San Diego Redevelopment Agency Receives Outstanding Government Agency Award

June 7, 2010 - PRLog -- SAN DIEGO, Calif.—The City of San Diego Redevelopment Agency was presented with the Outstanding Government Agency award during the San Diego Housing Federation’s 15th Annual San Diego County Affordable Housing and Community Development Recognition Awards ceremony.  The event was held June 3, 2010 at the Naval Training Center Promenade.

SDHF defines an Outstanding Government Agency as one that takes unusual risk or initiative to support affordable housing and/or community development initiatives.  Agencies outside of San Diego and California are eligible.  

“The RDA was nominated for being proactive in helping to ensure the development of La Entrada and Los Vientos Apartments in Barrio Logan. The Agency assisted in working through the environmental review and approvals,” said Arnulfo Manrizquez, CEO, Chicano Federation and immediate past president of the San Diego Federation.  Manrizquez presented the award to the Redevelopment Agency.

Robert Chavez, the agency’s community development coordinator, and Sam Johnson, agency project area manager, were recognized for their work in helping to navigate the city’s approval process at multiple levels, including Agency funding, entitlement issues, local PAC and community meetings, and the City Council office.  The Redevelopment Agency worked closely with the city to ensure the projects were well positioned to compete for state funds.

“I’m extremely proud of all the progress our Redevelopment Agency has made in eliminating blight and improving our neighborhoods,” said San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders. “The Housing Federation’s recognition of their accomplishments is well-deserved.”

In addition to being named the Outstanding Government Agency, the agency-funded Los Vientos affordable housing complex won Housing Project of the Year - More than 50 Units award.  In total, three Redevelopment Agency projects were finalists; La Entrada, Los Vientos and Boulevard.  All three projects provide additional housing options for working families in the Barrio Logan Redevelopment Project Area.  

“These development projects bring much-needed affordable housing units to the City of San Diego,” says Janice Weinrick, deputy executive director with the San Diego Redevelopment Agency. “As an agency, we strive to provide high-quality, safe, and affordable homes for working families throughout San Diego.”

Redevelopment Agency projects have been recognized in past years by the San Diego Housing Federation.  

About the Redevelopment Agency of the City of San Diego
The Redevelopment Agency of the City of San Diego, created by the City Council in 1958, uses special legal and financial mechanisms to eliminate blight and improve economic and physical conditions in designated areas of the City. The Agency’s purview encompasses 17 project areas, study areas and affordable housing. Activities within the project areas are carried out by the city’s Redevelopment Division and two public, nonprofit city corporations: Centre City Development Corporation (CCDC) and Southeastern Economic Development Corporation (SEDC).  The Agency also administers seven Project Area Committees (PAC) that advise the agency on the adoption of redevelopment plans and implementing redevelopment projects. For more information, visit: http://www.sandiego.gov/redevelopment-agency/