Housing disparity on the ridge persists, future outlook is positive – Chico Enterprise-Record

PARADISE Two years out from tragedy, the reality of obstacles to rebuilding after wildfire is all too clear driving through the town of Paradise.

Where surviving homes still stand, lot after empty lot surrounds them. Where new homes rise again, with hammers and saws heard through the trees, just down the street stands a trailer with few belongings in sight. Inequality that dogged Paradise before the fire is stark bare to the eye as a second winter after the fire closes in.

A countywide report which finally arrived the first week of September pulled no punches scrutinizing the gap in housing for all in Butte County, and the work needed if the town is serious about addressing the overwhelming need for cheaper housing.

There is certainly significant activity for bringing back traditional single family homes. Disaster Recovery Director Katie Simmons said for single family homes, 1,306 permits have been received, and 859 are to be built traditionally, with over 400 manufactured homes. There are 1,168 applications issued with 426 homes either rebuilt or on the way with certificates of occupancy issued.

The towns staff have also been quick to point out multiple outside offers of interest in buying up lots to rebuild and see. Community Development Director Susan Hartman said Thursday its common for companies to buy parcels of between 50 to 100 lots with the plan to build a new home and sell it. And the town does not keep track of how many contracts are for owner occupancy (often a former resident rebuild) or for this future development and sale by an outside company.

Residents who feel pushed out have said they know why the interest is so high. Land is cheap, and money can be made from those who have it and can afford the insurance.

But for those who lost everything and cant get it back, or still cannot make enough to have a hope to stay, the lack of less expensive housing is leading to desperation. Particularly as the economy reels from the pandemics losses, many cannot see room for growth towards a home of their own on the ridge. Those in trailers still tend to be low-income, previous renters or they may be the elderly with health issues, according to Chico State Passages Connections Program Director Shannon Simmons.

We need to be prioritizing low income housing in Chico specifically, she said, to address the increased vulnerability of people with low and fixed income like seniors.

For people on fixed income who have Social Security or disability or minimal retirement, it is literally impossible to even rent in this area, Simmons said. She added for the elderly poor, it can be a choice between living in a permanent home or paying for medication and food. These are some of the towns population still living in trailers, without the funds to recreate the home they had.

The real gap is in affordable multifamily housing or any new multifamily housing at all. There were 265 applications received as of Tuesday, with 216 multifamily unit permits issued and 70 units rebuilt with occupancy. These include the Community Housing Improvement Programs Paradise Community Village, and those rebuilds proposed by a number of other developers totaling 200 units in multifamily projects.

But Hartman said she hasnt had any meetings in the last six months with developers for new multifamily projects.

There are some mobile home parks under reconstruction, most of which were at capacity before the fire, Hartman said. At least half a dozen are working on septic and other underground utility repairs. This could bring some more options to those living in trailers needing a place to stay, but no long term solutions for those needing permanent housing.

The town points to coming grant funding as possible aid for those who cant afford to rebuild or may be forced to move. Simmons said in 2021, the town is receiving grant funds to help improve the building of affordable units. A total of $55 million is to be allocated to the town for use getting multifamily unit projects moving, prioritizing smaller density projects of up to four units.

A six-year pool for owner occupied reconstruction totaling $205 million opens in 2021 for those impacted by federally declared disaster. Permits given to those who are in temporary living situations or most heavily, for those rebuilding a single home with low to middle income below 80% of area median income, who could receive up to $200,000.

Its really for funding unmet needs, looking at those who might have a gap in reconstruction and permanent housing, Simmons said. They identified 60% (of survivors) were uninsured.

We know that most folks living in temporary housing are very interested in rebuilding but many are experiencing financial or time barriers.

The town does currently administer owner occupied reconstruction grant funds, at $25 million total for those who owned property prior to the Camp Fire. There are 88 applicants already with just under 100 interested who havent applied. The pool can assist up to 150 households.

And there are other grants available, like the Rebuild Paradise Foundation using septic grants available to offset permit fees for those who need to pay for their septic restoration to rebuild.

But, Until we start seeing PG&E payouts, we just dont really know how much those are going to amount to, Simmons said, which makes it hard for residents to decide whether funds from those claims will be enough to rebuild.

Hartman said the main next move for community development will not take place until the end of 2021, when the hope is to update the General Plan. using the sewer and traffic circulation studies going on throughout the first half of the year. This update will be vital to even know where to place new housing developments, she said.

Whats the reason why higher density, more affordable housing models cannot move forward more quickly?

Public Works Director Mark Mattox said the towns sewer infrastructure must come first. Development of multifamily housing in particular will not start in earnest until decisions are made on the sewer.

Mattox estimates that once the town commits to a long term option for managing its water, if environmental review of the proposed sewer can begin in December it will take 18 months. So the soonest pipes could be in the ground, allowing for higher density projects like multifamily housing, would be three to five years.

We may not hear from these developers for another year until we have a completed environmental impact report and funding for construction, which would be over $100 million, Mattox added.

Due to the need for this infrastructure to come first, There will continue to be uncertainty in the towns ability to create robust multifamily housing solutions, he added. These are not new issues to the town since before the fire, the lack of a sewer also impeded the ability to create higher density, cheaper housing options.

While the grants are there for multifamily housing, the infrastructure to support it is necessary, Mattox said. The need for a sewer is our reality.

A major town meeting will take place Tuesday to consider the fork in the road decision whether to look at creating a local waste water plant or using a regional extension to the Chico water plant, Mattox said. The town will then have another meeting Dec. 8 to discuss how to move forward on the sewer once everyone has more time to look at all information presented.

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Housing disparity on the ridge persists, future outlook is positive - Chico Enterprise-Record