Oakland planners hear SB 35 informational presentation on 91-unit senior housing at 77th and Bancroft

The Oakland Planning Commission on April 16 received an informational presentation under California’s SB 35 for a proposed 91-unit senior housing development at 77th and Bancroft.

Heather Klein, the case planner with the Bureau of Planning, told the commission the item was an information-only public meeting required by the SB 35 ministerial process and that no decision was being requested at the session. "This is an information only report, and no decision is to be made at this meeting," Klein said.

Developer Diego Castro of Eden Housing described the project as affordable senior housing for East Oakland and introduced partners including the Oakland Housing Authority and the Black Cultural Zone. "Our goal overall with this project is to create affordable senior housing, in East Oakland," Castro said. He told commissioners the Oakland Housing Authority is the landowner and has committed $10,000,000 and project-based vouchers to support the development.

Regina Davis of the Black Cultural Zone said the project will include commercial space the organization plans to activate for resident services and local economic development. "It’s 91 senior units and importantly to the BCZ ... there is a commercial space on this property that we intend to activate," Davis said.

Architect Art Clark described the site and conceptual design, saying the property is about 33,000 square feet near the intersection of 73rd and Bancroft (sited at 77th and Bancroft). Clark said the project would orient public-facing uses toward Bancroft, include roughly 2,500 square feet of community space, and place a podium courtyard above a parking garage that would include about 33 parking spaces. Clark added the building steps back to reduce impacts on the lower-density neighborhood to the north.

Commissioners asked about next steps for entitlements, leasing and the voucher commitment. Eden said it is maintaining an interest list and will open a formal wait list when lease-up details are finalized; the developer confirmed 54 project-based vouchers have been committed by the Oakland Housing Authority. On timing, the team said they aim to submit entitlement applications by this fall and be entitled before year-end, but construction timing depends on securing funding. A planning/city staff member noted Oakland typically provides extended entitlements for affordable housing and that some affordable projects may receive entitlements without expiration under specific provisions.

Members of the public addressed the commission. Resident Lindbergh Kreese said the surrounding block currently suffers from encampments, dumped mattresses and drug activity and asked what would be done in the interim before construction. "Once those houses moved out, it's a dumping ground," Kreese said, pressing policymakers to address ongoing quality-of-life problems. Another resident, Chris Buck, expressed support for the project and its courtyard design as a positive step for the neighborhood.

The commission took no action on the SB 35 item because it was informational; the project will return in a future, formal entitlement submittal. The only formal vote taken that evening was approval of the draft minutes from the April 2, 2025 meeting, which passed on a roll-call vote with all present commissioners voting yes.

Next steps: project proponents said they will continue tribal consultation, finalize entitlement materials and pursue funding. The team said the Oakland Housing Authority's financial commitment strengthens future funding applications, but a firm construction schedule depends on grant and financing outcomes.