Home ownership campaign zeroes in on elusive dream

Public Record, The, Aug 30, 2005 by Davis, Rick

In an effort to save the first-time homebuyer from becoming an endangered species in California, a group of home builders is championing a reform agenda titled "Campaign for California Home Ownership."

Proponents claim it's a common-sense legislative reform package designed to turn the American dream of home ownership into a reality for more Californians.

To that end, Coachella Valley commu nity members gathered earlier this month at a Desert Hot Springs residential location to sign a statewide declaration for the homeownership campaign. The declaration noted that hard-working Californians throughout the state are calling on government leaders to work together and address the housing affordability crisis.

Declaration signatures are to be presented to the state Legislature and Schwarzenegger administration.

"It's time for the Legislature to address the state's housing affordability crisis. Many hard-working families are being denied the opportunity to achieve the American Dream of owning a home. I am calling on my colleagues to follow the governor's lead and work toward finding a solution," Assemblyman John J. Benoit, a Palm Desert resident, said at the Desert Hot Springs event at a development called Hacienda Heights. "My goal is to remove red tape wherever I can."

The campaign supports elimination of the requirement for residential developers to pay prevailing wages to workers.

"I don't think we should get rid of prevailing wages," said Desert Hot Springs Vice Mayor Mary Stephens. "But I'm against prevailing wages when it comes to building affordable housing because it makes no sense. The state housing market is spiraling out of control . "

"Job creation is greatly affected by the state's housing market," added Lane Sarasohn, president of the Desert Hot Springs Chamber of Commerce said. "If current and future residents cannot afford to live in the area, they are not going to work or start a business here."

Officials noted that in his State of the State address this year, the governor said housing was one of his top priorities.

Reforms proposed by some home builders have listed these keys to bringing housing supply and demand back into balance:

* Ensuring there's an adequate supply of land to build well-planned housing of all kinds - high-density condominiums and single-family homes, particularly in California's job centers.

* Legislation that eliminates regulatory and legal hurdles that delay construction and increase the costs of new housing.

* Streamlining the permitting process for new housing because an average California subdivision takes a decade to be approved.

Ed Kibbey, executive director for the Desert Chapter of the Building Industry Association of Southern California, said the Legislature can help speed the building process. Currently, developers are not able to keep up with the housing demand.

"We're losing ground and that's regrettable," said Kibbey.

Robert Mayer, a valley home builder, said the key is to offer housing availability to prospective buyers. "Home builders want to create diverse housing options for our customers," he said. "It's a very rewarding experience to help Californians achieve the American dream."

Campaign spokeswoman Brooke Fornaciari said the project has a Web site called www.cahomeownership.com.