Construction To Begin On Walnut Creek Affordable Housing

WALNUT CREEK, CA — Resources for Community Development (RCD), St. Paul’s Episcopal Church and Trinity Center are hosting a public ground breaking for St. Paul’s Commons. The event celebrates the East Bay Housing Organizations’ Affordable Housing Week by showcasing Walnut Creek’s latest effort to address the housing affordability crisis.

The groundbreaking kicks off construction of 45 apartments above ground floor community-serving facilities. The public event is on Wednesday, May 16, 2018, from 10:00 to 11:30 am at 1924 Trinity Avenue in Walnut Creek.

Located on the grounds of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, the design by PYATOK architecture + urban design fits into and enhances the Church campus as well as the surrounding neighborhood. The building steps from two-to-four stories, wrapping around a landscaped courtyard that will connect the Church and the ground floor community center space. Attractive views of the building and landscaping, including mature trees that will be preserved, will be visible from all sides. Rooftop decks on the 3rd floor and 4th floors are set back so that the building allows light into the Church sanctuary as well as the courtyard.

The new facility will provide three meeting rooms to serve programs sponsored by the Church and other community organizations. St. Paul’s Commons will also provide a new facility for the non-profit Trinity Center, a non-residential program serving homeless and working poor adult men and women in Walnut Creek and Central Contra Costa County. Clients will have access to safety net services including food and meals, access to mail and phones, and shower and laundry facilities in addition to counseling and referral services.

St. Paul’s Commons will help meet the need for individuals and families with incomes from 30 to 60% of the area median income. Half of the apartments will be fully supportive permanent homes for residents with special needs or who have experienced homelessness, with two units for residents living with HIV/AIDS. Half of the apartments will have rental subsidies, allowing residents to pay no more than 30% of their incomes. Residents will live in an area of high opportunity, within 0.3 mile of Walnut Creek BART, and with convenient access to the library, parks, schools, retail, services, and jobs based in downtown.

"This model, one that includes a new housing complex and resource center, shows us how a community can come together to move people from homelessness to lives of dignity, safety, and hope," said The Rt. Rev. Marc Handley Andrus, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of California. "It has the potential to start a wave across our state—faith communities, individuals, non-profit developers, and government agencies stepping up together as partners to give people on the margins a fresh start and hope for a brighter future."

RCD’s Executive Director Dan Sawislak noted, “There was a strong vision for a broader use of the church campus. That led to collaborations with the broader community, the city and the county to address the critical need in Walnut Creek for homes for people with limited incomes. Then four interactive sessions with community members helped refine the building design and functions to produce the best possible use of the space. Future residents and the larger community will soon see the positive impacts of these collaborations.”

About Resources for Community Development (RCD)

RCD develops housing that creates community assets, enhances surrounding neighborhoods, and provides housing and amenities that improve the quality of living for residents. RCD has developed more than 2,200 affordable housing units that serve 4,500 residents in Alameda, Contra Costa, and Solano counties. With a pipeline of 1,000 new and rehabilitated units, RCD is expanding into Marin and Santa Clara Counties to help meet the regional need for affordable housing. In addition to housing development, RCD provides programming in resident services and community development, as well as asset management.

RCD’s mission is to create and preserve affordable housing for those with the fewest options, to build community and enrich lives.

— Announcement and image via Resources for Community Development