After the public comments, both pro and con, the elected officials were solidly pro. Culver City Council member Bryan “Bubba” Fish observed “This is the only shovel ready [affordable housing] project on the Westside…I appreciate all the work from the Santa Monica Community Corp., and the [Culver-Palms United Methodist] Church over the last five years.”
At the Jan. 13, 2025 meeting, the council agreed to submit a joint application for the 95-unit Jubilo Village following unanimous vote to approve. The application will be in partnership with Community Corporation of Santa Monica, on the land owned by the Culver-Palms United Methodist Church on Sepulveda Boulevard.
Mayor Dan O’Brien offered “We all want this project to succeed…we are accepting the risk of the city underwriting. I have heard from Council member McMorrin, trying to get ‘Measure A ‘ money…Culver City does a lot [to support the unhoused.] From the county’s perspective, we should be rewarded, but it’s really hard getting that support. “
Any project of this kind requires a balance of multiple support systems that fall into different categories. Jubilo Village is seeking a grant request of $22,962,000, under the California Department of Housing and Community Development Homekey + Notice of Funding Availability.
The Jubilo Village will be a 100% affordable new construction housing development with 95 multi-family apartment units. This will include 43 units designated as permanent supportive housing reserved for people experiencing homelessness, 50 general affordable units, and two units reserved for on-site property management.
As Homekey funding is designated for people experiencing homelessness, that money can only be used for the 43 units in that category. The other units will need to find other support.
Vice Mayor Freddy Puza floated the idea of a housing trust that the city might use in the future. “This is not going to help right now, but …we should consider building that up. We should do everything we can to make [Jubilo Village] happen.”
Jubilo will provide onsite services for tenants, with an agreement in place with Upward Bound House, a Culver City local emergency shelter for homeless children and their families that has thrived on Washington Boulevard since January of 2010.
Once completed, it will be the City’s largest 100% affordable mixed-used project. The city has not produced a 100% affordable mixed-use project in over a decade since the completion of the Tilden Terrace Project located on Washington Boulevard in 2013.
As part of the joint application, the City will continue its five million dollar commitment in loan and grant funding.
The item is scheduled to come back in mid-year budget presentations, as the council will consider the potential of providing an additional $16 million toward the project in the next fiscal year.
Judith Martin-Straw
