A Point Loma ad hoc group opposing an affordable housing development proposed in Famosa Canyon has sued the San Diego Housing Commission to obtain pertinent information about the controversial project.

“This action, brought pursuant to the California Public Records Act, seeks to force San Diego Housing Commission and the Housing Authority of the City to allow access to public records,” states the lawsuit filed April 28 in San Diego Superior Court on behalf of a group named the Save Famosa Canyon Committee.

The suit states a request to the SDHC and City was made as far back as Feb. 3 for “access to records related to a proposed project on property located at the southeast corner of Famosa and Nimitz boulevards,” specifically referencing several categories of documents sought.

SDHC’s response to that request asserted that the agency did not have the requested records because “there is no ‘project’ at this time for the property that the Housing Authority of the City owns at the southeast corner of Famosa and Nimitz boulevards.”

The City Council has entered into an agreement with Bridge Housing Corp. to design and determine the feasibility of building at least 78 affordable housing units at the southeast corner of Famosa and Nimitz boulevards in Council District 2.

The Council’s action authorized the San Diego Housing Commission to build affordable housing on the 5-acre parcel in Famosa Canyon, which is to include a $910,000 loan for Bridge Housing to be used for pre-development activities.

“The City Attorney’s Office will have no comment regarding this ongoing litigation,” said City senior spokesperson Leslie Wolf Branscomb.

The project site has a long and complicated history going back 65 years, said Cameron Havlik, Save Famosa Canyon spokesperson, who pointed out that “three different developers have tried unsuccessfully over the years to develop that land.”

Havlik said: “This lawsuit is about the SDHC being legally obligated to provide us with public documents on where they’re at with this project. They have refused to produce public records, and seem generally hostile to providing information about what they are doing.”

Attorney Everett DeLano of DeLano & DeLano, representing Save Famosa Canyon, said their side “just wants to know what they’re (City’s) doing, what they’re planning,” on the slightly more than 5-acre Famosa Canyon site earmarked for affordable housing development.

“We just have not been able to get information, other than the information available on their website, from the SDHC,” added DeLano. “That’s helpful, but it’s not complete. We’re entitled to information on the project. It’s a matter of public record.”

A court date is expected to be set soon for the suit brought against SDHC by Save Famosa Canyon.