Within the city various public agencies, including the City's Development Services Department and Housing Authority, support and develop projects with the aim of creating and preserving affordable housing in Alameda. The following are examples of some projects assisted by the City. In many cases, the units in these projects are occupied. For further information, please contact the sponsoring agencies.

Applications Available for Four New Homes at Buena Vista Commons

The Alameda Development Corporation (ADC) is now accepting applications for four new for-sale homes at Buena Vista Commons. The development is a partnership of the ADC, a local non-profit housing developer, and Habitat for Humanity East Bay. The homes are located at 624-638 Buena Vista Avenue, just west of Webster Street. There will be two homes for low-income households, oneof which will be accessible for a disabled household, and two homes for moderate-income households.

Applications are available starting April 21, 2008, and must be returned to the ADC office, along with a pre-approcal letter from a lender, by May 30, 2008. Applications can be picked up at the ADC office, 2363 Mariners Square Drive, Suite 240, Alameda, CA 94501, and are also available online. Click here for more information about ADC and to download an application. For project information, call 510.486.8623.

The four units currently available, along with four units for which buyers were previously selected by Habitat, are being built using Habitat's self-help/community build model. Habitat is still signing up volunteers interested in helping with the project. The homes are expected to be completed in August 2008 and are being built with environmentally friendly materials and techniques. Click here for more information about volunteer opportunities. (04.08)

Shinsei Gardens Apartments

Resources for Community Development, a non-profit housing developer, in partnership with the City of Alameda and Alameda Housing Authority, is develop a new 39-unit affordable apartment complex within the Bayport Community at 401 Wilver "Willie" Stargell Avenue. Construction will begin in spring 2008. Rental applications for the 1-, 2-, 3- and 4-bedroom units will not be available until spring 2009. (08/07)

Bayport Alameda: The Landing and Market Rate Homes

Bayport Alameda is a new master-planned community that combines the traditions of the past with the latest in home design and community planning. Built on a site of a former naval supply warehouse and base housing, the 87-acre community will include 485 residential units, a four-acre neighborhood park, a seven-acre school, and four 1/2 acre mini-parks.

The Landing: The completed development will include 48 homes for sale to moderate-income households at below-market-rate prices. The homes, which are called "The Landing," are being released in phases and sold through a lottery. Click here for more information.

Market Rate Homes: For sales information regarding the market rate homes, please call (510)814.6207, or click here. (05/06)

The Breakers at Bayport: Apartments and Townhomes

Resources for Community Development (RCD), a non-profit housing developer, in partnership with the City of Alameda and Alameda Housing Authority, constructed 62-units of affordable housing within the boundaries of the Bayport community, between Ralph Appezzato Memorial Parkway (formerly Atlantic Avenue) and Wilver "Willie" Stargell Avenue, adjacent to the College of Alameda.

The project includes both rental and for-sale units. Of the 52 rental units, 34 are 2-bedroom apartments and 18 are 3-bedroom apartments. The units are rented to very low to low income households (up to 60% of Area Median Income.) The ten for-sale units are 3-bedroom, 2.5 bath townhouses. The for-sale homes were sold to families earning 100% of area median income. The project includes a community building and outdoor recreational space. (05/06)

KB Home's Marina Cove Project
Twelve new affordable housing units, designed as attached units in "duet" configurations, were developed as part of KB Home's 83-unit Marina Cove Project at Buena Vista Avenue and Hibbard Street. Each unit features 3 bedrooms, 2 baths and approximately 1200 square feet. Five units are affordable to very low income households and seven units to moderate income households. These units have resale restrictions which will ensure affordability for a period of 59 years. The Alameda Development Corporation (ADC), a local housing nonprofit organization, was responsible for buyer selection, and held a lottery where more than 200 applicants applied. (09/05)

Alameda Point Collaborative Project The Alameda Redevelopment and Reuse Authority (ARRA) has entered into an agreement with the Alameda Point Collaborative that provides long-term leases for 200 units of transitional and permanent housing for formerly homeless families. A subsequent Memorandum of Understanding between the Collaborative and City provides $1.8 million for rehabilitation of 58 of these units, $3.6 million for associated infrastructure costs, and a commitment to build an additional 39 affordable family units on a 2.5 acre site within the Bayport development (Shinsei Gardens Apartments). The following entities oversaw the rehabilitation of former Navy housing units at Alameda Point:

For more information, contact the Alameda Point Collaborative at (510) 898-7800.(11/05)

The following three projects are included in the Alameda Point Collaborative's 200 units:

Bessie Coleman Court The City has contributed approximately $117,000 in funding to Bessie Coleman Court, a 53-unit housing complex at Alameda Point, which opened in March 2002. As part of the Alameda Point Collaborative's effort to develop housing for formerly homeless people, Bessie Coleman Court offers 53 units of permanent and transitional housing for homeless individuals and families .Working one-on-one with on-site case managers, residents will have access to comprehensive services including healthcare, childcare, employment training and assistance, substance abuse recovery counseling, domestic violence support groups, and parenting classes. (2/25/03)

Dignity Commons The City has contributed $713,500 in Affordable Housing Unit/Fee Funds and HOME funds for the rehabilitation of Dignity Commons, twenty-eight units of Former Navy Housing at Alameda Point. The rehabilitation of these units was completed by Operation Dignity, a non-profit developer, in 2001. The two and three bedroom units are available as transitional and permanent housing for veterans and their families. (9/23/03)

Spirit of Hope Projects The City funded the rehabilitation of the Spirit of Hope I and II projects, which together include forty-five units of former Navy housing at Alameda Point. These units were completed by a nonprofit developer, UA Housing, in December 2000, and consist of two-bedroom bungalows and three- and four-bedroom apartments. The units provide permanent supportive housing for formerly homeless families. A few of the units are designated for persons with AIDS. The total cost of this project was approximately $2.6 million. Of this amount, $850,000 was provided from the City's Affordable Housing Unit Fee, Business & Waterfront Improvement Project (BWIP), and HOME funds. The City will also provide infrastructure upgrades. The Alameda Point Collaborative provides residents with a comprehensive array of support services to meet their specific needs, including skill development training. (08/06)

Regent Homeownership Project The Housing Authority developed these three ownership units for low and very low income households. A private developer constructed the three units under the City’s Infill New Construction Program, and the Housing Authority then purchased and developed the property into condominium units with $604,000 from its development fund. The three units were sold for a total of $412,700, leaving $191,300 as a permanent subsidy by the Housing Authority. This project uses the community land trust model to ensure permanent affordability while allowing for homeownership. The three owners, all former Section 8 or public-housing tenants, own the condominiums but lease the land from the Housing Authority. The homeowners have benefits of homeownership, such as mortgage interest tax deductions. However, if the condominiums are sold, the new homeowners will not have to purchase the land and the Housing Authority will maintain resale restrictions to ensure affordability for low and very low income buyers. Thus the land trust model ensures that housing affordability will be maintained. The buyers also used the City’s first-time homebuyer programs to help defray purchase costs. (2/27/2003)

China Clipper Plaza
The Housing Authority acquired this 26-unit building in July 1998. Rehabilitation and facade improvements were completed in 1999. The Housing Authority funded the acquisition rehabilitation in part with $570,000 of Federal HOME funds and $130,000 from its development fund.

East Bay Habitat for Humanity Project
East Bay Habitat for Humanity completed construction of two new units for low income households in July 2000. The project site was purchased with a grant of $108,000 from the Alameda Housing Authority. The units must remain affordable for twenty years. Habitat for Humanity constructs their housing units with the help of community volunteers and the future homeowners. Homeowners are required to contribute at least 500 hours of “sweat-equity” to construct their homes. (10/10/2000)

Bachelor Officers Quarters (BOQ)
$310,000 of Business & Waterfront Improvement Project (BWIP) funds have been used to purchase a covenant for 30 very-low income units in the former Bachelor Officer's Quarters (BOQ) at Alameda Point. The City's adopted Housing Element identifies this site as an opportunity to create 210 senior units in the BOQ. Alameda Point Community Partners, the developer for this former Navy housing project, was chosen as the Master Developer for Alameda Point on August 9, 2001. (9/19/03)

Independence Plaza
The Alameda Community Improvement Commission (CIC) and the Housing Authority have an agreement that maintains affordability for most of the 186 units at Independence Plaza. Under this agreement, the CIC subsidizes rents and operating costs in order to allow units to be rented at affordable rates. (2/27/2003)