Ontario residents have mixed reaction after city leaders go ahead with plan to replace church with affordable housing
An Ontario neighborhood staple is set for a major change in the near future, after city leaders okayed a plan that would replace a longtime church with a condominium development.
Currently, the neighborhood is lined with single-story homes and the former Sunrise Church property, located on Fifth Street.
That specific place sits just behind Greg Gomez's backyard, and he's far from happy about losing his view of the San Gabriel Mountains,
"Ugly. No privacy. My view of the mountains will be gone," he said.
Gomez appealed the city's approval for the project, citing a number of reasons that included traffic safety concerns near schools, a rushed approval process and insufficient notice to residents in the affected area.
"We asked them why weren't we notified? The planning department says, 'We did. We notified you on the city website and the newspaper.'" he said. "But who looks at it?"
Gomez's appeal was rejected, despite finding an ally in Ontario Mayor Paul Leon.
He said that he agrees with residents in the area, and that the project doesn't fit in the neighborhood where it's been designated for construction.
However, scaling the zoning back form medium to low-density housing zones at this point would cost the city $10,000 per unit in fines, he said.
The developer of the condominiums, Warmington Residential, reportedly used SB-330, called the "Housing Crisis Act," to further their plans. The bill calls for more affordable housing in California.
Out of the 70 townhomes expected to be built, seven are slated for moderate-to-low income home buyers.
Gomez says that he understands why affordable homes are needed, but he, along with many others, say they're unsure why they have to be packed into one location.
"I can see that, but Ontario has a lot of other vacant land," he said.
KCAL News has not yet heard back from the developer when contacted for comment on the project.
