Affordable Housing With Retail Component Transforms Blighted Site

The groundbreaking ceremony takes place at 808 A St.

HAYWARD, CA—With an eye toward interaction, walkability, affordability and sustainability, a new senior housing development is springing up in the downtown core. Meta Housing Corporation has broken ground on the Downtown Hayward Senior Apartments , mixed-use, 60-unit affordable housing development. The new apartment community will be developed in partnership with Community Home Builders and Associates . The development will consist of approximately 6,000 square feet of retail space on a nearly 1-acre lot located at 808 A St. and incorporate a mix of one- and two-bedroom floor plans. Aaron Mandel , a senior vice president with Meta Housing, tells Globest.com: “The Downtown Hayward Senior Apartments will bring a much-needed component of affordable housing to seniors who are being impacted by continued rent growth throughout the region. The apartment community will also include 6,000 square feet of retail space, which will enhance the local downtown area by bringing in new businesses and stimulating economic growth for the local community. Our core business is creating new communities that provide high-quality housing for residents, while also bringing value to cities.” The development will be located approximately two blocks from the Hayward BART station , a block away from the city’s newly constructed public library and within walking distance to retail stores, parks and services. This property will feature a series of amenities that help to further establish social ties, including a large community courtyard and water feature, large community room, a computer and multi-media room, outdoor barbecues, a communal kitchen, a library and fitness center. “We’re building communities where older adults are not just sitting in front of a television, but rather, they are flourishing by interacting with others and enjoying strong social ties,” says Mandel. “When developing a new community in any city, we focus on bringing value to the residents, and also to the city as a whole. This apartment community does just that. By transforming a blighted vacant lot into a high-quality affordable community with a retail component, we are able to improve upon the existing neighborhood and enhance the overall vitality of the city.” This social interaction component is not unique to the Hayward project, as each of Meta Housing’s projects is created with elements that encourage active engagement and participation to help seniors to remain active and healthy. It will also include sustainable features. The building will be designed and constructed using sustainable, green building principles, and will obtain a Green Point Rated 125 or equivalent and LEED Gold Certification or equivalent. The apartment community will also utilize drought-tolerant landscaping and a drip irrigation system. “From the initial design stages through construction of each of Meta Housing’s projects, we work to create sustainable designs that flow seamlessly into the existing surroundings, and reduce the overall carbon footprint of the community,” says Mandel. “By integrating green features and implementing drought tolerant landscaping in the Downtown Hayward Senior Apartments, we are able to reduce the building’s impact on the local community and optimize water efficiency.” Financing for the project was provided by Redstone Equity Partners, Enterprise Community Partners Inc., Citibank, CalHFA, Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco, the State of California Department of Housing and Community Development, Alameda County Housing and Community Development Department, California Community Reinvestment Corporation , and the California Tax Credit Allocation Committee . Meta Housing Corporation currently has 60 projects in operation. The company also has 11 other projects in the pre-development phase.