Legal News

Mountain View affordable apartment units in question

By Richard Binder

Last year, an appellate court determined Los Angeles could not require a developer to include below-market-rate units because landlords have the right to set rent levels. In October, the California Supreme Court decided not to hear the case.

Bad timing for Prometheus Real Estate Group, which intended to include about 20 "below-market-rate" housing units at a 200-plus-unit apartment complex on the Minton's Lumber & Supply property at 455 W. Evelyn Ave. Interim City Attorney Jannie Quinn explained during a public hearing that the city of Mountain View can no longer enforce its below-market-rate ordinance because of the case. 

Asked by the council what can be done to restore the affordable units, Quinn said the city could try to negotiate an agreement with Prometheus in which the developer could offer some sort of affordable housing benefits in hopes of getting the project approved.

The case is called Palmer/Sixth Street Properties v. City of Los Angeles.

Full story here.

Full post as published by Legal Pad | LA on March 29, 2010 (boomark / email).