2014 October PASO Magazine

PASO PEOPLE
Grand Opening held for Oak Park Phase I
The initial phase of the Oak
Park housing at 28th and 30th
Streets, between Park and Railroad
Streets, is now complete,
and soon 80 families will be
moving into their new homes.
The Phase 1 Grand Opening
was held on September 12 with
a number of community leaders,
representatives of the development
team and Oak Park residents
on hand. “The vision for
this project started 9 to 10 years
ago,” said Paso Robles Housing
Authority Executive Director
David Cooke. “About 20 months
ago we held a rather unusual
ground breaking on this spot with
heavy equipment tearing down
one of the units that had stood
since 1942 as public housing.
“Why Oak Park?” said Cooke.
“Housing matters…this is a huge
difference for these families, especially
the children who can be
proud of their home. For those in
low and very low income housing
we’re especially proud of this effort.
Wow! What a transformation, we
still have a long way to go with the
additional phases but what a great
start with 14 families moving in
this week!”
“I’ve lived here for 20 years,” said
resident and member of the PRHA
Board of Commissioners Sheryl
Bragg. “I stand here today and
thank you for all the opportunities
you’ve provided me and my children,
through the soccer programs
and YouthWorks. I thank you for
The Paso Robles Rotary Club
and Paso Robles High School Athletic
Boosters have announced the
merger of the Athletic Boosters annual
Wine Vine Run and the annual
Paso Robles Rotary Harvest Marathon.
The Paso Robles Rotary has
long been committed to the development
of Paso Robles youth, and the
Paso Robles Harvest Marathon is no
exception.
This year’s race will take place
on Sunday, Oct. 26, at the beautiful
Le Vigne Winery, located at 5115
Buena Vista Drive in Paso Robles...
enjoy breathtaking views of local
vineyards at harvest time as you run
the marathon, half marathon or 5K
courses. This is a California Full
Marathon – 26.2 Miles Certified
making this a better place
to live for all the residents.
I am so happy for everyone,
this is a great opportunity,
absolutely beautiful
with all the modern
conveniences.” It was announced
during her introduction
that she is moving to a larger home
off site, but Bragg stated after the
program that she’s having second
thoughts after touring the units and
may want to stay after all.
Oak Park I is an 80-unit multifamily
rental housing development
for low-income families earning up
to 60 percent of the area median income,
including 32 units designated
as Section 8 project based voucher
Starla Warren,
third from left, of
Monterey HDC
and PR Housing
Authority Executive
Director David
Cooke cut the
ribbon, opening
Oak Park, Phase1.
assisted households and
20 units for farmworker
families.
When completed, a total
of 300 affordable housing
units will replace the original
148 units built on the
approximately 25 acre site in 1942.
“Two years ago, the apartments on
the Oak Park I property had reached
the end of their useful life. In their
place, we have built 80 new rental
homes with modern amenities and
renewable energy standards,” said
Starla Warren of the Monterey
County Housing Authority Development
Corporation (HDC). HDC
is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and serves
as developer of Oak Park in part-
Boston Marathon Qualifier. Race
start is at 7 a.m., note that this year
Airport Road, from Buena Vista
to Estrella, will be completely shut
down. Make your way to Le Vigne
via Buena Vista Rd.
All proceeds from the Paso Robles
Harvest Marathon will benefit the
Paso Robles High School Athletic
Department. Our student-athletes
compete in 23 sports as a member
of the PAC-7 Athletic League.
Recent years have seen significant
reductions in funding to the athletic
department. We are currently forced
to maintain our programs with community
support through the PRHS
Athletic Boosters and local organizations
like Paso Robles Rotary.
Without the help of these committed
organizations and parent volunteers
each year, our various athletic
nership with Paso Robles Housing
Authority (PRHA), who manages
the property.
The Oak Park Apartments is a
net-zero energy development, and
has been designed to offset 100%
of the common area and residential
units use. Additional environmental
features include parking and driveway
areas with previous concrete
to collect storm water for eventual
percolation into the soils beneath
the site.
Unit amenities include central
air, blinds, carpet, storage, walk-in
closets, balcony, refrigerator, oven,
dishwasher, garbage disposal and
washer/dryer hookups. An on-site
manager, laundry and community
rooms, picnic area, playground,
basketball and volleyball courts will
be on property.
Phase II of the Oak Park Apartments
has been funded and construction
is scheduled to begin at
the end of the year.
Speakers for the grand opening
event included a representative of
Senator Bill Monning, a representative
of Assemblyman Katcho
Achadjian, PRHA Executive Director
David Cooke, Paso Robles
Mayor Duane Picanco, Paso Robles
City Councilman Fred Strong,
PRHA Board Chairman Bob Fonarow,
PRHA Board Commissioner
Dick Willhoit, resident and PRHA
Board Commissioner Sheryl Bragg,
HDC Board of Directors Chairman
Thomas Espinoza, and HDC President/CEO
Starla Warren.
5 th Annual PR Rotary Harvest Marathon set for Oct. 26
programs would not be possible.
The Paso Robles Harvest Marathon
and other events throughout the
year will provide the funding necessary
to equip, coach and transport
our student-athletes.
Harvest Marathon: $120
Harvest Half Marathon: $90
Harvest 5K: $40
For information, check out harvest
marathon.com
40 Paso Robles Magazine, October 2014