Community HousingWorks (CHW) has made sure that Sun Ridge Apartments will remain a significant source of affordable housing for decades to come in the San Francisco Bay Area.
The nonprofit recently completed the acquisition and rehabilitation of the aging property, a move that upgrades the community’s 198 units and community spaces to improve the lives of residents and preserves the development’s affordability for another 55 years.
Located in the East Bay community of Concord, Sun Ridge was built more than 50 years ago and had never had any major renovation. The development had gone beyond its useful life and was in need of substantial rehabilitation. CHW acquired the property in 2017, with a plan to preserve the large community.
Home to 600 people, the apartments, which are located in 16 residential buildings, received major improvements, including seismic retrofitting. Interior work included replacement of flooring, appliances, cabinets, windows, and bathrooms. Twenty units were made fully accessible. In addition, bare courtyards have been transformed into playgrounds, barbecue areas, and a resident garden.
CHW also added energy-efficient features, including solar thermal panels and LED lighting, to save about 30% on the property utility consumption and about 445,000 gallons of water per year. The deep renovation also included addressing site drainage, correcting the flooding that would occur on site after every heavy rain.
Prior to CHW’s acquisition, there were no resident services at the property. As part of the renovation, CHW updated the community areas, including adding a computer lab. Resident services, including after-school programming for the property’s many children and financial well-being classes for families, will provide opportunities for next-generation success.
“We do this work because we believe opportunity begins at home,” said Sue Reynolds, CHW president and CEO, at the development’s renovation celebration.
The approximately $62 million project was financed with low-income housing tax credits as well as a Freddie Mac tax-exempt loan from Jones Lang LaSalle.
