An empty lot located just west of the Santa Ana's historic passenger rail station could be developed with deed-restricted affordable housing, according to an agenda item from this week's meeting of the Santa Ana Planning Commission.

HomeAid Orange County - the Orange County chapter of the national non-profit developer - is seeking the approval of density bonus incentives for the construction of a new project on a vacant city-owned lot at 801-809 E. Santa Ana Boulevard.  The proposed apartment complex, called the FX Residences, would consist of a two-story building featuring 17 apartments as well as on-site amenities.

Save for one unit reserved for an on-site manager, the housing at the FX Residences would be reserved for households earning less than 30 percent of the area median income for a period of 55 years.  Based on Orange County's current median income of $72,000, that translates to approximately $21,630 per year for an individual.

801-809 E Santa Ana BoulevardCity of Santa Ana

Bassenian Lagoni Architects is designing the project, which would have a Mission Revival style exterior similar to other recent residential developments near Santa Ana Station.  Besides housing, the new development would also include a more than 1,100-square-foot central courtyard and a small community room.

A staff report to the Planning Commission recommends the adoption of a resolution approving density bonus incentives for the FX Residences.

In addition to the Metrolink and Amtrak rail hub located one block east, the project site also sits along the route of the $408-million OC Streetcar - an under construction rail line which will connect Santa Ana with the neighboring city of Garden Grove.