Richmond Housing Authority approves development plan for main campus project

The Contra Costa Housing Authority meeting on May 20, 2025, focused on significant developments in housing projects, particularly the revitalization of the main campus in North Richmond. The meeting began with a tribute to Supervisor Glover, acknowledging his contributions to the housing authority and the community, particularly in supporting veterans' housing initiatives.

The primary agenda item was the progress on the main campus, which has been under discussion since 2013. The campus is crucial as it represents a substantial portion of North Richmond's housing stock, housing various community programs. The authority released a request for qualifications (RFQ) for developers in November 2024, which closed in February 2025. Out of three proposals, two were deemed responsive: a partnership between Community Housing Development Corporation (CHDC) and Eden Housing, and another between Satellite Affordable Housing Associates (SAHA) and Richmond Neighborhood Housing Services.

A panel of seven members, including housing authority representatives and community residents, evaluated the proposals based on eight criteria, such as project plan, community engagement, and financial strength. The CHDC and Eden partnership received the highest score of 76 out of 100, while SAHA and Richmond Neighborhood Housing Services scored 70.8. The panel noted that the differentiation in scores stemmed from community members' preferences for the physical design of the project, while industry experts focused on financial viability.

The winning proposal includes plans for 25 homeownership units aimed at families earning between 20% and 80% of the area median income, as well as 115 rental units for seniors with incomes at or below 60% of the area median income. The housing authority plans to sell the property in stages, with an estimated initial value of $5.5 million.

The meeting concluded with a discussion on the phased approach to development, emphasizing the need for careful financial planning given the current economic climate and potential funding cuts from state and federal sources. The authority aims to move forward with the project while addressing the community's housing needs.