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October 2, 2009 "Fox Courts Adds Sparkle and Heart to Oakland’s Uptown District" Adjacent to the historic Fox Theatre, Fox Courts joins a vibrant new community of more than 800 market-rate apartments and condominiums, Uptown Park, many new retail establishments and a burgeoning arts district in Oakland’s newly unveiled Uptown district. In addition to providing 80 affordable rental units Fox Courts also adds 4,800 square feet of well-situated commercial space to the Uptown neighborhood. “Fox Courts has become a part of the exciting transformation of Telegraph and San Pablo Avenues in the Uptown district. It’s a great example of responsible and visionary urban design in housing,” according Dan Sawislak, RCD’s executive director. Fox Courts was developed in direct response to the City of Oakland’s request (RFP) for a diverse range of affordable housing opportunities in the Uptown development area. It meets a pressing need for affordable housing in Oakland and the Bay Area by adding 80 units of permanently affordable, high-quality rental homes with on-site services for residents. Won through the organizing efforts of The Coalition for Workforce Housing along with labor, faith and community organizations, Fox Courts is the only affordable housing parcel in the Uptown district that was developed along with market-rate condominiums and apartments. Centrally located and close to BART and buses, jobs and amenities, Fox Courts helps solve the transportation challenges that many low-income workers face. The new homes, studios to 3-bedroom units, are affordable to those usually priced out of Bay Area housing. Income ranges for Fox Courts are for individuals who earn $18,750 per year to families of four earning up to $53,580 annually (30% to 60% of Area Median Income). Ten of the 80 units are reserved for special needs residents including people and families who are disabled and homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. Fox Courts also provides resident services that are voluntary and free of charge to all residents including those with special needs. Onsite services include case management, information and referrals, after school youth programs, educational workshops, computer lab and classes and employment and jobs skills training. Other amenities include a variety of public art installations by local Oakland muralists Eduardo Pineda and Joaquin Alejandro Newman and students from neighboring Oakland School for the Arts, hand-made tiles of native flora and fauna by K. Ruby and a mosaic in Fox Courts’ entry way by Tamara Ribas. Fox Courts also features two large courtyards with children’s play areas, a computer learning center, broadband internet service in each unit, a multi-purpose community room, 72 underground parking spaces and 24 bicycle spaces. Green building features include photovoltaic electrical systems for all common area loads, passive heating and cooling and maximum day lighting to minimize HVAC and electrical needs, solar thermal panels for radiant hydronic space heating, CRI Green Label carpeting, low or no-VOC paints and low or no formaldehyde cabinets, drought-tolerant landscaping, bioswales for on-site storm water management, Energy Star appliances in all units, Overall energy performance for Fox Courts is expected to exceed the California Building Standards Code (Title 24) by more than 15%. Financing for Fox Courts was provided by the City of Oakland Redevelopment Agency, City of Oakland Housing NOFA Funds, CA Department of Housing and Community Development, Union Bank of California, Alameda County HOPWA, Alameda County MHSA, Oakland Housing Authority, Federal Home Loan Bank of SF / Silicon Valley Bank, and Low Income Housing Tax Credits (purchased by Alliant Capital), and Enterprise Green Communities. About Resources for Community Development: MORE INFO:
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