EBALDC and Abode Housing Development co-hosted a grand opening ceremony Thursday, 11/20, for The Phoenix, which will add 100 units of new affordable housing in Alameda County.

OAKLAND,  — The East Bay Asian Local Development Corporation (EBALDC) and Abode Housing Development were thrilled to join community partners on Thursday to celebrate the grand opening of The Phoenix, a supportive housing development.

The Phoenix is a 4-story building located at 801 Pine St. in the Prescott neighborhood of West Oakland. The development will add 100 units of affordable homes for low-income residents, bolstering Alameda County’s affordable housing supply and the Bay Area’s first 100% affordable housing development to use modular technology.

Mayor Lee shared, “The Phoenix opens doors to opportunity, stability, and belonging for 100 Oakland families. Housing is a basic human right, and these new homes prove that affordable housing is about justice – ensuring the people who make this city vibrant can actually afford to live here. To the families who will call The Phoenix home – you belong here, and we fought to keep it that way. This is what we’re building in Oakland: a city where working families, seniors, young people just starting out, and everyone in between can find their place.”

The celebration’s featured speakers included Oakland’s Mayor Lee, Councilmember Carroll Fife, and Janelle Chan, CEO of EBALDC, Undersecretary Corrin Buchanan, California Health and Human Services Agency, Christina Mun, BCSH Deputy Secretary of Housing Finance, Director Patricia Wells, Oakland Housing Authority, James Vossoughi, JPMorganChase, and Zoe Boston, Bay Area Mural Program Artist.

“EBALDC was honored to meet the vision of the Prescott Neighborhood Association who championed this space to be used for housing,” said Chan. “We are excited for the future residents to be in community in Prescott and for the ability to be connected across West Oakland, Jack London, and event Oakland’s waterfront.”

The supportive housing site is the second new affordable housing site that EBALDC and Abode Housing Development have partnered on this year in West Oakland. The pair of nonprofit organizations also partnered on Margaret Gordon Westport, which opened in June – about two miles from The Phoenix.

“The Phoenix will add much-needed affordable housing in Oakland, providing homes to those in need and strengthening the East Bay community,” Wan said. “The solution to homelessness is a home – which is one of many reasons why we’re thrilled to celebrate this new housing site with EBALDC and our other community partners.”

EBALDC is grateful to our partners that have helped make this project come to fruition, including the City of Oakland and our funding partners!

“We are deeply excited to support this brand-new, 100% affordable housing development in West Oakland,” said Emily Weinstein, Director of the City of Oakland’s Housing and Community Development Department. “Not only does the Phoenix offer homes for people exiting homelessness, but it also helps stabilize the lager community through deep affordability. We thank all of the project partners for bringing this vision to life!”

“We are honored to work with EBALDC, Abode, and our public-private partners to bring The Phoenix to life,” said James Vossoughi, Executive Director, J.P. Morgan Community Development Banking. “Utilizing modular construction, we’re helping to create affordable, community-focused homes that support well-being and build a foundation for lasting opportunity in Oakland.”

We are excited that this project features three murals orchestrated by BAMP artists to honor the site’s history including a mural in homage to Captain Shorey, a renowned and skilled whaler who became the only Black ship captain on the West Coast. The other prominent mural features the Pullman Railroad Porters, the first organized Black Union.

To our neighborhood and community members, thank you for your steadfast support and advocacy. The Prescott Neighborhood Association, and especially the Chair, Marcus Johnson, have been visioning this site for a long time. Seeing the opportunity to create abundance in their neighborhood by advocating this lot be turned into housing. Their attendance and input at community meetings and support for the future residents has been a rousing show of what we can accomplish when we work together and involve community. 

 

About EBALDC

For 50 years, EBALDC has been an anchor organization in the East Bay increasing access to affordable housing, strengthening neighborhoods through community building and resident services work, and supporting the local economy through our commercial real estate work. EBALDC is protecting, connecting, and imagining a community where everyone can live and thrive in healthy, vibrant, and safe neighborhoods. We annually serve over 6,000 residents and neighbors and support over 100 non-profits and community-serving small businesses