Around the Portfolio

Demolition, renovation, residential participation

With construction work continuing in the background, a crowd gathered on January 31 to celebrate the beginning of the new Alameda Islander in downtown Alameda. The project converts a blighted motel into 62 studio apartments. As Mayor Marie Gilmore said, “The end of the process will result in much needed, high quality housing for the City of Alameda. It will provide housing for local employees and help in revitalizing our downtown.” The mayor and other speakers noted that the groundbreaking took place on the last day of redevelopment in California, emphasizing the importance of working together to create new tools to achieve the same results as the redevelopment of the Alameda Islander. For more photos of the groundbreaking, visit our Facebook page. The event was covered in Housing Finance.com and the Alameda Times-Star.

Just before year’s end, the community at Riley Court in Concord got improved, more usable outdoor space. The first phase of a two-part rehabilitation included improvements to building ventilation, removal of a dilapidated swimming pool, new landscaping, and site lighting.

Residents came together at many of our sites in December and January, spreading the spirit of community and welcoming in the new year. We’d like to acknowledge the efforts of many volunteers who made these events fun and special. Thank you one and all!

720 East 11th Street has a new name: Clinton Commons, chosen to reflect the historical name of the neighborhood. Lease up is now underway! The pre-application form is available on our website. At the corner of East 11th Street, a three-unit townhouse continues the existing pattern of nearby single family and small multifamily structures with individual entrances and driveways. An entry courtyard area separates this townhouse building from a second, larger structure consisting of a parking garage with three levels of townhouse style apartments and flats above. Branagh Construction expects to complete these 55 units in July.

From Dan Sawislak, Executive Director

Donors, you are awesome! Together, you have contributed almost $25,000 to our annual campaign in order to provide more rental housing and the best possible resident services. I can assure you that everyone at RCD is working to fulfill your expectations. Stay tuned to our newsletter for updates on the impact of your giving. And please, plan to come to our annual event on June 4th for an enjoyable evening and an opportunity to discuss what’s going on at our now 50 affordable housing properties.

I really enjoyed the grand re-opening at Erna P. Harris Court in Berkeley. It was great to have so many long-time housing advocates there, including Mayor Tom Bates, Senator Loni Hancock and Assemblywoman Nancy Skinner (shown here.) Also joining us were Alameda County Supervisor Keith Carson, and Councilmembers Darryl Moore and Linda Maio. Many of them lived through the protracted and contested development process of the original acquisition and rehabilitation of the Bel Air Motel in the early 1990’s. The stories told, and spirit of the event made for a memorable evening.

Gathering with long-time allies and advocates was a great reminder of the critical importance of partnerships and advocacy in providing a platform for localities to build affordable housing. Now, with the end of Redevelopment in California, we are at a time when we will need to work harder than ever to find new resources to assist in the creation and preservation of affordable housing. Our partnerships, and our stories of how affordable housing transforms lives, will be very important in gaining the critical mass we will need to maintain the production of new affordable housing in the state.

As we broke ground at the Alameda Islander, the conversion of yet another motel into affordable homes, I thought again about how hard work and partnerships can build community, and change lives for the better. Thanks for all you do to support RCD in our work. We’re glad you’re part of it!

Monday, June 4, 2012, 5:30 – 7:30 pm
Ed Roberts Campus, Berkeley

Contact Liz Eckstein at (510) 841-4410 ext. 333 or leckstein@rcdev.org
to become a sponsor.

Thank you to our enewsletter sponsor:

www.rcdhousing.org Comments or suggestions: contactrcd@rcdev.org

© 2012 Resources for Community Development
2220 Oxford Street • Berkeley, CA 94704
Phone: (510) 841-4410 • Fax: (510) 548-3502