Downtown Livermore Affordable Housing Proposal Clears Hurdle

LIVERMORE, CA — The Livermore Planning Commission advanced a controversial proposal to bring 130 units of affordable, workforce housing to downtown Livermore, TheLivermore Independent reported.

The commission voted 4-1 on April 20 to approve Eden Housing's proposal, the paper reported. Commissioner John Stein cast the lone dissenting vote, citing concerns about a lack of parking, The Independent reported.

Most of those who testified during a three-hour public comment period criticized the project and argued that the complex would be better located elsewhere, with a park taking the place of the proposed development, the paper reported. Supporters spoke of an urgent need for affordable housing and said downtown businesses would benefit from new neighbors.

The proposal now heads to the Livermore City Council, which will discuss the matter at its May 24 meeting, according to the city.

Eden Housing and the city seek to build two four-story apartment buildings with underground parking on a 2.5-acre parcel fronting Veterans Park, near the southeast corner of Railroad Avenue and L Street. The project would also include private open space for tenants and 0.7 acres for a public park, which has yet to be designed.

The one-, two- and three-bedroom units would be reserved for people and families who earn between 20 to 60 percent of Alameda County's area median income, which is $119,200 for a four-person household. That means an eligible single person could earn no more than $54,840, while an eligible four-person family could earn no more than $104,400, according to the county.

The City Council first approved the concept of bringing workforce housing to the core of downtown Livermore in 2018, when the council passed a plan to redevelop the area, according to a report from city staff.

Eden Housing's proposal was selected out of eight applicants. The developer received more than $14 million in grant funding from Alameda County to make the project a reality, according to the city.

Read more from the Independent.