City Council Moves Forward on Affordable Housing Project

The Alameda City Council Tuesday night approved a plan for apartments for low-income adults with developmental disabilities at a site near the Alameda Police Station.

Two nonprofit organizations, Satellite Housing and the Housing Consortium of the East Bay, will develop the project on what is now a Lincoln Avenue parking lot between Walnut and Oak streets. They will also provide ongoing support for the residents. 

"We commit long-term to our properties as the property manager,” said Dori Kojima of Satellite Housing, which operates supportive housing communities throughout the East Bay. The agreement approved by the council codifies this ongoing support to residents.

Last week Alameda's Planning Board approved the design plan for the facility.

The project will include 19 apartments, both one and two-bedroom, common spaces, a central laundry, a computer lab and an apartment for a resident manager.

Art Kurrasch, chair of the Alameda Housing Commission, voiced his support for the project, as did half a dozen other community members.

"We found out there are 754 possible clients for this development," Kurrasch said. "We appreciate your support and we're looking forward to a great development."

An Alameda resident with disabilities, Marissa Erickson, addressed the council. "I would like to live on my own," she said. "Please support this project. Thank you."

Vice Mayor Rob Bonta and Councilmembers Lena Tam, Doug deHaan and Beverly Johnson all praised city staff for moving forward quickly with the plan to develop the site. (Mayor Marie Gilmore was absent.)

"I think this is a very important project," said Bonta. "It's important both because it's affordable housing and because of the community it serves."