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Alameda Dedication
On August 20th, more than 150 people gathered to celebrate the completion of the eight new homes at Buena Vista Commons in Alameda that was a result of the partnership between Habitat for Humanity East Bay, Alameda Development Corporation and the City of Alameda. Habitat supporters, volunteers, staff, and city officials congratulated the Barajas, Fejzic, Garcia-Sanchez and Wong-Zhu families for their hard work and wished them the best in their new lives as homeowners in the community.
The transformation of a long-vacant car wash site, to a neighborhood that features eight two-story homes in four buildings began officially in 2006. Designed by architect Kirk E. Peterson & Associates, each of the eight units is a three bedroom home. There are two homes in each structure and the units were planned with a variety of energy-saving features.
The new homes were made possible with funding from the City of Alameda and Alameda County HOME Funds. A construction loan was provided by the Bank of Alameda.
The City of Alameda has long been a supporter of community inclusiveness and diversity in housing. The City provides funding and assistance for the development of both rental and ownership of affordable housing. It helps first-time home buyers and provides for housing rehabilitation assistance and housing counseling.
Habitat for Humanity East Bay has served as contractor and construction supervisor for the Buena Vista development, bringing local Habitat volunteers to help build the houses in conjunction with its four families. As part of the Habitat model, many of the families have put in over 500 hours of “sweat equity” into the construction process during the past year and look forward to even greater participation in the neighborhood after they move in.
The Buena Vista development was built using environmentally sustainable methods and will be certified through California’s GreenPoint Rated program. Green features include the use of fly ash in the concrete, solar powered systems provided by PG&E, (sponsor of “Solar Habitat,” a program that provides solar panels to all new Habitat homes in Central and Northern California), along with the use of engineered lumber, low VOC paints, formaldehyde free insulation and more.
Habitat would like to extend our thanks to everyone that attended and helped make the event a complete success. Also, many thanks to all those that spent so much time helping to make this development become a reality, creating homes for eight very happy families.
Brentwood Dedication
“This is a wonderful and happy event that illustrates one of the unique ways our Habitat program works,” said Marge Perez, former Board President and current volunteer with Habitat for Humanity East Bay.
“Circumstances sometimes arise in which an original Habitat homeowner will need to move from their house. In these instances the house remains affordable, returns back to Habitat ownership, and Habitat finds a new qualified family. The keys to the house at First Street, which was originally built in 1999 during a seven-day home building blitz with lots of community hands-on and financial assistance, were presented to its new owners, Jesus and Berta Cruz. They are a deserving family who were really in need of housing. They have met our income requirements and have participated in our sweat equity process which keeps the home affordable to each family who purchases a Habitat home,” Perez explained.
Earlier in the year Brentwood community members and Habitat volunteer crews returned to the home site to refurbish the building. Solar panels (thanks to a grant from PG&E’s Solar Habitat program) were installed and the building was painted inside and out. New flooring, kitchen counters and sink are now shining and all heating and water systems have been serviced. Habitat is also grateful for the support from the City of Brentwood.
Read news coverage of the dedication in the Brentwood Press.
