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Union Tower developer says lease-up to begin after March lottery; city preference for National City residents
Summary
Wakeland Housing told the council Union Tower is about 91.45% complete, with an interest list of about 1,145 people and a lease-up plan that includes a mid‑March lottery and mid‑June move‑in target; developer said units target roughly 30–60% AMI and include local preference and veteran set‑asides.
Wakeland Housing and Development Corp. told the National City Council on Feb. 3 that the Union Tower affordable housing project is nearly complete and will begin lease-up after a lottery in mid‑March.
Rebecca Louie, Wakeland’s representative, said the project is “91.45% complete today” and that the interest list is open with about 1,145 people signed up. She said the development targets households earning roughly 30% to 60% of area median income and includes local preference so National City residents will be processed first. Louie said the lease-up goal is to begin moving residents in by mid‑June.
Louie described unit types and support services: 1‑, 2‑ and 3‑bedroom units, on‑site services, office and laundry facilities, and a set‑aside for veterans. She also acknowledged a slide error during the presentation about the total unit count and asked the council and community to rely on the property website for final details. “Rents will be, in these ranges that you see there,” she said, noting the figures presented are estimates and may be rounded.
Council members praised the project and asked about timeline firmness and affordability. Councilmember Rodriguez, who said he had toured the site, asked how firm the June timeline was; Louie replied construction schedules can shift but she expects the project to be ready close to that date pending final approvals and the certificate of occupancy. Councilmember Bush noted the city’s prior funding decisions and said the project represented a hard-won, shovel‑ready outcome for local affordable housing.
The presentation included a description of local promotion and outreach: Louie said Wakeland opened an interest list at www.uniontowerapts.com and that the property will use a randomized lottery to determine processing order. She urged residents to review eligibility rules and the website for rent and income specifics.
Next steps: Wakeland will hold the interest‑list lottery in mid‑March, begin lease processing after the lottery and pursue final approvals prior to issuing occupancy. The city will monitor the lease‑up, local preference implementation and certificate-of-occupancy timing.
