SOUTH PARK COMMONS (f.k.a. Bennett Valley Apartments)

Project Description

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The City of Santa Rosa selected Freebird through a Request for Proposals process and executed a Development and Disposition Agreement between the parties in June 2021 to develop a 62-unit affordable housing development at 702 and 716 Bennett Valley Road, and 921 and 927 Rutledge Avenue, comprising a nearly 2-acre site.  The project is a mix of studio, one-, two-, and three-bedroom units with a 50% set-aside for households experiencing chronic homelessness.  With the homeless population in Santa Rosa increasing nearly 10% over the last three years to 1,803 homeless persons in 2019 (according to the Sonoma County Homeless Census and Survey Comprehensive Report 2019), of which 1,048 are unsheltered, there is clearly a need for permanent supportive housing in Santa Rosa.

To that end, the project balances the need for permanent supportive housing with providing it in an integrated setting where approximately 50% of the units are permanent supportive housing and 50% are affordable housing that are not designated for any special needs population. There will be multiple income tiers up to 60% AMI.  This development program replicates a model of integrated housing that our partner, Allied Housing (Allied), has implemented with great success in nearby cities, both big and small. 

 

Development Team

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The project will be developed by a partnership between Freebird and Allied.  Abode Services (Abode) will be the social service provider and Housing for Independent People (HIP) will be the property manager—both Abode and HIP are affiliates of Allied.  HKIT Architects is the architect.  CORE Builders is the general contractor.

 

Current Status

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The project received entitlement approvals in April 2021.  The project started construction in April 2023 with completion and lease-up anticipated for 2024.