Resources for Community Development

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Affordable Housing Opens in Oakland – Stanley Avenue Apartments

Contact: Andrea Cohen (510) 841-4410 x22

Grand Opening in Oakland
On Thursday, May 1, 2003 from 4:00 to 6:00 P.M., Resources for Community Development (RCD) and East Oakland Community Development Corporation (EOCDC) will be hosting a grand opening celebration for Stanley Avenue Apartments, twenty-four units of affordable housing in East Oakland serving low-income families and individuals.

The project is critical to East Oakland because it provides deeply affordable rental housing for large families, addressing the problem of overcrowding and high rents. A majority of the units are three and four bedrooms. This housing community is enhanced by a shared-courtyard and a children’s play area, community room, and a computer lab on at Seminary Avenue.

It is the result of the vision and work of East Oakland community activists and RCD, a community-based, nonprofit affordable housing developer. This project is the second in a two-phase development of affordable housing on International Boulevard; the first is on 66th Avenue and International Boulevard.

RCD, in partnership with EOCDC, saw the project as an effort to cultivate a stronger, healthier community in East Oakland. Central East Oakland has been concerned with blighted properties and storefronts, crime, while many of its residents have struggled to afford the drastic increases in rents in the neighborhood. For years prior to construction of this project, local residents, including members of the EOCDC Board of Directors, have been working to bring about this initiative fighting for local affordable housing and community development.

International Boulevard Family Housing consists of twenty-four units including five one-bedroom units, six two-bedroom units, eleven three-bedroom units, and two four-bedroom units. All units will be affordable to families at 45% of Area Median Income (AMI) or less, with half of the units affordable to families at 40% of AMI or less.

RCD and EOCDC worked with the Oakland-based architecture firm, Pyatok Associates in Oakland as well as Oakland-based contractor J.H Fitzmaurice on this project.

The Shelter Plus Care program will fund supportive services. These services include computer technology training, provided by the Eastmont Computing Center, job and self-sufficiency training by the Women’s Employment Resource Corporation, and services for individuals with AIDS/HIV.
Stanley Avenue Apartments was developed by RCD in a joint venture partnership with EOCDC. EOCDC is a community-based non-profit with its roots in organizing the residents of East Oakland. RCD is an experienced nonprofit developer of affordable housing serving Contra Costa, Alameda and Solano Counties. Formed in 1984, RCD has a portfolio of approximately 900 units of affordable housing, with over 400 units in development. RCD properties include housing for seniors, families, disabled persons and homeless households.

Speakers at the Opening will include City Housing and Community Development Division Manager Roy Schweyer, Linn Warren from California Housing Finance Agency, Executive Director Larry Hynson from EOCDC, Executive Director Daniel Sawislak from RCD, and residents of the project (RCD staff, local officials and staff and residents will be available for interviews.).

The project received funding from: City of Oakland HOME program, Multifamily Housing Program (State of California Housing and Community Development Deparment), Alameda County HOPWA, Federal Home Loan Bank’s Affordable Housing Program, California Housing Finance Agency, National Equity Fund, Inc, Low Income Housing Tax Credits, Supportive Housing Program (HUD federal program), and Wells Fargo Bank. Shelter Plus Care funds from the Berkeley Housing Authority will finance supportive services for the project.

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