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Tenderloin Neighborhood Development Corporation
and
Community Housing Partnership Break Ground
on 83 New Affordable Homes in the Tenderloin
Arnett Watson Apartments at 650 Eddy Street will create
83 New Homes for Formerly Homeless Individuals and Families
SAN FRANCISCO — SAN FRANCISCO, CA, May 31, 2007 Tenderloin Neighborhood Development Corporation (TNDC) and Community Housing Partnership (CHP) are pleased to announce that they have broken ground for Arnett Watson Apartments at 650 Eddy Street (at Turk Street). A ceremony and reception will be held across the street at Bambuddha Lounge on 601 Eddy Street on Thursday, June 14 from 3 – 5pm.
Named for one of San Francisco’s most passionate advocates for social justice and homeless people, Arnett Watson Apartments will offer 83 units of housing and supportive services for individuals and families. When complete, the nine-story building will comprise 36 studios, 33 one-bedroom and 14 two-bedroom apartments, each with its own kitchen and bathroom. Amenities for residents include a community gathering room and outdoor courtyards, a children’s play area, as well as a laundry room.
“Like most of our projects, Arnett Watson Apartments will offer onsite supportive services for its residents – many of whom, in addition to being homeless, suffer from HIV/AIDS, mental illnesses, addiction and physical disabilities,” explained Jeff Kositsky, Executive Director for CHP. “Providing permanently affordable homes with easy access to services and other amenities helps our residents achieve stability and independence.”
“We are thrilled to turn this parking lot into affordable homes for our poorest neighbors,” said TNDC Executive Director Don Falk. “It is a fitting legacy for one of San Francisco’s most committed advocates for the poor and disenfranchised – Arnett Watson.”
Arnett Watson was a tireless advocate for homeless people and social justice; she was also one of the original tenants of CHP housing. She was an organizer for the Coalition on Homelessness, and helped develop mediation and conflict resolution training for shelter staff, advocates and city workers. She passed on in 2003.
From the ground up and the inside out, Arnett Watson Apartments will meet the green building criteria of the Green Communities Initiative as sponsored by Enterprise and the Natural Resources Defense Council. The builders will utilize recycled construction and finish materials, as well as non-toxic paints and sealants. Green design elements will include an Energy Star roof and drought resistant landscaping. The interior will feature Energy Star appliances and light fixtures and low-flow water fixtures and non-toxic carpets.
Arnett Watson Apartments is developed in partnership by TNDC and CHP. Community Housing Partnership will be the owner and operator of the building. Financing is being provided by the San Francisco Mayor’s Office On Housing and the Redevelopment Agency, the California Department of Housing and Community Development through the Housing and Emergency Shelter Trust Fund Act of 2002, the Enterprise Green Communities Initiative, Citibank, and the Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco. Equity financing is from Merritt Community Capital Corporation. Local Initiatives Support Corporation partially financed the acquisition and predevelopment.