Desert Hot Springs council donates five surplus lots to Habitat for Humanity to build low‑income homes

The Desert Hot Springs City Council voted unanimously March 30 to donate five surplus residential parcels to Habitat for Humanity of the Coachella Valley for construction of low‑income housing.

Administrative Services Director Jeffrey Buckeye told council the parcels were acquired by the former redevelopment agency and transferred to the housing authority after the agency's dissolution; the city previously declared nine parcels exempt surplus land, six of which were approved by the state Department of Housing and Community Development and five of those are in the main part of the city recommended for donation.

Buckeye identified the five parcels by assessor parcel numbers: APN 638152006; 639191048; 641092034; 639221017; and 639182051. He said they are each under half an acre and appropriate for low‑income housing development.

Tracy Tremblay, president of the board of Habitat for Humanity of the Coachella Valley, thanked the council and said his organization has completed similar single‑family homes in neighborhoods like these. Tremblay said Habitat is finalizing architectural plans and hopes to begin construction on three homes before the end of the calendar year if the donation proceeds.

Councilmember comments during debate were uniformly supportive, and a motion to approve the donation passed unanimously. The council did not specify a construction timeline beyond Habitat's stated aim to start three homes this year; staff and Habitat representatives said they will continue coordinating on design and funding matters.

The donation transfers city‑held surplus property to a nonprofit partner for affordable homebuilding and will require subsequent permitting and funding steps from Habitat and city staff.