Jun 29Richmond Mayor, Partners, and Residents Celebrate a Fresh Start for Hacienda Heights Senior Community

Nonprofit affordable housing organizations Community Housing Development Corporation (CHDC) and Mercy Housing California (MHC) co-led the redevelopment of a public housing site in partnership with the City of Richmond and Richmond Housing Authority, providing 150 fully renovated apartment homes in which seniors with low incomes can age with dignity.

Contact: Rick Sprague, Regional Vice President of Philanthropy for Mercy Housing California, rsprague@mercyhousing.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

RICHMOND: On Thursday, June 29, 2023, officials gathered to celebrate the re-opening of Hacienda Heights, a 150-home affordable housing community for seniors ages 62 and above.

“CHDC has had a long-standing commitment to addressing the affordable housing crisis in the Bay Area and is proud of the impact our partnership with Mercy Housing will make in the Richmond community,” said Don Gilmore, Executive Director of CHDC. “Revitalizing neighborhoods where there are investment challenges is crucial to making a positive impact for stable, affordable housing for individuals, families, and seniors in the Richmond community. This goes a long way to address the struggles to find safe, affordable housing options, which is at the core of our mission, and for 32 years we’ve led the charge. This project represents a continued effort with CHDC and Mercy Housing to address real concerns and to improve the lives of many individuals and families so they can thrive. We’re proud of that.”

“The Hacienda Heights we see today is a testament to our partnership’s tenacity, and to all partners’ commitment to rebuilding a community where seniors can truly thrive,” said Doug Shoemaker, president of Mercy Housing California.

“Hacienda Heights’ transformation is a testament to our strong teamwork and dedication to ensuring seniors have a dignified place to live. I applaud the efforts of Community Housing Development Corporation, Mercy Housing California, and all our partners for their hard work in creating a flourishing community where seniors can truly thrive,” said Mayor Eduardo Martinez of the City of Richmond.

The revitalization of Hacienda Heights represents a long-awaited bright future for both building residents and the surrounding community. The redevelopment was co-led by Community Housing Development Corporation (CHDC), a local leader in housing development and management with a significant presence in Richmond, and Mercy Housing California (MHC), a nationally recognized affordable housing organization, in partnership with the City of Richmond and Richmond Housing Authority. After closing in 2014 due to onsite conditions, the building reopened this year sporting a full seismic retrofit, expanded access to downtown amenities, expansive public art, and new energy-efficient appliances for all apartment homes. Twenty-five homes have been reserved for people exiting homelessness, who will receive supportive services and case management from longtime MHC partner and trusted provider Hope Solutions. All residents will enjoy access to free, onsite resident services provided by Mercy Housing in the areas of health and wellness, economic stability, and community engagement.

“We are incredibly proud and inspired by our longtime partnership with Mercy Housing,” said Hope Solutions CEO Deanne Pearn. “Hope Solutions, Mercy Housing, and Community Housing Development Corporation are making a real lasting positive impact on our community’s affordable housing crisis by combining affordable housing and quality support services. I am grateful to our case management team at Hacienda Heights for the compassion and support they provide to residents.

Partners were motivated to redevelop the site due to a concerning scarcity of affordable housing for seniors in the Bay Area. Anticipating the oncoming “silver tsunami” of Baby Boomers hitting retirement age, MHC and CHDC have doubled down on efforts to create quality affordable homes for people over 62.

Today, Hacienda Heights is home to 169 senior residents, including former residents who had moved out after the 2014 building closure. All residents are now enjoying the many amenities, onsite services, and nearby community resources the development has to offer. The community includes 148 affordable homes, plus two management units.

“Seniors living in Hacienda Heights will have the services and stability they need to age safely and comfortably in place, anchored by the guarantee of a permanently affordable home,” said Philip Porter, a Senior Vice President of Acquisitions at Enterprise Housing Credit Investments. “Enterprise was proud to provide financing to Mercy Housing and Community Housing Development Corporation through the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit to help turn a vacant building into a critical, vibrant community resource.”

“The redevelopment of Hacienda Heights has been a dream for many, and we are incredibly proud to work with Mercy Housing and Community Housing Development Corporation to make their vision a reality for the residents and surrounding community,” said James Vossoughi, Executive Director of Community Development Banking at Chase. “The re-opening comes at a time when housing in the Bay Area continues to be in great need, especially for seniors. We know these homes will be an indispensable asset for the community – transforming lives with the addition of onsite resident and supportive services as well as essential amenities.”

Financing for this community also got a boost from the Bettye Poetz Ferguson Foundation, whose visionary $30 million commitment bequest to MHC is helping to close the funding gap for Hacienda Heights and three more Bay Area senior residences, creating a total of 345 new homes for low-income seniors. The City of Richmond, in partnership with Congressman Mark DeSaulnier, also secured project-based Housing Choice Vouchers for Hacienda Heights to ensure residents pay no more than 30% of their incomes. In addition, the California Department of Housing and Community Development provided funding via the Multifamily Housing Program.

Passersby and residents alike will enjoy the large-scale bas-relief installation on a highly visible outdoor façade of Hacienda Heights on the corner of Marina Way and Barrett Avenue. “In Memory of 3AYEM” pays homage to the original American Indian inhabitants of the land on which Hacienda sits, and is described by artists, the Last Ones Collective, as “a tribute to our land, wildlife, and those who inhabit it: past, current, and future.” The perimeter fence surrounding the building sports additional painted steel artwork by local sculptor and public artist Eric Powell, who describes “Archetypes, 2022” as drawing on “symbols that we all share and that connect us all to each other…. universal, primal symbols and images that derive from the collective unconscious.”

Partners are proud to welcome Hacienda Heights’ new and returning residents to their recently renovated homes.

Development Details:

• 150 apartments including 148 affordable homes for seniors (24 studios, 113 1-bedrooms, 11 two-bedrooms) and 2 management units
• Targeted to individuals earning 20%-50% of Area Median Income
• Co-developed by Community Housing Development Corporation and Mercy Housing California, in partnership with the City of Richmond and Richmond Housing Authority
• Funding: City of Richmond, Contra Costa County, JP Morgan Chase, Enterprise Bank, Bettye Poetz Ferguson Foundation, California Department of Housing and Community Development, United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, Richmond Housing Authority, Contra Costa Housing Authority
• Architect: PYATOK architecture + urban design
• General Contractor: Nibbi Brothers General Contractors
• Property Management: Mercy Housing Management Group
• Resident Services and Case Management: Mercy Housing California and Hope Solutions
• Amenities: Pedestrian-friendly walkways, electric vehicle charging stations, community center, new public art, and over an acre of landscaped courtyards and gardens

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About Community Housing Development Corporation

Community Housing Development Corporation (CHDC), a Bay Area community-based housing developer, provides affordable housing for very low to moderate-income individuals, seniors, and families. We provide a foundation for success by also offering economic and supportive services such as financial sustainability workshops, financial counseling, and transportation financing. For more than 30 years, CHDC has been building safe and vibrant communities while engaging and advocating for people who are seeking equitable housing outcomes. Our goal is to create an environment within the neighborhoods we serve so people can thrive. Our main offices are located in Richmond, CA, and we serve Alameda, Contra Costa, and Solano counties. To learn more about CHDC, please visit www.communityhdc.org.

About Mercy Housing California

Mercy Housing California (MHC) is the largest regional office of Mercy Housing, Inc. (MHI), a leading national affordable housing nonprofit. MHC’s mission is to create stable, vibrant, and healthy communities by developing, financing, and operating affordable, program-enriched housing for families, seniors, and people with special needs who lack the economic resources to access quality, safe housing opportunities, serving lower-income families, seniors, and people who have experienced homelessness. With offices in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Sacramento, MHC has developed over 10,000 affordable homes across California. To learn more about MHC, please visit www.mercyhousing.org/california.