Monarch Apartment Homes Breaks Ground in Palm Springs
Creating generational change in Coachella Valley
On October 28th, clear blue skies and a stunning desertscape welcomed attendees to the historic groundbreaking of The Monarch Apartment Homes in Palm Springs, including excited state and local government dignitaries, neighbors, Palm Springs residents and members of CHOC’s board and staff.
“It’s going to be a gamechanger,” said Fiona Ma, California State Treasurer, who traveled from Sacramento to attend. “I look forward to coming out for many more groundbreakings and ribbon cuttings.”
Spirits ran high with ebullient energy as Heather Vaikona, Lift to Rise CEO, took the podium as emcee for this landmark event. After a series of speeches, attendees gathered to witness a ceremonial turning of the dirt.
With shovels in hand, dignitaries and CHOC representatives dug into the land that will one day become home to 60 local families. A unanimous, celebratory cheer rang through the group as soil lifted into the air, a symbol of hope for the future of this parcel, as well as Palm Springs itself.
As the first multifamily affordable housing community to be built in Palm Springs in over 12 years, Monarch Apartment Homes will bring much-needed housing to working Coachella Valley families, creating a precedent and pipeline for more affordable communities in the city and region.
Photos: Noé Montes | NoeMontes.com
Generational change through affordable housing
"This will allow generations of families to establish themselves in our community without having to worry about housing security or paying huge portions of their income in rent," Palm Springs Mayor Christy Holstege said in her welcome speech.
Generational change begins with housing. Monarch’s 60 units will become foundational to helping working families overcome barriers to financial stability, creating sustainable support for future generations.
Manuela Silva, CEO of Community Housing Opportunities Corporation (CHOC), said: “To me, driving is a privilege; housing is a human right. Now, we work towards mitigating and bridging that gap, so that housing is no longer a privilege, but a human right.”
Video by Conduit Studios | conduitstudiosmedia.com
Affordable housing creates more opportunities for families
The ripple effects of building affordable housing in this desert community are multifold. Not only will new Monarch residents be able to live closer to their workplace, reducing commute times, but they’ll be able to support local businesses close to home, too.
“The same way that families can fall victim to the wrong circumstances, they can also thrive when the right circumstances are present,” said Silva.
Minimum wage workers often have to choose between paying for housing and necessities such as childcare, food, and healthcare. To make ends meet, a provider must often take on two or even three jobs.
“If we’re serious about housing and if we’re serious about homelessness, we need to do this every single day,” said District 4 Riverside County Supervisor V. Manuel Perez, who also spoke at the event.
Affordable housing like Monarch helps bridge this divide, generating social and financial impacts that benefit families and the surrounding community for decades to come.
Manuela Silva, CEO of Community Housing Opportunities Corporation (CHOC)
Teaming up for the communities of tomorrow
“They say it takes a village, in this case, it takes a whole state,” added Silva. “It’s not just the political leadership, it takes every single one of us. It’s the team that gets it done.”
In partnership with Palm Springs under a Disposition Development Agreement (DDA), CHOC will develop the land with rental apartments consisting of one-, two- and three-bedroom units.
Vincent Nicholas, VP of Real Estate Development, led Monarch’s development with his team in Northern and Southern California, which included overseeing and managing the acquisition of the land, as well as Monarch’s intricate financing and state tax-credit funding process. Nicholas will also oversee Monarch’s construction, working closely with CHOC’s Joy Silver and Monarch’s financing and construction partners.
As CHOC’s Regional Director of Southern California, Joy Silver plays a pivotal role in Monarch’s real-world arrival. With over 30 years of experience advocating for traditionally marginalized communities and a developer herself, Silver worked with Palm Springs residents, neighbors and businesses to build robust community support for Monarch, culminating in its February 2019 presentation to the Palm Springs City Council, where it won unanimous support.
CHOC’s PR Counsel Sydney Weisman also created invaluable neighborhood forums, working tirelessly to introduce CHOC Monarch to neighborhood associations, as well as facilitating CHOC and CHOC Monarch’s first news stories in The Desert Sun - our sincere thanks.
The project is financed by California Municipal Finance Authority (CMFA), the City of Palm Springs, the County of Riverside, Flagstar Bank, the California Community Reinvestment Corporation (CCRC), California Tax Credit Allocation Committee (CTAC), and California Debt Limit Allocation Committee (CDLAC).
Designing with sustainability in mind to make a lasting impact
Located at the Southeast corner of N. Indian Canyon and San Rafael Drive, Monarch Apartment Homes’ location is well-suited for the creation of an economically integrated community.
Designed by architect Maria Song of Interactive Design Corporation, Monarch will feature mid-century modern architecture, akin to the surrounding neighborhood which includes Donald Wexler’s historic Steel Houses. Highlighted in Modernism Week 2021, the design of Monarch’s $31 million complex includes iconic butterfly roofs, whose V-shape resembles two lifted wings, architecturally-aligned - and integrated - with this historic neighborhood.
Envisioned with sustainability in mind, these apartments will remain affordable for 55 years, built by davisREED Construction, Inc., a firm already well-known for The Kimpton Rowan in Palm Springs, as well as other nationally-lauded projects. "As a business owner with an ear to the ground on issues facing our team members and as a parent looking at the challenges of our young people, the realities facing us in housing supply are provocative," said Derek Davis, President of davisREED Construction, Inc. "Our social fabric is strengthened by projects like the Monarch because the tertiary benefits flow through all of us in the community."
The broad collaboration that’s made Monarch possible is already having a positive impact, making lasting impressions on the community-at-large, as beautifully captured in Conduit Studios’ groundbreaking video.
CHOC once again extends sincere thanks to the City of Palm Springs, City Councilmember Christy Holstege and newly appointed Mayor Lisa Middleton, the State of California for its critical tax-credit support, State Treasurer Fiona Ma, District 4 Supervisor V. Manuel Perez, Lift to Rise’s Heather Vaikona, our construction and financing partners and new neighbors for their sustained belief and support; Monarch Apartment Homes begins an era of much-needed and soon to be available affordable housing for working Coachella Valley families.
Silva added: “A dream is in the mind of the dreamer, but it’s really in the hand of the doer.”
About The Community Housing Opportunities Corporation (CHOC)
Founded in 1984, the Community Housing Opportunities Corporation (CHOC) is a non-profit, affordable housing developer based in Fairfield, California with offices in Palm Springs. CHOC creates and manages equitable communities for individuals, families, seniors, and those with special needs. CHOC believes that economically integrated affordable housing is key to self-sufficiency and is achievable with enriching, supportive programs that give pride to residents, stabilize families, and improve local economies. Visit CHOCHousing.org.