6 (02)You don't often get email from jleverin@uci.edu. Learn why this is important
From: Joshua Wyatt Le ve ring <jl e veri n@uci.edu>
Se nt: Tue sday, August 12, 2025 4:23 PM
To: The re sa Bass <TBass@anaheim.net>
Cc: Ce sar C <ce sarc@ke nne dycommi ssi on.org>; kennedyc@ke nne dycommission.org; Me l i nda.Coy@hcd.ca.gov
Subje ct: [EXTERN AL] A uthori zati on to Se l l Authori ty-Owne d Surplus Land to Re naissance Packi ng House Tow nhome s, LLC for A ff ordabl e
Housi ng De ve l opme nt
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Good afternoon,
On behalf of the Kennedy Commission, I am submitting a public comment letter for Agenda Item #6 under the Publi c Heari ngs
section in tonight's City Council meeting.
Thank you,
Joshua Levering
Summer Intern
August 12, 2025
Mayor Ashleigh Aitken
Members of the City Council
City of Anaheim City Hall
200 S Anaheim Blvd
Anaheim, CA 92805
RE: Public Hearing Item 6 – RE: Authorization to Sell Authority-Owned Surplus Land to
Renaissance Packing House Townhomes, LLC for Affordable Housing Development
Honorable Mayor Aitken and Anaheim City Council Members,
The Kennedy Commission is a broad-based coalition of residents and community organizations
advocating for the production and preservation of affordable homes—especially for families
earning less than $30,000 annually—in Orange County. Since 2001, we have worked with
jurisdictions across the county to shape housing and land-use policies that expand opportunities
for low- and very-low-income working families.
We commend the City of Anaheim for taking initiative to declare undeveloped Authority-owned
land at 703 and 705 S. Anaheim Boulevard as surplus land, and for making it possible to develop
affordable and market-rate housing through the Surplus Land Act process, which requires a
competitive solicitation and ensures long-term affordability.
The proposed inclusion of housing on surplus land that is deed-restricted to moderate-income
households is a good start, but in exchange for developing homes in a prime location close to
jobs and services, we at the Commission urge the City to require more from the developer. The
City should require the developer to prioritize developing homes for low-income and very
low-income households. The City’s 2021–2029 Housing Policy Program emphasizes the
importance of increasing housing opportunities across all income levels, especially for
extremely-low, very-low, and low-income households.
We recognize the City is making progress in providing affordable housing to residents and
encourage the City to take action to ensure more is built in order to reach Regional Housing
Needs Allocation (RHNA) goals for each income level. The City has done well in providing
moderate-income affordable housing, but has fallen behind in ensuring similar progress in
low-income and very-low-income households. We recommend the city require the developer to
set explicit minimum percentages of units for very-low and low-income households, such as a
fifteen percent (15%) minimum affordability requirement.
We commend Anaheim’s leadership in activating surplus land for affordable housing and
encourage the City to ensure these developments deliver meaningful, equitable outcomes for the
most vulnerable residents and working low-income families.
We look forward to working with the City of Anaheim to support the creation of affordable housing
that meets the needs of our community. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at
(949) 250-0909 or cesarc@kennedycommission.org.
1
Sincerely,
Cesar Covarrubias
Executive Director
CC: Melinda Coy
Proactive Housing Accountability Chief
California Department of Housing and Community Development
2