Proposed Desert Hot Springs affordable housing community ‘Green Day Village’ offers farmland to residents

The city of Desert Hot Springs is reviewing the plans for a new housing development called 'Green Day Village'. 

News Channel 3’s Jeff Stahl recently covered the upcoming affordable housing development in his I-Team report: A Place of their Own. To watch and read the full report, click here.

The city recently released a Draft Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration (IS/MND) which notes the potential environmental impacts of the project and the features of the development. 

According to the IS/MND, the Green Day Village development will sit on the undeveloped 37.29-acre site on west Palm Drive between 18th and 20th avenue. 

The plans for Green Day Village includes 608 residential units and the following commercial developments: 

-Two restaurant/food service buildings

-Seven retail buildings

-A two-story medical office building 

-Two recycling centers

Part of the land will also be allotted for six farming areas, an area for aquaponics/aquaculture and four vegetable stands. 

Avraham Farzan, the developer of Green Day Village, says the development is meant to be a “working community.” 

Farzan says residents would have the opportunity to work the six planned farming areas and produce stands on-site. 

“Various fruit trees including pomegranate olives, peaches and apricots [will be] planted for both village residents and the communal kitchen, improving the shared experience of healthy living,” said Farzan. 

Farzan says his goal of providing affordable housing and fresh food to prospective residents is personal to him. 

“My son David…is looking for a kidney donor due to kidney failure. This has further motivated me to make Green Day Village an affordable, sustainable net-zero community where the younger generation can experience life without unnecessary anxieties, where they can enjoy a healthy diet right in their rooms and backyards,” Farzan said. 

Sam Cobb, the owner of Sam Cobb Date Farms in Desert Hot Springs, knows how harsh desert conditions can be on farmers. Cobb says that farming on the chosen site for Green Day Village  may present some challenges. 

“It’s going to be a challenge getting the rocks out and getting the soil but they can get it built up. If they're diligent enough to make it happen, they can make it happen,” said Sam Cobb. 

Cobb also says seeking out an expert will be the key to making the farming community work. 

“Find yourself a good agronomist and some person with agricultural knowledge or someone you can consult with. Unless you already have someone on staff then you're heading in the right direction,” Cobb said. 

Cobb agrees that the community could be a great way to expand healthy food access and the roster of local farmers. 

“That housing development could be a great catalyst for the next generation of farmers. I'm excited thinking about it,” said Cobb. 

The public can submit their comments and concerns regarding Green Day Village to Avraham Farzan or the project planner, Patricia Villagomez, until August 25, 2023 at 5:00 p.m.

Avraham Farzan: avrahamfarzan@gmail.com
Patricia Villagomez: (760) 329-6411 Ext. 243, or pvillagomez@cityofdhs.org