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Developer to give 9 town homes to city
Port Hueneme project to include 150 units
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Calling it a much-needed project for Port Hueneme, developer Bill Rattazzi stood in front of the city's lighthouse on Thursday and thanked city officials and others for their support of a 150-home project under way at Hueneme Road and Surfside Drive.
As a show of thanks, Rattazzi, who is president of John Laing Homes' Los Angeles and Ventura division, said his company will give nine of the town homes to be built on the 18-acre site to the city. In addition, Laing Homes will sell 10 of the homes at a 3 percent discount to those who work in Port Hueneme.
"We want to help make it possible for those who work in Port Hueneme to be able to live in this wonderful place," Rattazzi said.
The first units should be completed by May 19, he said. In all, 64 single-family homes and 86 town homes will be built.
The city, the developer and supporters of the project had to fight hard to get the homes built.
Port Hueneme City Councilman Jon Sharkey recalled how Laing Homes was at first given the green light to proceed with the project.
STORY TOOLS 
More from Local NewsThe developer then went out and spent around $1 million getting the required studies for the project completed only to be later told by the board that oversees the Port of Hueneme that it might want the land for a vehicle storage yard.
A war of words ensued as the city, the developer and local supporters of the project pleaded with the Oxnard Harbor District's Board of Harbor Commissioners not to take the land from Laing Homes.
In the end, the district never took the property. Commissioners instead voted last summer to relinquish plans for a vehicle storage yard there.
Construction of the homes started earlier this year. Rattazzi said his company is firmly committed to getting the homes built on time.
Sharkey praised the company, saying "John Laing Homes has been a great citizen for the city."
Michael A. Plisky, president of the Oxnard Harbor District's Board of Harbor Commissioners, agreed that Port Hueneme needed more homes to ensure a balanced, thriving economy.
The developer expects the homes' prices will start in the $600,000 range.
John Laing Homes' roots go back to England. Laing's father, James, built his first home in 1848.
John Laing Homes entered the U.S. market in 1984.
Posted by mesantia on April 20, 2007 at 7:50 a.m. (Suggest removal)
$600,000 range,what kind of deal are you giving low income who want to buy? holy townhome.
Posted by nancy_4ever on April 20, 2007 at 10:54 a.m. (Suggest removal)
at 600K monthly payments will be approximately, let's see, 4k to 5k a month, which means we will be having a certain percentage of foreclosures by the end of 2010... can't the city be reasonable and have it so the sale price will reflect the workers' wages of the "beautiful city of Port Hueneme?" -which the majority of Hueneme's workers come from schools or naval base. Have mercy!
Posted by relliott on April 20, 2007 at 11:05 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Where is it written that low income individuals have a right to own a home? Home ownership is a privelige, not a right. If more people understood that, the mortgage industry wouldn't be where it is today. There should be no need for a sub prime mortgage industry. Somehow we have this twisted philosphy that you can work at McDonalds, drive a new Escalade, have delinquent credit card bills, and still demand that you be allowed to buy a house that you can't afford.
Get out and get an education which will allow you to get better paying jobs that will allow you to be able to afford to purchase your own home. Then when you do, don't go out and buy a new Cadillac, buy a used Toyota and save for a down payment like all of us from past generations did.
Posted by shelby862 on April 20, 2007 at 2:43 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Who can afford $600,000.00? Let's get real... Are the houses that were given to the city going to be available under the First time homebuyer program and the city's assistance program???? That would be nice if they were....I would love to own a home here in Hueneme, but it is just too expensive. I would also like to work here, anyone hiring??
Posted by Luv2Cook on April 20, 2007 at 8:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I think some of you are misunderstanding this. The townhomes will be priced in the $600K range for purchase by the general public, but 9 will be given to the City to use in their Public Housing program. The city will own them and approved applicants will be able to live in them and pay the city, I believe a set percentage of their income. The person would not own the home, but rent from the city. There is a current program like this in the Hueneme Village community.
This is from the city website: The Housing Authority owns and operates 30 units of family housing at Hueneme Village. This development consists of 15 duplex units ranging in size from one bedroom to three bedrooms. Rent is calculated using 30% of adjusted gross household income.
Posted by shelby862 on April 21, 2007 at 5:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The family housing at Hueneme Village, as in Marina Village better known as "Ghetto Village" right? Who would want to live there? Why do you think buying a condo there is so cheap? All the gang bangers live over there, nobody wants to buy there.
Posted by AnaCapa on April 22, 2007 at 10:29 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Re: Relliot says "Where is it written that low income individuals have a right to own a home?"
It's the American Dream to own a home. America is at it's best when citizens can work hard and buy a home. It's difficult when American wages keep dropping and our jobs are being shipped overseas.
Let's face it the middle class is shrinking. Owning a home should not just be for the affluent.
God Bless America! The land of opportunity (for now).
Posted by RC on April 23, 2007 at 12:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)
$600,000!! at that price your probably looking at a $4000 house payemnt plus it sucks in that part of the town. Too much traffic, schools aren't that great and too many gang bangers.
Posted by ksmccarthy0101 on April 25, 2007 at 6:02 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Let me get this: The builder is constructing 150 homes at $600K+ which would equal $90 million plus less the nine homes ($5.4 million +) leaving a difference of $84.6+ million) sitting on an area, let's say may be under water in the next 20 - 50 years due to global warming or a very large earthquake (we all sit on an alluvial plain). And since the area is next to the Halaco slag heap and all the other chemical plants in the area, what a deal! Low cost housing, what a crock? Why doesn't the developer give 15% of the homes to low cost housing and what kind of sweetheart deal is the City of Port Hueneme selling off on?
Posted by keysersoze on April 29, 2007 at 10:47 p.m. (Suggest removal)
600K? Thats good. If they'd double the cost of rent in Hueneme and Oxnard, and raise the prices of all homes by at least $50k, it would drive all these riff raffs and undesireables out of town and improve the quality of life for everyone.
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