RICHMOND — The previous West County Well being Heart, which has sat vacant because it was changed in 2012 with a brand new $45 million facility in San Pablo, will as soon as once more assist residents’ well-being — this time within the type of inexpensive housing choices for low-income renters and households.
The two.84-acre property at 100 thirty eighth St., which Contra Costa County owns, will probably be redeveloped right into a 135-unit, 100% inexpensive residence complicated, scheduled to open by spring 2026.
The proposal consists of 59 everlasting supportive housing flats, the place renters making 20% to 40% of the median earnings in Contra Costa County can entry rental help and different companies — round $28,000 to $57,000 for a household of 4. Moreover, 76 flats will probably be particularly reserved for households incomes lower than $85,000 yearly. Part 8 vouchers will probably be accepted for at the least 26 of the flats, and constructing administration will analysis buying comparable state subsidies for the remaining renters.
The Richmond Metropolis Council on Tuesday unanimously authorised amending the town’s common plan to permit the medium-intensity mixed-use constructing on the land, which beforehand was zoned just for public and academic makes use of, reminiscent of libraries and hospitals.
The property — positioned close to the Contra Costa County Superior Courthouse, the RYSE Youth Heart and a 1.3-mile stroll to the El Cerrito BART Station — will probably be rezoned to allow residences after the council takes a ultimate vote on the venture within the coming weeks.
Proposed by regional nonprofit Eden Housing and Richmond-based Group Housing Improvement Company, the venture would increase Richmond’s present inventory of inexpensive housing to three,923 models. All 135 models will rely towards the town’s Regional Housing Wants Allocation targets, because the new building will renovate the prevailing industrial constructing into residential area.
Donald Gilmore, Group Housing Improvement Company’s government director, stated Richmond residents could be given precedence choice to maneuver into the complicated.
Contra Costa County Supervisor John Gioia, who helped assist the venture’s growth, highlighted the YMCA Studying Heart proposed to be constructed on-site — taking on 4,500 of the ten,000 sq. ft of floor flooring industrial area — that will probably be able to supporting as much as 80 youth dwelling beneath the federal poverty line with psychological well being companies.
“I do know the town’s been very dedicated to discovering a long-term answer to the unhoused,” Gioia stated throughout Tuesday’s council assembly. “Constructing extra of those models is precisely what all of us must be doing.”
Whereas the event qualifies for waivers to construct solely 123 off-street parking areas — 30% decrease than state necessities due to the housing venture’s density — Lina Velasco, the town’s group growth director, stated metropolis employees will probably be wanting into increasing public transportation choices within the space by way of grants and conversations with AC Transit, which already operates a bus line alongside Macdonald Avenue’s industrial hall.
Apart from a close-by grocery retailer’s considerations in regards to the destructive impacts on site visitors and parking, suggestions on the venture from the Richmond Metropolis Council and residents was supportive.
“This proposal is on the border of my neighborhood, I used to work for Contra Costa Well being Companies — that well being heart desperately wanted assist — and it was great when the West County Well being Heart opened,” stated Julie Freestone, who has lived in Richmond for 32 years. “It’s pleasant to see an unimaginable partnership amongst all of those companies to convey a brand new imaginative and prescient to that constructing and space.”