HAYWARD, CA—Earlier this week, the groundbreaking of three new residential communities commenced on the site of the former South Hayward BART overflow parking lots. Eden Housing is the developer of two affordable communities located off of Mission Boulevard that will provide 151 affordable apartments near the South Hayward BART station. AMCAL Equities is the developer of a market-rate community of 206 luxury apartments off of Dixon Street adjacent to the BART station. Both developments, totaling $121.5 million, received transit-oriented development grants from the California Department of Housing and Community Development.

Eden Housing president, Linda Mandolini, tells GlobeSt.com: “This development, when completed mid next year, will be Eden's 132nd 100% affordable community in California. While our portfolio is growing, it is not nearly enough. We have more than 17,000 households on our waiting lists, many of which are closed. As long as people are in need of an affordable home, Eden will continue to build new communities, and preserve and rehabilitate existing affordable housing developments.”

The Eden Housing development is known as the South Hayward BART Family and Seniors Communities. These two affordable rental communities will be made up of adjacent five-story standalone buildings sharing a common courtyard, and will provide 87 affordable rental apartments for families and 64 affordable rental apartments for seniors aged 62-plus. Residents will have annual incomes between 30 and 50% of the Alameda County area median income. For a family of four, this translates into household incomes between $27,600 and $46,000 respectively.

“With available housing in short supply, especially affordable rental housing, these two transit-oriented developments will be a great benefit to hundreds of East Bay families and seniors,” said senator Bob Wieckowski, a member of the senate's transportation and housing committee. “The legislature's approval of two key affordable housing financing bills (SB 35 and SB 377), gives Governor Brown the opportunity to expand access to more affordable housing in California.”

The South Hayward BART communities will include a 10,000-square-foot shared courtyard with a large playground, community gardens and a spacious barbecue area with picnic tables. The building for seniors will have a fitness and health center. Through Eden's free resident services, residents will benefit from technology training, financial literacy classes, energy and water use efficiency education, health, wellness, and safety programs.

“These developments are milestone achievements for the city of Hayward because they represent the principles and values of our community: inclusiveness, perseverance, sustainability and imagination,” said Hayward mayor Barbara Halliday. “The South Hayward BART Communities have been in the making for many years and we are so grateful to the many partners who helped make them happen, especially Eden Housing and AMCAL.”

The apartment homes will be energy efficient and utilize low-flow plumbing fixtures to reduce the amount of water used. The structures will be designated as EnergyStar buildings, which will be 28% more efficient than California energy standards (Title 24). This $53.5 million Eden development incorporates a number of green features, such as a photovoltaic system that will power 80% of the common areas' electricity and a solar thermal system for hot water heating.

AMCAL's development is known as Cadence, named after the street that will connect Mission Boulevard and Dixon Street. The 206-unit luxury apartment community will feature one- and two-bedroom market-rate apartments and amenities including a fitness center with separate yoga room, a resident lounge, luxurious pool and spa deck, clubhouse, business center, pet spa, self-service bike parking and repair, and package concierge service.

Eden Housing's 151-unit affordable rental development is situated on 1.44 acres and is expected to be completed in May 2016. AMCAL's 206-unit, $68 million market-rate development is situated on 2.9 acres and is expected to be completed in January 2017. The architect is BDE Architecture and the general contractor is James E. Roberts-Obayashi Corp. for both the affordable and market-rate developments.

As previously reported, affordable housing is also underway in Mission Bay.

Instant Insights /

Residential Development to Include 151 Affordable Units

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