Senator Portantino Statement: Affordable Housing Grant for 1880 Walnut Street Housing

For Immediate Release: April 21, 2022

Contact: Lerna Shirinian, (818) 409-0400

Senator Portantino Statement: Affordable Housing Grant for 1880 Walnut Street Housing

Pasadena, California – Senator Anthony J. Portantino released the following statement today regarding the $8,750,000 grant to the 1880 Walnut Street Housing project in Pasadena. The funds were allocated through the Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities (AHSC) program, which is administered by the California Strategic Growth Council (SGC) and California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) as part of a statewide initiative to fight climate change. 

“I am excited and pleased to learn that the 1880 Walnut Street Housing was the recipient of a grant through the Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities program. The funds will be used for housing related infrastructure, sustainable transportation infrastructure including new electric buses and pedestrian improvements, and other related programs to build affordable housing. By increasing the supply of affordable housing, we not only give people an opportunity to become a first-time home buyer, but also protect the environment by providing easily accessible public transportation options that will help us reduce greenhouse gas emission and improve public health,” stated Senator Portantino.

The Affordable Housing Development will serve restricted households at 80-120 percent of the Area Median Income (AMI). The sustainable transportation Infrastructure will include two new electric buses to expand the LADOT Commuter Express Line 549 service area father east into Pasadena, pedestrian improvements adjacent to the Metro Gold Line Allen Ave Station, and new Bike Boulevard. The transportation amenities will include pedestrian enhancements adjacent to Metro Gold Line Station.

AHSC is part of California Climate Investments, a statewide initiative that puts billions of cap-and-trade dollars to work reducing greenhouse gas emissions, strengthening the economy, and improving public health and the environment — particularly in disadvantaged communities. Since 2014, the AHSC program has invested over $2.4 billion across the state through 164 sustainable projects, creating over 15,000 affordable units and reducing almost 4.4 million tons of emissions over the projects’ operating lives. AHSC provides both grants and loans for projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, support infill affordable housing, and denser development patterns.

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