Posted on: August 21, 2021
Source: East Bay Times; Author: Peter Hegarty
The apartments will be built on a vacant lot near Greenhouse Marketplace
SAN LEANDRO — A total of 72 apartments that will be designated as affordable are planned near Greenhouse Marketplace, a project that has gotten City Council support.
“Affordable housing is really needed in San Leandro,” City Councilman Bryan Azevedo said July 19, when the council unanimously approved allocating $7 million of the city’s affordable housing money for the development. “This is a great project.”
The development calls for three studios; 33 one-bedroom apartments; plus 18 two- and three-bedroom apartments.
“We definitely need affordable housing in our community,” Councilman Fred Simon said. “It’s great to see that we will be providing homes, as well as helping with services for those that are looking for jobs, looking to improve their lives. That’s really a nice part of the project.”
The development will have 73 vehicle parking spots and 80 places to park bicycles. There also will be a laundry room and a children’s outdoor play area, as well as one apartment set aside for an on-site manager.
The privately owned property at 15101 Washington Ave. totals about one acre and is currently a vacant lot.
The city tapped Abode Communities of Los Angeles — one of six nonprofits that responded to a request for proposals to acquire and develop the site — in June. Abode has developed and managed about 3,000 affordable rental units, including in Hollywood and Van Nuys.
Councilwoman Corina Lopez called Abode “a great partner” for San Leandro.
The company plans to use San Leandro’s financial commitment to leverage state and federal money to complete the Washington Avenue project, according to Tom Laio, the city’s community development director.
“This is a highly competitive process,” Laio told the council. “(Abode) wants to begin that process immediately. There is money out there. But it’s going to be very highly competitive because affordable housing is a huge need … they want to hit the ground running.”
The total cost for the development is estimated at about $48 million with each apartment costing about $664,000 to build. Once financing is secured, construction is anticipated to begin early in 2023 and to be wrapped, with people living in the apartments, at the end of 2024.
“It’s really going to contribute to the neighborhood,” Azevedo said. “And it will allow people who may not have been able to live in San Leandro before to come live here. I am happy for the project.”
Read the full article here.
Posted in: News