Housing Authority closes out Cannery at Railroad Square project, authorizes retention payment
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Summary
The Housing Authority of the City of Santa Rosa voted unanimously (6–0, one absent) to acknowledge completion of the 129‑unit Cannery at Railroad Square and to release a retention payment to the developer as staff confirmed units are already being leased.
The Housing Authority of the City of Santa Rosa on March 24 voted to acknowledge completion of the Cannery at Railroad Square, a 129‑unit rental housing project at 3 West Third Street, and to allow staff to close out the loan and issue a retention payment to the developer.
The resolution acknowledged project completion and authorizes release of the retention payment that had been held under the Housing Authority line of financing. Housing Authority staff told commissioners that tenants have already started moving into the property and that the action is procedural to finalize the loan with the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD). "Tenants have already started moving into the project," a Housing Authority staff member said. "This particular action is to allow us to close out the loan with HCD and issue the retention payment to the developer."
Staff described the Cannery as transit‑oriented and part of the city’s lease‑up activities. Omar Lopez, senior program associate at Generation Housing, spoke during public comment and called the project "deeply needed affordable housing" and praised the site’s proximity to transit and the downtown SMART station. Lopez said the development includes units affordable to households at different levels of area median income.
Commissioners voted on a motion to waive reading of the text and approve the acknowledgment of project completion. Commissioner Smith moved; Commissioner Friedman seconded. The roll call recorded six ayes and one absence (Commissioner Capio). The clerk noted on the record that the motion passed with six ayes and one absent.
Clarifying details provided during the meeting include that the Housing Authority is in the lease‑up process and that 33 project‑based vouchers are being referred through the Authority’s rental assistance team; staff said an additional set of units are being leased under the Authority’s regular lease‑up provisions. The resolution lists assessor parcel numbers 010117020000 and 010171012000 as part of the project record.
The Housing Authority took the vote as part of its consent calendar and did not move to remove the item for separate consideration. No negative public comments were received on the item.
