Brea’s Dwight Manley Identities Workforce Housing Solution

According to his recent interview with the Orange County Business Journal, Dwight Manley believes he has the answer to the riddle of the lack of low-cost housing in Southern California. Often referred to as “Mr. Brea” for owning 20 offices, restaurants and other buildings in the North OC city, he’s planning a five-story residential development that expects to deliver 114 apartments.

Located along Mercury Lane, next to the site of one of the city’s largest employers, Mercury General Corp., the proposed project is dubbed “The Mercury.” His key solution to keep rental prices low while not having the system gamed: the renters must work at Brea businesses that will in turn pay a monthly license fee around $40 per unit.

“The biggest thing going on here is we’re focused on a new product type for workforce living,” Manley said during an interview from his second-floor office, which overlooks the renovated downtown Brea where he owns about half of his buildings.

For comments, questions or concerns, please contact Chris Egger