Shovels went into the dirt in Downtown Stockton this week as city, county and state leaders gathered to break ground on The Hunter House, a new 120-unit affordable housing development.
Service First of Northern California is developing the $69 million project, which the organization says will bring together affordable housing, transportation improvements and community investment in the heart of downtown [NEEDS: specific street address, not given in release].
The project draws on a mix of state and local funding: about $36 million in Homekey+ funding through the California Department of Housing and Community Development, $27 million through the Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities Program, $2.5 million through HCD's Infill Infrastructure Grant Program, and $3 million from the City of Stockton through HOME, HHAP and Neighborhood Stabilization funding. The city also issued a $1.5 million fee waiver. About $10 million of the Sustainable Communities funding is earmarked for greenhouse gas reduction and transportation improvements downtown.
The groundbreaking drew a lineup of local leaders, including Stockton Mayor Christina Fugazi, San Joaquin County Supervisor Mario Gardea, San Joaquin Regional Rail Commission CEO Chris Orlando and Stockton NAACP 1st Vice President D'Andre Davies, along with Cari Scott of the state Department of Housing and Community Development. Service First President Ernest A. Hill led the program, with remarks from Vice President Alyssa Hawkins and closing remarks from CEO Vernell Hill Jr. Representatives also spoke on behalf of Assemblymember Rhodesia Ransom and Senator Jerry McNerney.