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Board approves Sea Ranch conversion of affordable rentals to ownership, OKs loan forgiveness
Summary
The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors on April 22 approved converting five vacant Sea Ranch rental units into affordable homeownership units and forgave a county loan of up to $701,854 to finance renovations and buyer assistance.
The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors on April 22 approved a Community Development Commission proposal to convert a portion of the Sea Ranch Apartments from affordable rental units to affordable homeownership and forgive a County loan to help finance renovations and buyer assistance.
Under the plan, the county will forgive the outstanding HOME-related loan in an amount not to exceed $701,854 to allow Burbank Housing to renovate vacant units at Sea Ranch 14, sell them as deed-restricted affordable homes and establish a repair reserve and down-payment assistance program for buyers. Homeowners will enter new regulatory agreements with a 55-year deed restriction requiring the units be the buyer's primary residence.
The conversion will begin with five currently vacant units in Sea Ranch 14 and be phased over several years as other units become vacant; Burbank Housing intends to renovate units in place and avoid relocating tenants, staff said. County staff and Burbank representatives told the board the project aligns with housing-element goals to preserve existing units and prevent net loss of affordability. Supervisors asked whether short-term or vacation rentals would be allowed; county staff and Burbank said the affordable homebuyer agreements require the unit to be the buyer's primary residence, which precludes typical short-term vacation rental use.
Public comment included support from housing advocates and a request from a speaker to prioritize veterans with rental vouchers for the currently vacant units; Burbank said veterans would be eligible. Larry Florin, CEO and president of Burbank Housing, thanked the board and staff for the partnership.
The board moved, seconded and approved the item by voice vote with no recorded opposition.
Why it matters: The measure converts aging rental stock into long-term deed-restricted homeownership for lower-income households in a community where ownership is otherwise difficult to achieve. The county will use the loan forgiveness and repair reserve to make renovation and long-term affordability feasible while offering homebuyer education and down-payment assistance.
What happens next: County staff will finalize loan-forgiveness documents and regulatory agreements; Burbank will begin phased renovations and outreach to tenants about purchase opportunities. The program will rely on other funding and tax-credit approvals for full conversion of the remaining Sea Ranch units over multiple years.
