Some Las Brisas North residents will share a wall with the newly approved Affordable Housing development coming to Indio. They went to Thursday’s Indio Planning meeting to voice their concerns about having a four-story apartment complex behind their homes.
“We do need low-income housing in every city, and I’m not against low-income housing,” says Doddie Hecht. Gabriella Mendoza and Doddie Hecht live in front of the proposed parking area of a planned affordable housing development project in Indio. Hecht and Mendoza went to the Indio planning commission on Thursday when the development was unanimously approved to move forward.
“I’m getting the sense that they’re treating this project as if it’s the only location that’s available.” They had A few concerns about the project: privacy, parking, and safety.
The two buildings will stand four stories in height — these homeowners say 200 units create too much concern. “I hope that it’s hard-working individuals that pay their taxes just like we do,” says Hecht. “We don’t want crime coming into the area.”
Mendoza is a retired Indio police officer. She proposes that the city work on affordable housing that becomes a more significant investment for future residents. “I hope people understand that our concerns are not with particular individuals future renters,” says Mendoza. “That’s not what we’re talking about. We’re concerned with the project.” She suggests the city. “Considered building condos or apartment homes that were rent to own or that provided a pathway to actual ownership,” says Mendoza. “Because I think that when people own something, they have a tendency to take better care of it.”
Another Indio resident says the new development will positively impact the community.
“It helps eliminate that us versus them mentality, the other nests of people who need affordable housing, and it puts us all together in the same community,” says Robert Sokol, an Indio resident. “It helps foster a greater sense of community.”