Yes on Housing, No on the Vacancy Tax
Vacancy Tax proponents claim, without regard to the facts, that the “Stop the South Tahoe Vacancy Tax” and “Keep Community First” coalition have no solutions to the challenge of affordable housing on the South Shore.
The facts: Individually and sometimes collectively, Tahoe Chamber, South Tahoe Chamber, South Tahoe Association of REALTORS ®, and the South Lake Tahoe Lodging Association have advocated in support of the projects and planning initiatives listed below. In several cases, our advocacy has included letters of support for the state and/or federal grants used to help fund the housing projects.
The City of South Lake Tahoe is one of the most pro-housing cities in all of California, earning the coveted “ProHousing Designation” from the State of California for their work in addressing housing affordability, and our coalition has been supporting these with the City every step of the way.
• Sierra Garden Apartments: 76 units. Tahoe Chamber and South Tahoe Chamber advocated to maintain these units as deed-restricted affordable rather than converting to market rate (2018).
• Kelly Ridge: 33 units. South Tahoe Chamber and Tahoe Chamber advocated for this project which is for low income persons 62 years of age and older.
• The Aspens at South Tahoe: 48 units. Affordable apartments for persons with eligible income levels. Both Tahoe Chamber and South Tahoe Chamber advocated for this project.
• Sugar Pine Village: 248 units. Deed-restricted housing (Under construction; Phase 1 accepting applications from those with eligible income levels). Tahoe Chamber, South Tahoe Chamber, and South Tahoe Association of Realtors advocated for this project. Letters in support of grant applications to help fund the project were part of our advocacy.
• Student Housing at Lake Tahoe Community College: 100 beds. Designed to provide affordable on-campus housing for eligible LTCC students. Currently under construction, scheduled to open in the summer of 2025. Tahoe Chamber provided letters of support for the State of California funds awarded to the project. LTCC was one of only twelve community colleges in the state to receive funding for the construction of affordable on-campus student housing.
• Advocacy in support of the affordable housing projects and programs of St. Joseph’s Community Land Trust, a locally based non-profit (saintjosephclt.org)
The South Tahoe Association of Realtors obtained a $30,000 California Association
of Realtors Housing Affordability Grant to help St. Joseph’s get their first
“demonstration” affordable home for sale. Tahoe Chamber and the South Tahoe
Chamber are among the organizations which have consistently supported the land
trust’s affordable housing projects and initiatives.
Reducing Regulatory Barriers to Facilitate increasing affordable/achievable housing
• Over multiple years, each of our organizations have participated in advocacy designed to help reduce regulatory barriers to at TRPA and the City to help facilitate increasing the inventory of affordable/achievable housing for different income levels, and we continue to do so. This includes TRPA and City code changes to allow accessory dwelling units (ADUs) and modify density and height regulations to create additional housing opportunities.
Projects We are Tracking Currently in Planning or Development
• 3900 and 3908 Lake Tahoe Boulevard: Currently being discussed as a minimum of 75 units of residential deed-restricted housing for low and moderate income incomes for now less than 55 years. In May, the City Council loaned the project developers $564,073 to help cover pre-development costs such as site studies and project designs.
• 2070 Lake Tahoe Boulevard: Proposed Mixed Use project containing 70 townhome- style achievable housing rental units (and a 4,000 square feet medical office building). Applicant: Alpine Corporation. Per the City, a complete project application has not yet been received although an open house to present the project concept was recently hosted by the developer.
• 941 Silver Dollar Residences @ 941 Silver Dollars Avenue: Proposed new multi-family development containing 20 units. Each unit will include three bedrooms and a one-car attached garage. All units will be deed-restricted to provide rental housing for moderate-income households.