Dublin plans affordable housing project for seniors

Regional Street project also would be tailored to those with special needs

Dublin is moving forward with an affordable housing project that would focus on seniors, providing up to 114 apartments in the city.

The City Council unanimously agreed Tuesday to enter into an agreement with Corona Ely Ranch, an affiliate of the nonprofit Eden Housing, for the Regional Street project, to be located on 6541-6543 Regional St.

The project is a byproduct of a 499-unit residential proposed project on nearby St. Patrick Way, approved in 2018. As part of a community benefit agreement between Dublin and Bayview Development Group, the developer agreed to let its 1.3acre property on Regional Street be set aside for affordable housing.

The affordable housing project will include 70 to 114 units, made up of one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments. The units will be dedicated for low-income senior citizens, including seniors with special needs. The number of units will depend on how tall the city will allow the building to be, and the cost of adding either a parking lot or structure, according to Eden Housing.

According to Eden Housing, rent for a one-bedroom unit would range from $489 to a maximum of $1,200 monthly, based on the income of the renter. Those who qualify would have to earn no more than 50% or below of the area’s median income (which is $73,000 for a single person and $83,500 for two people), according to Eden Housing.

The city is putting down $5.01 million from its affordable housing fund as a deposit on the site in case the St. Patrick’s project does not go through. That means if the developer AvalonBay Communities does not pull building permits for its St. Patrick’s Way residential project, the city could buy the affordable housing property.

AvalonBay will own both the affordable housing site and the St. Patrick’s site once it is transferred to AvalonBay from the previous owners.

But if all goes well and the St. Patrick’s Way project proceeds, the $5 million will be returned to the city. Building permits for the St. Patrick’s Way project are expected to be issued later this year.

Vice Mayor Shawn Kumagai noted during the Tuesday meeting that he was concerned that when the funds are returned to the city, they would go back into the general fund.

“My reservation with this particular deal, we would have essentially moved $5 million out of the affordable housing pot into the general fund. I think that sets a really dangerous precedent,” he said.

Kumagai, Council member Jean Josey and Mayor Melissa Hernandez all noted they would like to see the funding returned to the affordable housing fund, not the general fund, when the topic comes again before the council. According to the city, only $13.4 million is currently in that account, including the $5 million.

The mayor said that the community asks the council to build more affordable housing, but Dublin just doesn’t have a lot of funding for such projects.

“When we’re being asked to build, we’re constantly trying to scrape funds together to bring something forward,” she said.

Hernandez noted that after years of hurdles, she’s “excited to finally see this move forward.”

The affordable housing project is expected to cost $46 million to $74 million to build, depending on how many units will be built. The city was awarded a $3.3 million grant from the Local Housing Trust Fund program for this project and will also receive $5 million from the Alameda County Measure A1 bond funds.

Voters approved the $580 million Measure A1 bond in 2016, aimed at funding permanent affordable rental housing, moderate-income homeownership, and homes for lowincome seniors and those with disabilities.

Other funding for this project could come from the national Low Income Housing Tax Credit program, and the state’s Infill Infrastructure Grant program, according to Eden Housing.

Eden Housing also developed and secured funding for the city’s Valor Crossing project, a 66-apartment, veteran-oriented affordable housing project on St. Patrick Way.

An Eden Housing representative said at the council meeting that for those wanting to place themselves on an interest list for this project, they should call Eden Housing‘s main number and say they are interested in the Regional Street project in Dublin. That number is 510-582-1460, and those people who qualify will be placed on a waiting list and will be selected through a lottery.

The project is projected to be completed in 2024.