There’s been a kerfuffle over U.S. Rep. Katie Porter’s home in University Hills — a coveted commodity which she hasn’t spent much time in because she’s a Congressmember in, you know, Washington, D.C.
There’s a line for these way-below-market-price homes on UC Irvine land, which are exclusively for UCI faculty and staff. Some were a bit cranky that Porter remains in her home even though she hasn’t taught at the law school for years, and won’t teach for several more. Critics have called her as a “socialist” who crusades for the little guy while taking advantage of the system for herself.
Even though university rules allow faculty to keep their homes if they’re on leave doing public service work — which Porter is clearly doing — she promised to reassess her housing situation after the November election. Then a new wrinkle: Just days after being sworn in to her new House term, she declared her candidacy for the U.S. Senate seat currently occupied by Dianne Feinstein.
What will become of Porter’s pad?
“Rep. Porter requested and was granted two years of unpaid leave (from UCI) to cover her current congressional term, in keeping with university policy and precedent, congressional ethics rules, and relevant state and federal law,” a spokeswoman said by email. “She would not request leave for a Senate term.”
That seems to mean that Porter, on unpaid leave from her $258,000-a-year post, would officially exit UCI’s employ if she becomes a senator and will keep her home until then, at least. She faces some formidable opponents among her fellow Dems for Feinstein’s seat, though.
Senate terms last six years, while House terms last only two. Porter’s first House term began in 2019, and the soonest she’d return to O.C. on a full-time basis would be in 2025 if she loses the Senate bid and doesn’t return to the House.
Prime perk
Most UCs have some way to ease the sticker shock of California real estate for faculty and workers they long to lure. UCLA helps with loans. UC Riverside leases campus-owned housing. UC San Diego offers help with loans and campus rentals.
But UCI alone offers a singular “academic community in residence,” with 1,226 for-sale homes and 384 apartments on more than 300 acres of university land. It’s the largest on-campus, for-sale workforce housing community in the nation, university officials say.
University Hills was conceived in the early 1980s as a tool to attract and retain stellar faculty and staff for UCI, not to provide affordable housing to the needy. By design, there’s no income cap on who can buy or rent, meaning that faculty who make hundreds of thousands of dollars a year are eligible.
Homes sell for much less than their doppelgangers do on the open market. Redfin pins the value of an Irvine home with 5 bedrooms, 3.5 baths and more than 2,500 square feet of living space at some $2 million; in University Hills, such homes have sold for less than half that amount.
Importantly, the university owns the land beneath these homes, and homeowners can’t profiteer from the crazy fluctuations of California’s housing market.
There simply aren’t enough homes to go around. UCI has some 19,000 employees. Of the 1,226 homes that can be sold, only about 30 come up for sale in an average year. Of the 384 apartments, about 150 open up for rent.
Supply is further restricted by the aging of UCI: When faculty and staffers retire, they (and/or spouses) can keep the homes for life. About 18% of University Hills homes belong to retired faculty or staffers. University Hills residents have also complained to us about faculty who live elsewhere and rent their homes out.
The Irvine Faculty Association has been supportive of Porter, saying in the fall that she “has been a regular presence in the community and continues to be a valuable colleague, neighbor and friend to her fellow residents.” We found folks weren’t eager to talk about the latest news, though.
What do you think?
Source: Orange County Register
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