Jamboree Opens Ceres Affordable Apartments

FONTANA, CA-Affordable housing developer Jamboree Housing Corp. of Irvine, CA plans to unveil its sixth project in this city on Thursday. Called Ceres Way, the 60-unit development at the intersection of Ceres and Oleander avenues was built on the site of an abandoned, bank-owned home and a trash-filled, weed-infested vacant lot, the developer notes.

Ceres Way is affordable to families whose household income is 50% of the area median income. It was developed as a public/private partnership with the Fontana Housing Authority, which has invested $8.2 million in redevelopment funds in the $13-million project and is also leasing to Jamboree the 5.5-acre site that the authority owns. US Bank provided $7 million in construction financing, and RBC Capital Markets, as the tax credit partner, invested $3.6 million of low-income housing 4% tax credit bonds. California Community Reinvestment Corp. contributed $1.3 million in permanent financing. KTGY Group Inc. of Irvine is the community’s architect and Advent Cos. of Mission Viejo is the general contractor.

The gated community includes a large community center with meeting rooms for its residents, a computer room, learning center and onsite management office as well as a pool, three tot lots, an outdoor fireplace and barbecue area, and a one-acre lawn.

Jamboree says that Ceres Way "brings further revitalization to an area previously known primarily for public safety concerns." As with all Jamboree developments, special emphasis will be placed on activities and programs in a collaborative community and learning center. Through Housing with a HEART, Jamboree’s resident services group, residents of all ages will have access to on-site programs and services tailored specifically to them. For children, there will be after-school tutoring and recreation programs, and adult family members will be able to participate in adult educational workshops. An on-site program coordinator assists residents in accessing local community services.

Laura Archuleta, Jamboree president, points out that the 60-apartment complex marks the sixth affordable project the company has developed in the city over the past several years, for a total of 226 Jamboree-built homes in Fontana during that time. Scott Darrell director of Jamboree’s Resident Services Group, says that the new project will benefit from economies of scale because it is close to two other Jamboree developments. Additionally, each of Jamboree’s communities in Fontana participates in the Crime Free Multi-Housing Program, which is a coalition of law enforcement, business owners/managers and residents committed to providing a safe living environment.