The site of the former West County Health Center in Richmond is slated to become an affordable housing development that includes construction of a 5-story building and the rehabilitation of the existing two-story structure, for a total of 131 residential dwelling units.
The 2.84-acre property is located on Bissell Avenue at 39th Street, next to the Contra Costa County Superior Courthouse and near the RYSE Youth Center, which is undergoing a significant expansion, according to project documents.
Eden Housing Inc., a nonprofit provider of affordable housing, is proposing a total of 72 affordable units in the five-story building, along with 8,500 square feet of County office space and 1,500 square feet of micro-enterprise retail on the ground-floor. The two-story building will include 59 new supported housing units in the two-story building.
The plans also incorporate landscaping, space for a pedestrian plaza, future potential childcare play area, a separate play area for ages 2 through 12, and decorative plazas serving each building.
City staff state the current design “does not meet the minimum private and common open space requirements for a highly dense type of residential development.”
“The proposed location of open space areas are scattered throughout the site, which may the usability of the open space less efficient,” the city states.
The project’s design is expected to undergo review at tonight’s Design Review Board meeting, which takes place virtually at 6 p.m. To join the meeting and view the agenda, go here.
