Older adults have new affordable housing options with the opening of a 166-unit community in Orange, California.
Developed by USA Properties Fund and Riverside Charitable Corp., The Orion includes eight permanent supportive housing units for residents faced with housing insecurity.
“We have a housing shortage in California, and it is imperative that we address that by providing appropriate and tasteful developments that reflect the identity of the community while meeting housing needs,” said Orange County supervisor Don Wagner, whose district includes the city of Orange. “The Orion in Orange accomplishes just that, by providing much-needed housing to low-income seniors in the community.”
The development is built on the former site of the Rehabilitation Institute of Orange County. The 75-year-old nonprofit, started by a mother with a disabled child, serves about 400 children daily at two other locations under the name of Reimagine OC.
The Orion “represents a transformative win-win for the city of Orange, converting a revered location into a modern haven for seniors,” said Recinda Shafer, deputy executive director for Riverside Charitable Corp. in Tustin. “We are honored to continue the legacy of this land.”
The $63.6 million project is supported by a public-private partnership that includes the city of Orange, Orange County, Orange County Housing Finance Trust, Orange County Health Care Agency, Bank of America, Citi Community Capital, and Safehold.
The California Tax Credit Allocation Committee awarded bond funding for the high-profile development. Bank of America is the construction and tax credit equity lender, and Citi Community Capital is the permanent lender.
The Orion also was approved for an affordable housing density bonus, significantly increasing the number of apartments allowed per acre, making the project financially feasible, and providing more housing for low-income residents. The additional apartments allow more residents to move to—or remain in—Orange County, one of the highest-priced housing markets in the nation.
The apartment community is home to residents 55 years and older with household income of 30% to 70% of the area median income for Orange County, about $40,600 to $94,780 for a two-person household. The income limit reaches almost $128,000 for a five-person household.
Amenities include a clubroom, a fitness center, computer workstations, and a dog park. A community garden with elevated planters, a courtyard and shaded patio, and 170 parking spaces, including EV charging stations, are also part of The Orion.
Residents will also have access to a range of social services, from budgeting and financial planning to health-related information through LifeSTEPS, a social-services provider at many affordable communities in California managed by USA Properties.
The Orion is near several shopping centers, healthcare providers, and public transit, including bus service and connections to light-rail service throughout the region. It is also close to community and regional parks, and a short drive to beaches, Disneyland, and Angel Stadium, home of the Los Angeles Angels.