Title
Recommendation to Receive an Update on the City’s Joint Application with MidPen Housing for a State of California Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities (AHSC) Program Loan and Grants to Fund Phase One of the Rebuilding Existing Supportive Housing at Alameda Point Housing Development.
The Streamlining provision of Public Resources Section 21083.3 and Section 15183 of the California Environmental Quality Act Guidelines Apply and No Further Environmental Review is Required. (Base Reuse and Economic Development 29061822)
Body
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
From: Jennifer Ott, City Manager
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
City of Alameda (City) staff anticipate submitting a joint application with MidPen Housing (MidPen) for Round 9 of the Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities (AHSC) funding program later this month. If awarded, funding would be dedicated to the development of Stardust Gardens, the 80-unit first phase of the 332-unit Rebuilding Existing Supportive Housing at Alameda Point (RESHAP) project. Funding would also be dedicated to an array of transit, bicycle, and pedestrian improvements within close proximity of RESHAP, including the Willie Stargell Complete Streets Project and the second phase of the backbone infrastructure in Alameda Point’s Adaptive Reuse Area, as well as programmatic initiatives benefiting, primarily, residents in and around Alameda Point. If awarded this grant funding later this year, the City will, as necessary, bring agreements to City Council for its consideration that would commit the City to completing the improvements outlined in and funded by the grant application.
BACKGROUND
The AHSC program was established with a passage of Senate Bill 182 to implement Assembly Bill 32; the California Global Warming Solutions Act 2006 by creating a “Cap and Trade” program funding various greenhouse gas reducing initiatives including this one through fees on major polluters. AHSC is administered by the Strategic Growth Council (SGC) and implemented by the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD). The purpose of the AHSC Program is to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions through projects that implement land use, housing, transportation, and agricultural land preservation practices to support infill and compact development, and that support related and coordinated public policy objectives. AHSC seeks to fund affordable housing and transportation projects close to jobs, schools, and other daily destinations to help California meet both its climate and equity goals.
Spearheaded by MidPen Housing Corporation (MidPen), Alameda Point Collaborative, Operation Dignity, and Building Futures With Women and Children (Collaborating Partners), in collaboration with the City, the RESHAP project will construct and manage permanent supportive housing for extremely low, very low, and low income households on a new 8-acre campus at the corner of West Midway Avenue and Pan Am Way at Alameda Point.
In 2015, the Collaborating Partners and their selected development partner, MidPen, a Bay Area-based nonprofit affordable housing developer, held a series of intensive community outreach meetings, focus groups and design input meetings with residents on their preferred housing types and ideas for the neighborhood design.
Approved by City Council on July 18, 2023, the RESHAP project will deliver quality affordable housing combined with supportive services for people who have experienced homelessness or trauma. It will replace the Collaborating Partners’ 201 existing units of Navy-era housing and will augment with an additional 111 units.
The RESHAP campus will include:
• 332 deeply affordable homes with supportive services for families, veterans, survivors of domestic violence, and people who have experienced or are at-risk of homelessness.
• After-school and youth program spaces and programming
• A state-of-the-art family shelter
• A domestic violence Center for Hope and Healing
• A one-stop workforce development center in a new community “Barn” adjacent to a plaza with urban gardens
Over the past several months, City staff have been working with MidPen to prepare an application for AHSC Round 9. The City and MidPen anticipate submitting a joint application by the due date of May 28, 2025.
DISCUSSION
If awarded, funding would be dedicated to the development of the following:
• The first phase of RESHAP housing, called Stardust Gardens, an 80-unit, supportive housing apartment project managed by MidPen with services provided by Alameda Point Collaborative
• Transit improvements in collaboration with a local transit partner
• An array of bicycle and pedestrian improvements within one mile of RESHAP, including, but not limited to, the Willie Stargell Complete Streets Project and the second phase of the backbone infrastructure in Alameda Point’s Adaptive Reuse Area
• Programmatic initiatives focused on anti-displacement and workforce development benefiting, primarily, residents in and around Alameda Point.
The transportation improvements will significantly enhance connectivity within the Citywide and area-wide network. Additionally, if awarded, AHSC grant funds would serve as a funding source for improvements and initiatives already planned by the City, thereby offsetting the need to provide or secure funds to bring these projects to fruition.
The AHSC program is highly competitive, and the guidelines allocate points for providing a range of different improvements and services. As such, staff worked closely with the City’s partners to select the package of improvements that will score the best according to the Guidelines. The transit, pedestrian, and bicycle improvements included in the application have been selected from the City and other agencies’ existing, unfunded priority projects.
If awarded grant funding, City staff will, as necessary, bring agreements to City Council for its consideration that would commit the City to completing the improvements outlined in and funded by the grant application. It is anticipated that SGC and HCD will announce awards at the end of 2025.
ALTERNATIVES
• City Council can ask questions and provide feedback on this informational report on the City’s application for AHSC Program funding.
• Direct staff not to apply for AHSC Program funding. This will miss a critical potential funding opportunity; staff will continue to identify and apply for funding to deliver the RESHAP project and identified transit and programmatic initiatives may remain unfunded.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
This report is for informational purposes only. There is no fiscal impact from hearing this item.
MUNICIPAL CODE/POLICY DOCUMENT CROSS REFERENCE
This action is in conformance with the Alameda Municipal Code and all policy documents. The pursuit of the grant funding is in alignment with the City's Climate Action and Resiliency Plan (CARP), Active Transportation Plan's 2030 Infrastructure Plan, Alameda Point Transportation Demand Management Plan, Green Infrastructure Plan, Vision Zero Action Plan, Transportation Choices Plan (TCP), and Economic Development Strategic Plan (2018).
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
This activity is not a project and is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Section 15378 (b) (4) of the CEQA Guidelines because it involves governmental fiscal activities which does not involve any commitment to any specific project which may result in a potentially significant physical impact on the environment.
CLIMATE IMPACT
There are no identifiable climate impacts or climate action opportunities associated with the subject of this report.
RECOMMENDATION
Receive an update on the City’s joint application with MidPen for AHSC Program funding to fund phase one of the RESHAP supportive housing development.
Respectfully submitted,
Abigail Thorne-Lyman, Base Reuse and Economic Development Director
By,
Walker Toma, Community Development Manager
Financial Impact section reviewed,
Ross McCarthy, Acting Finance Director
Exhibits:
1. Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities (AHSC) Fact Sheet
2. Stardust Gardens One-Mile Radius