Richmond City Council on Tuesday unanimously approved a plan for 135 units of affordable housing with supportive services at the site of the former West County Health Center at 100 38th St.
The project, a partnership between Eden Housing and Community Housing Development Corp. of North Richmond, is comprised of two buildings on 2.84 acres owned by the County.
The first building will be a renovation of the existing former Health Center to include 59 permanent supportive housing apartments for extremely low income people, ranging in size from studios to two-bedroom.
A second, five-story building is set to be constructed at the site that will include 76 family-sized units up to three bedrooms for very low and extremely low income families and individuals. The ground floor would include approximately 10,000 square feet of commercial space, and common spaces for residents. About 8,500 square feet of that space will be occupied by an 8,500 square foot YMCA Early Learning Center for up to 80 children. In addition to childcare, the center will provide children with access to mental health and healthcare resources, according to project partners.
The new building will be constructed east of the existing building and access to the site would be via a new driveway between the two buildings. Both buildings will have rooftop solar panels and will be all electric. Other site improvements include surface parking, landscaping, lighting and two play areas, one for the family units, and the other for the YMCA.
Property management staff will be live onsite, and layered services and case management will be provided to residents. Project partners are working with Lifelong Medical for onsite case management to formerly homeless residents and are also seeking other partnerships, such as with Planet Fitness for gym memberships for residents.
Contra Costa County Supervisor John Gioia said the project accomplishes the goal of creating affordable housing with supportive services. Gioia referenced a similar 54-unit project in the works near Contra Costa College.
“[Richmond] has been very committed to finding a longterm solution to the unhoused, and building more of these units is exactly what we all need to be doing because they are going to be focused on very low income with supportive services on site,” Gioia said.
Project partners will seek financing over the next year and hope to have the buildings up and running in Spring 2026. The project will add to the city’s current total of 3,788 affordable housing units, according to the city.
The Park Plaza and North and East Neighborhood Councils expressed support for the project. A nearby business expressed concern with traffic and limited parking in this area.
