OAKLAND, CA, November 8, 2024—Today, the City of Oakland, in partnership with MidPen Housing and the Oakland Housing Authority, celebrated the grand opening of Foon Lok East, 124 affordable homes for families, including 38 apartments reserved for people who have experienced homelessness. Foon Lok means “joyous community” in Cantonese.
The one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments at Foon Lok East are affordable to residents earning up to 20%-60% of Area Median Income (approximately $20,000-$85,680 at initial lease-up, depending on household size). Residents of Foon Lok East enjoy amenities including a multi-purpose community room, computer lab, learning center, secured bicycle parking, and a landscaped courtyard with playground and BBQ area. MidPen Services coordinates on-site services such as health and wellness programs, skill building, academically based after-school and summer programs, and supportive services.
This milestone completion demonstrates how public-private partnerships can transform industrial waterfronts into inclusive communities, establishing a framework for affordable housing integration in port city developments that can be replicated throughout the Bay Area. Foon Lok East joins MidPen’s previously completed Foon Lok West, Vista Estero, and Paseo Estero communities for a total of 465 affordable homes at Signature Development Group’s Brooklyn Basin, which is transforming a 62-acre, former industrial site on the Oakland Estuary into a vibrant mixed-use neighborhood with 3,100 homes and amenities including public parks, trails, and waterfront access.
“As we welcome 124 families home to Foon Lok East, we applaud all of our partners for their steadfast commitment to making Brooklyn Basin a place for everyone,” said Matthew O. Franklin, President and CEO of MidPen Housing. “Through extensive local, state, and private-sector partnerships, we’re proud to help deliver on the Oak to Ninth Community Benefits Coalition’s vision for an inclusive, vibrant neighborhood that will benefit generations to come.”
“We are thrilled to complete the promise of 465 affordable homes for Oaklanders. Back in 2006, I was working at a local community organization that was part of the coalition fighting for good jobs and affordable housing at Brooklyn Basin,” said Nikki Fortunato Bas, Council President and District 2 Councilmember. “Today, I’m proud that the City of Oakland has contributed $17.3 million to the Foon Lok East affordable housing development to make the housing commitments a reality. We as a City will continue to deliver on the promise of Measure U, the affordable housing and infrastructure bond I co-authored and passed by voters in 2022 that dedicates $350 million for affordable housing. The funds are already helping several affordable housing projects break ground all across Oakland, supporting Housing as a Human Right for more people in our community.”
“The completion of Foon Lok East marks a pivotal moment in Oakland’s waterfront transformation,” said Patricia Wells, Executive Director of the Oakland Housing Authority. “Through our commitment of 258 project-based vouchers, valued at $147,080,880 and an additional contribution of $10 million towards the development of all four affordable projects, our partnership with MidPen Housing and the City of Oakland, we’ve demonstrated how thoughtful affordable housing development can create meaningful connections. This development connects residents to waterfront recreation at Township Commons Park, provides convenient access to Lake Merritt BART, and brings communities together through mixed-income integration. This is exactly the type of innovative, accessible affordable housing development that OHA is proud to support as we work in partnership to ensure thriving Oakland communities that all can call home.”
“As an industry leader in affordable housing and longtime partner of ours, we are proud to work with MidPen to finance affordable housing developments throughout the Bay Area,” said Eric Leimbach, Executive Director at Wells Fargo, Community Lending & Investment. “This project brings much needed housing to the thriving Brooklyn Basin neighborhood of Oakland.”
Financing for Foon Lok East was provided through both public and private sources including the City of Oakland; Oakland Housing Authority; California Department of Housing and Community Development’s No Place Like Home Program and California Housing Accelerator; Wells Fargo; and Century Housing. The architect is HKIT Architects and the general contractor is Nibbi Brothers General Contractors.
Learn more about MidPen Housing at www.midpen-housing.org.
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About MidPen Housing
MidPen Housing is one of the most trusted nonprofit developers, owners, and managers of high-quality affordable housing in California. Our mission: To provide safe, affordable housing of high quality to those in need; establish stability and opportunity in the lives of residents; and foster diverse communities that allow people from all ethnic, social and economic backgrounds to live in dignity, harmony and mutual respect. Founded in 1970, MidPen serves more than 20,000 residents at over 135 properties in 12 Northern California counties. For more information visit: www.midpen-housing.org
About the Oakland Housing Authority (OHA)
The Oakland Housing Authority is the largest provider of affordable housing in the City of Oakland and proudly delivers diverse housing choices to over 18,000 households in a service-oriented environment, while improving and expanding housing options for future generations. For more information about the OHA, please contact us at info@oakha.org, visit our website at www.oakha.org, or call 510-874-1653.