La Placita Cinco

SANTA ANA, CALIFORNIA

Goal: Reposition an underutilized retail plaza to create an innovative, community oriented, urban hub by providing support for existing retail tenants, updated amenity spaces, and the integration of new affordable housing.

Located in the heart of Santa Ana, La Placita Cinco, formerly known as Tiny Tim, revitalizes an underutilized strip center in a neighborhood that has not seen significant investment in over five decades, but is drawing attention due to its proximity to the City’s plan to develop a new light rail along 5th street where the project is located. Aligned with the desire of the City to have high quality housing options located along the light rail, La Placita Cinco presented a great opportunity to turn the desire into reality.

The resulting residential and retail improvements work together to build not just housing, but community. The new development portion features a three -to four-story building with ground-floor community amenity spaces, with a ground-floor storefront design facing the streets to create an urban feel. On the upper levels, the residential units are arranged around a central courtyard creating a safe, inviting environment for families to enjoy. Both residents and community members enjoy new outdoor fitness equipment, accessible along the side street.

Renovations to the existing plaza and retail buildings included renovated building facades, new landscaping, drive aisles and parking. The central hub of activity is the new retail plaza esplanade, widening the walkways accessing the retail shops and connecting to a new mini-park and band shell, designed to emulate the former 1950’s architecture found onsite. Both residents and retail tenants will be able to enjoy the addition of community gardens behind the north commercial building, inviting opportunities to grow, produce and learn about urban agriculture.

DEVELOPMENT

La Placita Cinco is a prototypical example of revitalizing a suburban style strip retail center in order to better serve the surrounding community. As such, its development forged new paths – adjusting its design and details to accommodate the requests of the community, city, and financial partners. Its final form is supported through a 9% tax credit award, and cooperative lender and investor partners who worked diligently to find solutions that supported both the new construction of affordable residential units and plaza renovations. Making everything possible was the support from the City of Santa Ana, who approved not only all the necessary entitlements, but also $6 million in subordinated funding to ensure the financial feasibility of the project.

DATA
  • Completion Date: 2017
  • Total Development Cost: $38.3M
  • Affordability: 30% - 60% AMI
  • Total Units: 51
  • Unit Mix: 20 2BD, 29 3BD, 2 4BD
  • Sustainability: LEED
TEAM
  • Developer: CDP & Mercy House
  • Architect: TCA
  • Contractor: Walton Construction
  • Property Management: FPI Management
  • Resident Services Partner: Mercy House and Integrity Housing
WEBSITE

PARTNERS

CDP is proud to partner with these organizations, dedicated to bettering the lives not only of La Placita Cinco’s residents, but of those lower-income residents in surrounding communities.

Mercy House

Mercy House was founded by Father Jerome T. Karcher with a vision to serve the local homeless and at-risk communities. Since beginning services in 1990, Mercy House has grown from a single transitional housing program to a complete system of care designed to span the spectrum of services. These range from outreach and homeless prevention programs to emergency shelters and permanent housing, which incorporates both Housing First projects serving chronically homeless populations and affordable housing serving very low to low-income populations. On an annual basis, Mercy House programs and services touch the lives of over 7,000 adults and children across Orange, Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Riverside, Ventura, and Kern Counties in California as well as Maricopa County, Arizona. Their growth over our 30-year tenure has been tied to clarity of vision and purpose, always bearing in mind the organization’s ultimate goal: to end the homelessness of all who enter their unique system of care.

Santa Ana Endurance Academy

Santa Ana Endurance Academy’s mission is to challenge both body and mind while promoting a healthy, active lifestyle. Their trainers provide fitness programs for all ages, aiming to reduce sedentary habits and get the community moving.

Founded by local residents with extensive fitness experience, SAEA specializes in strength training, HIIT, speed and agility, and marathon and triathlon training. They are passionate about bringing triathlon to the youth and the community.