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Benicia declares senior-center site exempt surplus to pursue mostly affordable senior housing
Summary
Council declared the senior‑center parcel exempt surplus land so the city can issue a competitive RFP designed to secure a developer proposal that would produce all‑affordable housing (at least 75% restricted to lower‑income households); staff expects an RFP in December with responses due within 90 days.
Assistant City Manager Suzanne Thorson and consultant Alex Lawrence told council the city will pursue the surplus‑exemption route for the senior‑center site at 187 East L Street and adjacent parking. Under the exemption, all units produced on the site must be affordable, with at least 75% restricted to lower‑income households and the remainder to moderate incomes; the alternative surplus‑land route would have required only a 15% affordability minimum.
Staff said the exemption better aligns developer incentives with the city’s goals (replacement of a senior center and parking, and deeper affordability). The city will issue a request for proposals, anticipated in December, with responses due in roughly 90 days. Council adopted the resolution declaring the site exempt surplus.
