THE OPPORTUNITY

In 2003, OCHI and the NorthOakland Missionary Baptist Churchbuilt an affordable senior housingproject, Sylvester Rutledge Manor,on a large church-owned parcelnear downtown Oakland. A sectionof the property was not used forthe senior housing complex. Tofill in the still-vacant section,the partnership went on to buildLinden Terrace, a family ownershipopportunity.

OCHI adopted their “InfillHomeownership Initiative” (IHI)as a creative new effort to developvacant lots utilizing manufacturedhousing in their constructionprocess.

THE PROJECT

Amanda Kobler, OCHI ProjectManager, worked with Lionel Clark,Marlette Homes; structural engineers,Mercury Engineering; civilengineers, Ackland International;and Construction Manager, YusufuBomani who utilized architects tocreate plans that would suit the site,as well as, the neighborhood. Thethree-story cottage design suitedthe older downtown architectureseamlessly.

An initial construction loan was provided by Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) which allowed OCHI to pay the required 50% down payment to begin building the homes. SVB mitigated its risk by requiring phased delivery and construction of the homes. Subsequent construction monies were provided by Northern California Community Loan Funds.

The Linden Terrace project consists of eight townhomes in four buildings. Each of the four buildings are craned together and attached to a site-built bottom story which serves as the lower entrance to the home, as well as, a single car garage. On the ground floor, each unit has a small bonus room and the larger unit has an additional sitebuilt bathroom.

The final square footage of the two smaller homes is 1,515. They have 3 bedrooms and 1.5 bathrooms. The six larger homes have 1,727 S.F., 3 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms. All homes are fully landscaped and have back porches and a fenced backyard.

All eight homes are targeted to first-time, low or moderate income homebuyers. The selling price, $456,000 for the two 1,515 S.F

homes, is available to only first-time homebuyers. In addition, the buyer must qualify for the Homebuyer Assistance Package provided by deferred loans from the California Housing Finance Agency and City of Oakland Mortgage Assistance Program.

The larger homes are selling for $494,000 and are available for purchase by any buyer. However, they are eligible for buyers who qualify for the Homebuyer Assistance Program. All buyers are required to contribute at least 3% cash down payment in addition to any assistance money.

RECOGNITION

At the 2006 Manufactured Housing National Congress in Las Vegas, Nevada, Linden Terrace was awarded the “Best Manufactured Home Subdivision.” THE PROCESS Construction of manufactured housing on infill lots is basically a two-part, off-site and on-site, process.

Off-site, the home is constructed in a factory to construction