Posted October 25, 2026 | By Eric Engelbert | Sourced from City of Brea Planning and Housing Element Filings.

Just south of Imperial Highway on South Walnut Avenue, non-profit developer Jamboree Housing Corporation has orchestrated one of the most important affordable housing transactions in central Brea. The project pairs the acquisition, substantial rehabilitation, and long-term covenant extension of the existing 47-unit Walnut Village Apartments with the new construction of 38 affordable multi-family residences on an adjacent parcel.

Unlike market-rate subdivisions, this joint development is restricted to very low- and low-income households, extending deed restrictions for another 55 years while directly answering the city's state-mandated lower-income housing goals.

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October 2026 Update: Rehabilitation Complete, Infill Underway

Topic Current Milestone Detail
Developer Jamboree Housing Corporation (in partnership with the City of Brea)
Existing Preservation 47 units at Walnut Village Apartments (523-620 S. Walnut Ave); covenants extended from 2035 to 2080+
New Infill Expansion 38 new affordable units on adjacent parcel; building permits issued following Density Bonus approval
Target Affordability 100% income-restricted for Very Low (0-50% AMI) and Low-Income (51-80% AMI) households
On-Site Services Comprehensive resident services provided via Jamboree's "Housing with a HEART" division
Explore Brea Pipeline See the full Brea development overview

The Dual-Phase Project Scope

47 Existing UnitsComplete modern interior
& building rehab
38 New UnitsInfill residential building
on adjacent parcel
55-Year ExtensionAffordability secured
well into late century
Downtown AdjacentWalkable to Brea Blvd,
retail, and transit
Item Specific Planning Parameter
Location 523-620 S. Walnut Avenue, Brea, CA 92821 (South of Imperial Hwy, East of Brea Blvd)
Existing Community Walnut Village Apartments (47 garden-style family apartments built under earlier RDA programs)
Expansion Parcel Assembled adjacent parcel integrated into cohesive multi-family site
Income Targeting Extremely Low, Very Low, and Low Income (30% to 60% of Orange County Area Median Income)
Funding Sources City Housing Trust Fund, Orange County Housing Successor Agency funds, 4% Low-Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC), and Tax-Exempt Bonds
Resident Amenities Renovated community room, computer learning lab, outdoor play areas, and educational workshops

Preservation Timeline & Development Approval

Milestone Action Taken
Original Affordability Walnut Village covenants originally set to expire in 2035, placing it near the state's 10-year "at-risk" radar
Housing Element Strategy City officially incorporates acquisition, rehabilitation, and expansion by Jamboree into the 6th Cycle Housing Plan
Entitlement & Density Bonus Planning Commission approves site development plan and density bonus concessions for the 38-unit expansion parcel
Funding Commitments Allocation of local housing trust funds and bond financing approved by Brea City Council
Construction Phasing Phased rehabilitation completed first to minimize tenant displacement; new construction broke ground on adjacent site

How It Fits Brea's Housing Element & RHNA Balance

Brea's 2021-2029 Housing Element requires the city to zone for 2,365 new homes, including 1,062 lower-income residences (669 very low and 393 low-income units). Meeting these lower-income targets is one of the steepest challenges for Orange County municipalities due to high raw land and steel-frame construction costs.

Walnut Village plays a vital two-pronged role in Brea's compliance:

  • At-Risk Preservation: Under California Government Code Section 65583, cities must analyze assisted rental units at risk of converting to market rates. By partnering with Jamboree to acquire Walnut Village, the city successfully protected 47 vulnerable family units without having to build replacement homes from scratch.
  • Direct Pipeline Production: The 38 new companion units directly count toward Brea's 6th Cycle RHNA lower-income allocation, providing deed-restricted homes right in the urban core near job centers and OCTA transit routes.

Read more: Mercury Lane 85 Senior Apartments  |  Central Park Village Townhomes

Brea Affordable Housing Track Record

Brea has one of the most proactive non-profit housing partnerships in North Orange County. Here is how Walnut Village compares to other major assisted and inclusionary projects in the city:

Project Name Developer Total Units Target Population Affordability Term
Walnut Village & Expansion Jamboree Housing 85 (47 exist + 38 new) Very Low / Low Families Restricted through 2080+
Mercury Lane Senior C&C Development 85 Low-Income Seniors (62+) 55-year covenant
Birch Hills Apartments Jamboree Housing 115 Extremely Low / Very Low Covenant to 2068
Bonterra Apartments (Blackstone) Jamboree Housing 94 Extremely Low / Low Covenant to 2066
BREAL Senior Apartments City Land Lease 30 Very Low-Income Seniors Covenant to 2061
South Walnut Bungalows City / Non-Profit 9 Very Low-Income Families Covenant to 2061

Compiled from City of Brea Affordable Housing Inventory and Housing Element Table HE-23.

Nearby Downtown Brea Market-Rate Communities

For buyers and sellers evaluating the central Brea corridor, compare the neighborhood's for-sale and mixed-use properties:

Community Address / Cross Streets Type Recent Price Spread
Andaluz 685 S. Brea Blvd 32 Modern Townhomes Mid $800,000s to $900,000s
Central Park Village Central Ave & Broadway Dr 61 Tri-Level Townhomes $850,000 to $1,050,000
Brea Plaza Living Imperial Hwy & 57 Fwy 120 Mixed-Use Apts Market-Rate Rental
Village at Greenbriar Near Glenbrook Tract ~180 Detached Homes Anticipated $1.1M to $1.4M

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Navigating Brea real estate? Explore all homes for sale in Brea, check our Brea development pipeline guide, or view every OC new development we track. Call or text Eric Engelbert at 949-430-7500.