heart and designed to meet the specific needs of the population.
City staff has reviewed the new project application and deemed it complete. Jamboree's application was submitted under the requirements of California Assembly Bill (AB) 2162, which streamlines the approval process, removes environmental review requirements, and does not require any discretionary approvals. The project will not require Architectural Commission nor Planning Commission review. The project has been approved at a staff level as outlined by AB 2162.
About AB 2162
California Assembly Bill No. 2162 (AB 2162) was signed by Governor Jerry Brown on September 26, 2018 and became effective January 1, 2019. AB 2162 applies statewide and requires that supportive housing be a use that is permitted by right in zones where multifamily and mixed-use development is permitted. AB 2162 amended Government Code Section 65583 and added Code Section 65650 to require local entities to streamline the approval of housing projects containing a minimum amount of supportive housing by providing a ministerial approval process, removing the requirement for CEQA analysis and removing the requirement for Conditional Use Authorization or other similar discretionary entitlements granted by the Planning Commission.
About Permanent Supportive Housing
Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) is a type of permanent housing that provides long-term rental subsidies and Intensive Case Management Services (ICMS) to individuals who have experienced chronic homelessness and have disabilities, chronic medical conditions, and/or behavioral health conditions.
Previous Project Proposal
Jamboree previously submitted a project application that required the use of a City easement. The project design was approved by the Architectural Commission on January 26, 2021 contingent on Council approval of the easement. The granting of the easement was denied by the City Council. Jamboree withdrew the project application following the easement decision in 2022.