From Left: McKay, Ng, Williams,
Doddapaneni, Williams

LAKE ELSINORE, CA-Nonprofit developer Bridge Housing Corp. has kicked off construction of its 113-unit, $26 million Pottery Court affordable apartment complex. Designed by KTGY Group Architecture and Planning Inc., the new complex will accommodate working families earning between 30% and 50% of the area median income, which is approximately $13,650 for a single-person household to $32,500 for a four-person household. It is under way on a 4.4-acre site at 300 N. Riley St., two blocks from Lake Elsinore's historic downtown Main Street in this Inland Empire city.

The Pottery Court units will range from one to three bedrooms and are being constructed with financing that includes about $9.7 million from the city's redevelopment agency. The project is expected to be completed by April 2012.

The complex will consist of eight wood-frame buildings with tuck-under parking garages and green-building techniques, plus a single-story community building with a study room, a great-room for parties, a music practice room, a full kitchen, a pool, barbecues and outdoor play areas. The unit mix will include 20 one-bedrooms, 48 two-bedrooms and 45 three-bedroom apartments, ranging from 671 to 1,096 square feet with monthly rents expected to range from approximately $316 to $761, depending on the apartment size and household income.

Cynthia Parker, president and CEO of Bridge, noted that the development site is close to core amenities, such as schools and grocery stores as well as restaurants, vintage shops and the lake. Previously, the development site consisted of 23 parcels of vacant, underutilized land.

KTGY principal Chris Texter added that, in addition to below market rents, "Pottery Court's sustainable design and close proximity to public transportation, jobs, services and education further increase affordability for residents who have few affordable housing options, especially for larger families."

In addition to the redevelopment agency funds, financing for Pottery Court is provided by the City of Lake Elsinore, the County of Riverside, Wells Fargo Community Lending and Investment and the California Community Reinvestment Corp. Wermers Multi-Family Corp. of San Diego, Calif., is the general contractor.

The Bridge Housing team at the recent groundbreaking for the project, pictured in the photo accompanying this story, included EVP Kimberly McKay, assistant project manager Vanessa Ng, development director Philip Williams, project manager Aruna Doddapaneni and project manager Jeff Williams.