6 - Oakland Housing Authority

Executive Office
Oakland Housing Authority MEMORANDUM
To:
From:
Subject:
Board of Commissioners
Jon Gresley, Executive Director
Resolution approving an application to the Metropolitan Transit
Commission for a grant under its Transportation for Livable
Communities program
Date: June 23, 2004
This memorandum transmits for your consideration and approval a resolution
authorizing an application to the Metropolitan Transit Commission for a grant of
under its Transportation for Livable Communities program.
Background:
In 2000 HUD approved a grant in the amount of $34,486,116 for OHA’s Coliseum
Gardens HOPE VI Revitalization Plan. The Revitalization Plan now envisions the
demolition of the existing 178 unit public housing project known as Coliseum
Gardens, and the construction of a new mixed-finance, mixed-income housing
development, the reconfiguration of Coliseum Gardens Park, the restoration of a
portion of Lion Creek as it flows through the new development, and construction
of approximately one-half mile of new City streets on the existing project site
and several adjacent and nearby parcels totaling approximately 22 acres,
together known as the Primary Site.
The Board of Commissioners approved the selection of East Bay Asian Local
Development Corporation (EBALDC), The Related Companies of California
(Related) and Chambers General Construction (Chambers), with Chambers role
limited to the homeownership portion of the project, as co-developers of the
Primary Site at its meeting on October 21, 2002.
The cost of the new streets and infrastructure for that portion of the Primary
Site, which lies between 66 th and 69 th Avenues, has been estimated to be
approximately $6,000,000. The Redevelopment Agency of the City of Oakland
has approved a grant in the net amount of $3,800,000 to partially fund this
expense.
The Metropolitan Transit Commission (MTC) of the Bay Area administers the
Transportation for Livable Communities (TLC) grant program, which promotes

the development of transit villages by funding supporting projects. Only public
agencies are eligible applicants for these grants, which have a limit of three
million dollars per grant.
EBALDC proposes to prepare and submit an application to the MTC, in the name
of the Authority, for a TLC grant in the July 16, 2004 application round. The
exact amount of the grant application has not yet been determined, but could be
up to two and a half million dollars. The funds would be used for streets and
infrastructure costs and enhancements to make the new streets safer for the
future residents within the Primary Site and would complement the grant funds
provided by the Redevelopment Agency.
Proposed Action:
I recommend that the Board of Commissioners adopt the attached resolution
approving the proposed application to the MTC for a TLC grant and authorizing
the Executive Director to execute all documents necessary to effect the
application.