May 15, 2007

Dear Friends and Supporters,

This is the first in a series of periodic letters that RCD will send to update our supporters on the organization’s activities and accomplishments throughout the year. We greatly appreciate all of your support to RCD and affordable housing and want to be sure that we keep you updated on all of our progress.

2007 has already been an exciting year for RCD.

U P C O M I N G
E V E N T S !

The Oxford Plaza and David Brower Center Starts Construction
After seven years of dedicated work, RCD broke ground on the innovative Oxford Plaza and David Brower Center project! Located in downtown Berkeley, this landmark project includes 97 units of affordable family housing with numerous green building design elements, an environmental center, underground public parking, and retail space. RCD, the David Brower Center, the City of Berkeley and many more partners have worked hard to bring this exciting and complex development to construction start.

RCD is celebrating the start of construction for the Oxford Plaza and David Brower Center at our Groundbreaking Celebration Wednesday, May 23rd, from 4:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Please come and help us celebrate this momentous occasion!

For more information, please click this link to view the invitation.

Also – watch Daniel Sawislak’s interview by KTVU on the groundbreaking Oxford Plaza development Thursday, May 17 at 5:00 p.m. on Channel 2 News!

Lakeside Apartments Help Revitalize Concord’s Monument Corridor Neighborhood
Lakeside Apartments represents another milestone in RCD’s history. Tomorrow, May 16 from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., RCD will celebrate the grand opening of Lakeside Apartments – our largest completed development to date!

Lakeside Apartments, a 124-unit apartment complex located at 1897 Oakmead Drive, Concord, represents another substantial investment in Concord's Monument Corridor, a rich and vibrant community.

Lakeside Apartments consists of eight two-story buildings situated on an 8-acre site that includes a private natural lake, Keller Lake. A major goal for the rehabilitation project was to provide open space and recreation amenities by restoring the lakefront and creating a children’s play area and multi-use community building.

We hope you can join us to celebrate this wonderful transformation! View the invitation here.

RCD’s Annual Fundraiser: "Building the Senses: Developing Community by Sparking Connections"
Join us Monday, June 4th from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. as RCD celebrates 23 years of service to the community. More info in the sidebar.

O R G A N I Z A T I O N A L
D E V E L O P M E N T

Residents Create Community at Margaret Breland Homes
As an experienced provider of affordable housing for low-income seniors, RCD knows that a caring and activity-rich environment is essential to helping our residents "age in place" and remain independent. At Margaret Breland Homes, 28 units for seniors in Berkeley, RCD Service Coordinator Kanika Shelly is facilitating an environment where residents come together to form this type of community.

Margaret Breland residents have spent the last month focusing on disaster preparedness by creating a resource directory, meeting with the Berkeley Police Department on safety issues and compiling supplies that can be used to" shelter in place" in event of an earthquake.

RCD Awards!
RCD projects have received four awards for excellence in development and design this spring!

1. California Redevelopment Association Award of Excellence for Community Revitalization, as part of the North Broadway Neighborhood Revitalization Project for Bella Monte Apartments in Bay Point. Congratulations to our partners the Contra Costa County Redevelopment Agency, and the O’Brien Group.

2. National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials Award of Merit for Housing Developed with a Public Housing Authority for The Breakers at Bayport in Alameda. Congratulations to our partner the City of Alameda Housing Authority.

3. American Institute of Architects, San Francisco, Design Merit Award for Margaret Breland Homes in Berkeley.

4. Gold Nugget Award 2007, Award of Merit for Margaret Breland Homes in Berkeley. Congratulations to Anne Phillips Architecture for their wonderful design!

RCD Gets Ready to Grow with New Strategic Plan
RCD’s Board-approved 2007 - 2010 Strategic Plan provides a comprehensive map for the organization’s growth for the next three years. Our major goals are to continue increasing our capacity to develop and operate larger housing communities and to provide effective and sustained resident services. The plan focuses on five major areas, including:

• Portfolio Development
• Funding Diversity
• Marketing and Communications
• Internal Coordination
• Board Development

We have started implementing some of the many ambitious goals of the plan, and are pleased to report good early progress. If you would like a copy of the plan, please contact me at (510) 841-4410, extension 15.

As you can tell, we have had a very busy start to 2007. I hope to see you at one of our upcoming events. We couldn’t do all of this work without your support, and we look forward to more excitement and success as we move through 2007!

Best,
Dan Sawislak

Executive Director

Please support RCD by donating through Groundspring.org.