The substantial rehabilitation of Kimball and Morgan Towers included the developers/operators, Community Housing Works and Mercy Housing, relocating at least 300 seniors to rehabilitate their units fully. 

The Kimball and Morgan Towers Rehabilitation and Recapitalization Project approved through a Development and Disposition Agreement (“DDA”) on June 19, 2018 by Housing Authority Resolution 2018-66. August 2020 marked the project completion. Pursuant to the Project DDA, the Housing Authority is ground leasing the Towers to two (2) affordable housing project developer/operators, who are required to rehabilitate the Towers and operate the Towers as low-income senior affordable housing projects.

George H. Waters Senior Nutrition Center

The George H. Waters Senior Nutrition Center (“Nutrition Center”) was built in conjunction with Morgan Senior Tower and has been operated by the City of National City (“City”) since 1978. The goals of the Nutrition Center are to provide good nutrition, reduce isolation, and provide sound education and information to meet the needs of older adults, as well as providing the availability of appropriate exercise classes to enable the target population to maintain good health. The Nutrition Center provides National City’s elderly population with information about the benefits of good nutrition and exercise as a way to avoid lengthy illnesses and nursing home confinement. The Nutrition Center serves over 109,500 congregate meals and makes over 12,200 meal deliveries to seniors each year.

Rehabilitation of the Nutrition Center 

Since the Nutrition Center had not undergone renovations since it was placed in service and the facility it well overdue for rehabilitation. The Community Development Commission-Housing Authority of the City of National City (“Housing Authority”) included the Nutrition Center in the Kimball and Morgan Towers Rehabilitation and Recapitalization Project approved on June 19, 2018, by Housing Authority Resolution 2018-66 to ensure full rehabilitation and financial sustainability of the Nutrition Center. As part of the Project, the developer/operators of the Towers provided a comprehensive rehabilitation and modernization of the Nutrition Center.

Nutrition Center Lease Agreement
As a consideration for the Housing Authority’s entry into the ground leases for Morgan and Kimball Towers, the Housing Authority required the ground lessee of the Morgan Tower (the building in which the Nutrition Center is located) to enter into a 99 year Lease (“Lease”) with the City with respect to the Nutrition Center with an annual rent of $1.00 so that the City may continue to operate the Nutrition Center. 

The Nutrition Center Lease is a “Triple Net Lease” for which City shall pays (in addition to rent) its own utilities, janitorial, trash removal, repairs, maintenance, and other operating expenses directly relating to the use of  the Nutrition Center.

Funding and Operation of the Nutrition Center 
The Nutrition Center is funded in part by the City of National City by way of the General Fund and proceeds from the Ground Lease Agreement, program donations and a grant through the federal Older American Act Title III. This federal grant is administered by both State of California and County of San Diego and is regulated by the California Department of Agriculture.