San Leandro

Action 53.03 A

Applications for Grant Funding

The City's Housing Division worked with Human Services staff and community partners to apply for the Homekey Round 2 application in CY 2022. The City sounght funds to purchase the Nimitz Motel located at 555 Lewelling Blvd. Unfortunately, the City was not successful in securing these funds but intends to re-apply for Homekey Round 3 with the NOFA for this program slated to be released in April 2023.

Action 56.02 A

Apartment Rehabilitation Program

The City's rental apartment rehabilitation loan program has diminished due to loss of redevelopment funding in 2012. The City will support developers interested in acquiring and rehabilitating apartments with regulated affordable housing (e.g.: using LIHTC financing.) The City has not expanded publicity of the program, since funding for implementation has been limited. See also Action 56.06 A.

Action 58.10 A

Multi-lingual Staff Capacity

In 2022, the City Council approved new Objective Standards for multi-family and mixed-use development that align with desired product types, making it unnecessary for typical projects to apply for planned development approval.

Action 58.12 A

Housing for Public Service Employees

There has been no activity in this area in 2022.

Action 59.01 E

Monitoring the Effectiveness of Established Neighborhoods

The concurrent Zoning Amendments adopted in 2022 along with the 2023-2031 Housing Element established minimum densities of 12 du/acre in the RM-2500, RM-2000, and RM-1800 Districts and a minimum density of 20 du/ac in the RM-875 District. Additionally, single-family residential development was removed as a permitted use in Multi-Family Residential Districts. Staff will continue to monitor the effectiveness of minimum densities.

Action 59.07 A

Correction of Infrastructure Deficiencies

"With respect to the sites identified in the housing element: The City has identified that the sanitary sewer collection system that must be upsized to accommodate full build out. Funding for 90% of these locations is scheduled to be appropriated in FY 22-23. Note that some of the sites do not receive service from the City as they are in the Oro Loma Sanitary Sewer District. The City is unaware of any deficiencies in the Orol Loma system. The City hasn't identified any roadway capacity deficencies. The system wide average pavement condition index is 54 which is fair but at risk. The City doesn't supply water, gas, or electricity and is unaware of any deficiencies in these systems. The storm drain system is adequate to convey storm water except for locations that are within the 100 year flood plain as identified by the FEMA flood insurance rate map. The City is evaluating options for reducing the risk of flooding at these locations but funding is unclear. "

Action 53.01 A

Land Supply: Downtown TOD Strategy Implementation

In 2022, the City Council certified a supplemental Environmental Impact Report and adopted General Plan and Zoning Amendments concurrent with adoption of the 2023-2031 Housing Element to increase allowable development densities and intensities in the City’s Priority Development Areas, including the Downtown TOD area. Construction began on the Centro Callan project at 1188 E 14th St, with 197 multi-family units, ground floor grocery and retail, as well as a small outdoor plaza/seating along E 14th St. The housing will include 10 affordable units and will contribute approximately $500,000 to the City’s Affordable Housing Trust Fund. The project is the first mixed-use development under the 2007 Downtown TOD Plan and is expected to be completed in 2024. Sale of City- and Successor agency-owned properties was completed for the Town Hall Square project at 1199 E 14th St. Beam Development submitted entitlements application for a 180-unit multifamily project, to include 27 units of inclusionary housing. This long-planned project at a central downtown intersection will complement the Centro Callan project across the street, and residents will have amenities and transportation within walking distance via adjacent retail, bus rapid transit and BART. The San Leandro Tech Campus leased the majority of remaining space at their second building, with western wear company Ariat leasing 80,000 square feet to move their corporate headquarters and around 300 jobs from Union City to San Leandro. Several downtown development projects that are approved for development, including the 687-unit development proposed by Maximus Development at Alvarado and Antonio Streets and over 100,000 square feet of additional office and 200 housing units at the Tech Campus, are on hold due to the building cost increases & impacts of C-19. The Downtown Community Benefit District, SLIA, continued to revamp activities, initiating a Safety Ambassador Program supported by City funding, installing new banners and trash cans, and restarting downtown events, including a (re)Discovering Downtown event and It’s a Wonderful Night holiday event. New food users continued to come to Downtown, with RetailWest completing a major renovation of an existing building to bring Fieldwork Brewing and Dave’s Hot Chicken.

Action 55.03 A

First Time Home Buyer Counseling

The City contracts with the Bay Area Affordable Homeownership Alliance (BAAHA) to provide First-Time Home Buyer couseling assistance to San Leandro residents. Additionally, BAHAA provides workshops and seminars that prepares First-Time Home Buyers prepare to purchase their home. These workshops and seminars provide financial literacy and information on financial resources for home buyers.

Action 58.02 A

Allowing Senior Householders to "Age in Place"

See Action Action 56.01 A. The City's Housing Rehabilitation Program is intended to support senior citizens who prefer to "Age in Place."

Action 58.08 A

Assistance to Homeless Service Providers

For FY 21-22, the City allocated General Fund monies to assist with the operation of Building Futures' San Leandro Shelter. The City also allocated CDBG public service dollars to Davis Street Family Resource Center Basic Needs Program, SOS Meals on Wheels, Spectrum senior food nutrition program, and CALICO child abuse intervention services.

Action 53.03 D

Affordable Housing Bonds

Alameda County Housing and Community Development Department continues to administer the 2016 voter-approved Measure A-1 Affordable Housing Bond funds. City of San Leandro issued an RFP in 2021 and selected a recipient of these remaining funds: Abode Communuity's development at 15101 Washington Avenue.

Action 54.01 A

Housing Element Annual Progress Report

This is a regular function of the Housing Division staff.

Action 54.04 A

Changes to Long-Term Affordability Requirements

Housing Division staff actively tracks changes in ownership for housing developments that are considered "at-risk" of being lost to housing supply (expiring TCAC-regulated properties).

Action 56.06 B

Renters in Foreclosed Properties

There has been no activity in this area in 2022.

Action 58.09 B

Transitional/Permanent Supportive Housing

The City's Housing Division worked with Human Services staff and community partners to apply for the Homekey Round 2 application in CY 2022. The City sounght funds to purchase the Nimitz Motel located at 555 Lewelling Blvd. Unfortunately, the City was not successful in securing these funds but intends to re-apply for Homekey Round 3 with the NOFA for this program slated to be released in April 2023.

Action 53.05 A

Marketing of Housing Development Opportunities

The City Economic Development Staff continue to promote upcoming development and available development sites. A Development Breakfast was held in the fall of 2022, at which over 40 real estate and development professionals learned about commercial and residential development and business opportunities in San Leandro. Development opportunities and market strengths were also highlighted in an insert in the San Francisco Business Times. (150 Years of Making Things – San Leandro Featured in San Francisco Business Times | San Leandro Next)  

Action 54.05 A

Monitoring Data to Demonstrate Local Needs and Benefits

Housing Division staff manage grants supported by the City's Community Assistance Program (CAP) and Federal CDBG funds. In October 2017 the City Council adopted the Human Service Needs Gap Analysis that identified priorities for the City's Human Services Program support. Agencies funded in FY 2020-21 include Building Futures for Women and Children (San Leandro homeless shelter and services for women and children at risk or who are homeless), Davis Street Family Resources (housing counseling and basic needs programs) and the Housing Division and Human Services staff among other programs that monitor and provide services to homeless and those at-risk of homelessness.

Action 57.02 C

Incentives for Green Building

BayREN, the regional energy network, has an energy efficiency upgrade incentive program called Home+. This is targeted towards homeowners to offset for the cost of upgrades. Additionally, East Bay Community Energy and Bay Area SunShares have regional incentives for solar and battery installation as well.

Action 60.06 B

Fair Housing Outreach

As a part of its contract, ECHO Housing provides public service announcements, educational flyers and supports other media outreach as is possible given the demands on their Fair Housing staff.

Action 57.01 A

Energy Efficient Programs

PG&E, EBCE, BayREN, and CA state programs already underway.