North Housing Master Plan includes 586 affordable homes
The Housing Authority of the City of Alameda (AHA) and its affiliate, Island City Development, hosted a celebratory event on April 24 to mark the beginning of construction of the North Housing Master Plan. The plan is set to build 586 homes for low-income Alamedans in need of affordable housing, including homeless and formerly homeless individuals, military veterans, and seniors over the age of 62.
The common sentiment among the speakers at the inaugural event was that this project has been a long time coming—and those who are involved are thrilled that the fruits of their labor may soon make a difference for people experiencing homelessness in the area.
Those speakers included AHA Vice Chair Vadim Sidelnikov; Housing and Urban Development Deputy Regional Administrator David Passey; California Business, Consumer Services and Housing Secretary Tomiquia Moss; California State Controller Malia M. Cohen; Bank of America Senior Vice President and Community Relations Manager Heidi Racherla; Enterprise Director of Acquisitions and Housing Credit Claire Parisa; Alameda Point Collaborative Executive Director Doug Biggs; Building Futures Executive Director Liz Varela; and AHA Executive Director and Island City Development President Vanessa Cooper.
Project details
In 2019, the U.S. Department of Navy, via the Surplus Land Act, granted the Housing Authority 12 acres for the North Housing project. AHA has committed about $15 million of its own funds in loans to its affiliate, Island City Development, and has allocated 120 Project Based Vouchers for future residents at the first phase of the North Housing Master Plan, Block A—The Estuary I, The Estuary II, and Linnet Corner.
Construction has begun on The Estuary I and Linnet Corner housing developments, which will provide housing for more than 100 homeless and formerly homeless individuals, military veterans, and seniors. These developments are expected to be completed in late 2025.
The Estuary I is to be a permanent supportive housing development dedicated to formerly homeless households. It will include 45 units, including studios and 1-bedroom apartments. Alameda Point Collaborative and Building Futures will lead comprehensive case management and provide supportive services for residents. All residents will have access to community rooms, social services, computer rooms, Wi-Fi hotspots, central onsite laundry, water-conscious drought tolerant landscaping, outdoor picnic areas, a pet play and relief area, and community garden. The homes will be built “with a focus on creating open space and a connective neighborly environment which will integrate seamlessly with the surrounding community,” according to the event program.
Linnet Corner will comprise 64 units—studios and 1-bedrooms—dedicated to seniors and homeless senior veterans above the age of 62. LifeSTEPS USA will provide case management and resident services. Linnet Corner residents will have access to community rooms, social services, computer rooms, Wi-Fi hotspots, central onsite laundry, water-conscious drought tolerant landscaping, outdoor picnic areas, an outdoor fitness area, a pet play and relief area, and a community garden.
Island City Development will apply for Green Point Gold certification by using green materials as well as water-conscious and energy-efficient technologies. The homes will be all-electric and have solar photovoltaic arrays installed on rooftops to ensure the power supply utilizes renewable energy when available. Other affiliates of the project include HKIT Architects and General Contractor Fitzmaurice.
Homes at The Estuary I and Linnet Corner will be assigned from the Alameda County Coordinated Entry System and existing AHA housing waitlists. Any additional housing units not requiring such referrals will be managed through interest lists run by AHA’s property management company, FPI Management. To be informed of AHA or FPI waitlist openings with the Housing Authority or FPI Management, sign up online to receive email updates.
Funding
Funders of the project include the City of Alameda (HOME, Community Block Development Grant, Permanent Local Housing Allocation, and Inclusionary Housing funds), the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD), the Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco’s (FHLBSF) Affordable Housing Program (AHP), Bank of Marin, California Debt Limit Allocation Committee (CDLAC), the California Tax Credit Allocation Committee (TCAC) and the California Municipal Finance Authority (CMFA), the California Department of Veteran Affairs (Cal Vet), the Veterans and Affordable Housing Bond Act of 2018, the Infill Infrastructure Grant Program (IIG), the Multifamily Housing Program (MHP), and the Veterans Housing and Homelessness Prevention program (VHHP) through the California Department of Housing and Community Development, the Local Alameda Affordable Housing Trust Fund, Bank of America, N.A., the California Community Reinvestment Corporation, and Enterprise Housing Credit Investment.
Kelsey Goeres is a contributing writer for the Alameda Post. Contact her via [email protected]. Her writing is collected at AlamedaPost.com/Kelsey-Goeres.