ORINDA'S EDEN SENIOR HOUSING PROJECT

Lance Cowles introduced Woody Karp, Senior Project Developer for the Eden Housing Project currently underway at the site of Orinda's old library.  

Eden Housing is a non-profit developer that has been providing affordable housing for seniors and low-income families for more than 45 years.  They have provided homes for more than 65,000 people and they own and manage the properties, offering services to residents to facilitate their ability to work (in the case of families) or to age in place (in the case of seniors). After-school programs, transportation, social activities, are just some of the amenities offered and that help to create a sense of community within the development.

The project in Orinda is limited to those 62 and older and will consist of 66 one bedroom units.  There will be a manager, assistant manager and service manager on site.  The units will be offered for low-income occupancy based on a Contra Costa median annual income of $37,000 per couple.  Background checks will be done to ensure the safety of residents and the community.  Per the Fair Housing laws, units will be available to those who meet the income criteria and the background checks.

This is a $26 million dollar project, funded through a variety of sources.  The City of Orinda contributed the land and Union Bank is providing 55% of the funding through tax credits it will receive.  The balance of funding comes from other Contra Costa County programs. Vouchers through the Contra Costa County Housing Authority will enable renters to pay what they can afford as rates will be income-based.

On-site amenties will include a 750 sq. ft. Community Room, a community kitchen, computer lab, laundry facility, exercise room and possibly a beauty salon.

The site includes a 17 percent grade, so it was necessary to create a step-up design that would build into the hillside. The maximm height is 4-stories on the upper level, with 3 stories visible from the street below. Every effort is being made to screen the building with landscaping so that its size does not loom over the downtown.

There is already a wait list of 682 people who are interested in obtaining housing at the facility -- the majority of whom are Lamorindans. It is expected to be completed in September 2014.