Fort Ord Redevelopment plans provide little affordable housing | Representative Farr angered Housing developments on the former Fort Ord are not fulfilling the promise of much-needed affordable housing. These properties are owned by the local cities which are approving the developers’ plans without requiring workforce housing. In Seaside, Hayes Housing alongside Highway 1 consists of 380 market-rate units without a single affordable house. The Marina City Council has just approved an agreement to sell 248 acres of Fort Ord land to developers who intend to build 1,050 market-rate homes. Eighty-five will be priced under $301,000 and marketed as “bridge homes,” but at press time only 20% affordable housing had been offered. When the Fort Ord Reuse Authority (FORA) endorsed the “business plan” for the project in January, they split profits from the development 50-50 between Marina and FORA. Their decision that the project is consistent with the base reuse plan understandably angered Representative Sam Farr who last year was promised by FORA that it would promote workforce housing. Farr has facilitated the transfer of the Army property to the cities, brought home federal community development dollars to FORA, and legislated a bill that allows transfer of the land free to Seaside, Marina, Del Rey Oaks, the City of Monterey and the County of Monterey. Given this “gift,” Farr is incensed that the cities are providing little or no affordable housing. The City of Marina should develop a plan that is good for the community and not merely collect profits in conjunction with a developer. The Ventana Chapter supports Farr’s efforts to bring affordable housing to our area.

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