Long-Awaited Lafayette Housing For Adults with Developmental Disabilities Clears A Big Money Hurdle

LAFAYETTE, CA — A housing complex in downtown Lafayette designed for renters with intellectual and developmental disabilities moved one step closer to becoming a reality with a $19.5 million grant from the state.

Gov. Gavin Newsom recently announced the funding for 30 affordable housing projects across California, including the proposed development at 949 Moraga Road by non-profit co-developers, Sunflower Hill and Satellite Affordable Housing Associates.

Sunflower Hill board member Rosemary Kirbach announced the award at the Sept. 22 Lafayette City Council meeting.

The announcement caught the council off guard. "What!" was the response of Lafayette Mayor Susan Candell. "This is a win we couldn't have imagined even six months ago."

Lafayette officials agreed to negotiate exclusively with the developers and contribute land for the project — if the project acquired full funding.

The process was competitive. City councilmember Jim Cervantes compared it to the Olympics.
The Moraga Road development is one of two projects in Contra Costa County selected for funding from the California Department of Housing and Community Development.
It will be Sunflower Hill’s first in Contra Costa County.

The 48 planned apartments would be one- and two-bedroom units. The building would have a community room, a fitness room, a teaching kitchen, and a small garden.