Special needs housing completes Montclair's Gateway project

MONTCLAIR, Calif. – National Community Renaissance, one of the nation’s largest nonprofit developers of affordable and special-needs housing, has unveiled a state-of-the-art apartment community designed and built specifically for adults with developmental disabilities.

 The 18-unit San Emi Apartment complex includes onsite services provided by United Cerebral Palsy of Los Angeles, Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties (UCPLA) and is part of Montclair’s San Antonio Gateway Plan – a campus of four National CORE communities serving more than 600 adult, family and senior residents.

 “San Emi addresses a critical need in the Inland Empire and beyond, and we thank our partners at the City of Montclair and United Cerebral Palsy for helping us make this transformational development available to this underserved segment of our community,” said Steve PonTell, President and CEO of Rancho Cucamonga-based National CORE. “CORE’s mission is to transform lives and communities, and San Emi is an ideal example of this.”

 Ronald S. Cohen, President and Chief Executive Officer of UCPLA, said the need for affordable, supportive housing to persons with disabilities has never been greater. At the same time, federal funding is drying up, which could make San Emi one of the last projects of its kind in California.

 “I have parents coming to me daily wondering where their child is going to live when they’re adults,” Cohen said. “Affordable housing is an issue for every community. But it’s an even bigger issue for people with developmental disabilities.”

 Ed Starr, City Manager of Montclair, said the city is elated to see the San Antonio Gateway Plan come to completion and “particularly pleased that San Emi embraces an underserved population.” He cited California’s elimination of redevelopment agencies as a hindrance to doing similar projects in the future. Originally, the Gateway Plan was to include a fifth housing community.

 “We consider San Emi to be our miracle housing project, not only because of the population base served, but because it survived the machinations of state leaders to eliminate redevelopment agencies,” Starr said.

 San Bernardino County Supervisor Gary Ovitt, whose Fourth District includes Montclair, called the San Emi Apartments an important step forward for the region.

 “The ability to provide this kind of supportive service – despite the very real funding challenges involved in doing this – speaks volumes about the development team and partners who made it happen,” Ovitt said. “San Emi is a tremendous asset to our community.”

 The development features a community center with computer lab, laundry facilities and an outdoor community lounge. All units are designed to accommodate wheelchair users. In addition, the state-of-the-art facility features energy-efficient windows, and water-efficient landscaping and fixtures.

In addition to the City of Montclair and UCPLA, partners include the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development; the California Tax Credit Allocation Committee; Raymond James Tax Credit Funds Inc., Wells Fargo Bank; Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco; Onyx Architects; Ellias Construction Co.; Greenfield Construction and Nancy Lewis Associates Inc.