Bay Area

City of Oakland Affordable Housing Development Projects Awarded $90 Million from State Climate Action Programs

Published

5 years ago

July 17, 2020

Three affordable housing developers were awarded a total of nearly $90 million, from two extremely competitive State of California funding programs, intended to develop green, resilient affordable housing in Oakland.

These three new construction developments will provide 462 units of affordable family housing for Oakland residents, prevailing wage construction jobs, and local contracting opportunities.

The California Dept. of Housing and Community Development (CAHCD) in partnership with the California Strategic Growth Council (SGC) announced millions of dollars in awards for the Round 5 Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities (AHSC) Program Notice of Funding Availability (AHSC NOFA), approved on June 25.

Through that award, two Oakland projects received nearly $60 million in AHSC funding for affordable housing and related greenhouse gas emission-reducing measures:

Mandela Station Transit-Oriented Development in West Oakland received $29,659,310 for housing, transit, and related improvements
Fruitvale Transit Village IIB at Fruitvale BART Station received $29,966,039

These awards will help support building projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Funding for the AHSC program is provided from the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (GGRF), an account established to receive Cap-and-Trade auction proceeds.

“These grants mark a significant investment to build more affordable housing for Oakland families right now,” said Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf. “Building hundreds of affordable housing units near major public transportation hubs also improves our climate and creates a healthier, more sustainable Oakland, for all of our residents.

In addition, CAHCD and SCG also awarded funding to Oakland’s community-driven ‘Better Neighborhoods, Same Neighbors’ proposal through a multi-year grant of $28.2 million.

The proposal represents a partnership between the City of Oakland, multiple community organizations, and local residents to implement five projects across a five-square-mile area in deep East Oakland over the next five years; including an anchor affordable housing project 95th and International, which will provide 55 units of 100% affordable housing and a ground-floor health clinic.

Other components of the proposal include a community trail along the San Leandro Creek, the planting of 2000 trees, a community-based hydroponics nursery, and a youth bike-sharing program.

The Fruitvale Transit Village IIB and 95th and International developments are also funded by voter-approved Oakland Measure KK for affordable housing, as well as affordable housing and jobs-housing impact fees.

“This is a great example of how City resources can leverage State funds to advance critical projects that will have a significant impact on our communities,” said Shola Olatoye, director of Housing and Community Development. “These projects help the fight against displacement and disinvestment in East and West Oakland.”

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Oakland Post: Week of February 26 – March 4, 2025

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of February 26 – March 4, 2025

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February 28, 2025

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Oakland Post: Week of February 19 – 25, 2025

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of February 19 – 25, 2025

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February 22, 2025

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U.S. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Rep. Lateefah Simon to Speak at Elihu Harris Lecture Series

The popular lecture series is co-produced by the Oakland-based Martin Luther King Jr. Freedom Center and Peralta Community College District. Jeffries’ appearance marks the 32nd lecture of the Barbara Lee and Elihu Harris Lecture Series, which has provided thousands of individuals with accessible, free, high-quality information.

Published

2 weeks ago

February 19, 2025

Oakland Post

U.S. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (left) and Rep. Lateefah Simon (D-CA-12) (Right).

By Scott Horton

United States House of Representatives Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY-8) will be a speaker at the Barbara Lee and Elihu Harris Lecture Series on Friday, Feb. 21.

The event will be held at the Henry J. Kaiser Center for the Arts, 10 Tenth Street in Oakland, at 7 p.m.

The popular lecture series is co-produced by the Oakland-based Martin Luther King Jr. Freedom Center and Peralta Community College District. Jeffries’ appearance marks the 32^nd lecture of the Barbara Lee and Elihu Harris Lecture Series, which has provided thousands of individuals with accessible, free, high-quality information.

The overarching goal of the lecture series is to provide speakers from diverse backgrounds a platform to offer their answers to Dr. King’s urgent question, which is also the title of Jeffries’ latest book: “Where do we go from here: Chaos or Community?”

In addition to Jeffries, Congresswoman Lateefah Simon (D-CA-12) will also speak.

“Certainly, now is a time for humanity, in general, and Americans in particular to honestly and genuinely answer Dr. King’s question,” said Dr. Roy D. Wilson, Executive Director of the Martin Luther King Jr. Freedom Center and Executive Producer of the lecture series.

“Dr. King teaches that time is neutral but not static. Like the water in a river, it arrives and then quickly moves on,” continued Wilson. “We must urgently create conditions for listening to many different answers to this vital question, and generate the development of unity of action among all those who struggle for a stronger democracy.”

In his book, Jeffries shares his experience of being unanimously elected by his colleagues as the first African American in history to ever hold the position of House Minority Leader.

In January 2023 in Washington, Jeffries made his first official speech as House Minority Leader. He affirmed Democratic values one letter of the alphabet at a time. His words and how he framed them as the alphabet caught the attention of Americans, and the speech was later turned into a book, The ABCs of Democracy, bringing Congressman Jeffries rousing speech to vivid, colorful life, including illustrations by Shaniya Carrington. The speech and book are inspiring and urgent as a timeless reminder of what it means to be a country with equal opportunities for all. Jeffries paints a road map for a brighter American future and warns of the perils of taking a different path.

Before his colleagues unanimously elected him Minority Leader in 2022, Jeffries previously served as Chair of the House Democratic Caucus and as an Impeachment Manager during the first Senate trial of the 45th President of the United States.

Jeffries was born in Brooklyn Hospital, raised in Crown Heights, grew up in the Cornerstone Baptist Church and he is a product of New York City’s public school system, graduating from Midwood High School. Jefferies went on to Binghamton University (BA), Georgetown University (master’s in public policy) and New York University (JD).

He served in the New York State Assembly from 2007 to 2012.

Admission is free for the Feb. 21 Barbara Lee and Elihu Harris Lecture Series featuring Congressman Jeffries. Please reserve seats by calling the Martin Luther King Jr. Freedom Center at (510) 434-3988.

Signed copies of his book will be available for purchase at the event.