OAKLAND, CA, May 6, 2010---Oakland will celebrate today the groundbreaking of St. Joseph’s Senior Apartments, a development by BRIDGE Housing Corporation. The ceremony commences at 1 p.m. at 2647 International Boulevard in Oakland.
 
When construction is complete in approximately June 2011, St. Joseph’s Senior Apartments will include 84 rental apartments for very-low-income seniors within the existing Main Building of the Oakland historic landmark, “St. Joseph’s Home for the Aged.” The property entered service in 1913 under the Congregation of the Little Sisters of the Poor; however the insurmountable costs of needed modernization forced the building to close in 1979.

“We are thrilled to be preserving this significant historic landmark while creating much-needed affordable housing on an infill site,” said Cynthia A. Parker, President and CEO of BRIDGE Housing.

The rehabilitation and adaptive reuse of the Main Building will include seismic upgrades and will comply with the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation of Historic Properties. Six heritage palm trees in front will be preserved and incorporated in the landscape plan. On-site amenities will include a spacious community room on the ground floor opening onto a senior garden and sunny lobby areas with seating. Some 3,200 square feet of commercial office space on the ground floor is proposed for tenant uses compatible with senior housing.

The apartments will be affordable to seniors age 62 and older with annual incomes ranging from $18,750 to $31,250 for a one-person household (30 to 50% of Area Median Income). Monthly rents are expected to range from $439 to $803, depending on income and apartment size.

Financing for St. Joseph’s was provided by the City of Oakland, the Redevelopment Agency of the City of Oakland, U.S. Bank, Union Bank, Northern California Community Loan Fund/Lower San Antonio Community Development Fund, Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr. Fund, California Pollution Control Financing Authority, California Tax Credit Allocation Committee, California Department of Housing & Community Development, Oakland Housing Authority, Federal Home Loan Bank of California. The architect is Van Meter Williams Pollack and the general contractor is James E. Roberts-Obayashi Corporation.

Confirmed groundbreaking ceremony speakers include: Ignacio De La Fuente, Vice Mayor, District 5 Councilmember, City of Oakland; Walter Cohen, Director, Community & Economic Development Agency, City of Oakland; John Chan, Senior Vice President, U.S. Bank; Jonathan Klein, Vice President, Union Bank; Mary A. Rogier, President, Northern California Community Loan Fund; and BRIDGE Housing President & CEO Cynthia A. Parker.
 
Applications are not yet available, but prospective applicants may call 510.464.5999 or visit http://www.bridgehousing.com/St-Josephs-Senior for information.

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NOTE TO EDITORS: A rendering of St. Joseph’s Senior Apartments is available; please contact Lyn Hikida at 415.321.3552 or lhikida@bridgehousing.com to request.