JULY 2016
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IN THIS ISSUE
Doing Right by By-Right
BRIDGE was selected by the Portland Housing Bureau to develop 61 affordable apartments for low-income families in the Eliot neighborhood. Priority will be given to longtime and displaced residents of North and Northeast Portland. BRIDGE plans to retain nonprofit Albertina Kerr, a current site occupant, to continue providing programs to developmentally disabled clients and expand programming to residents. Rendering above by Ankrom Moisan Architects. Read more.
In her June blog, BRIDGE President and CEO Cynthia Parker reflected on the importance of family, and how fortunate she was to be surrounded by caring relatives despite having lost her father at a young age. "It is a priority to help our families by providing them with resources and opportunities to reach for advancement." Read more.
citiKey Approval for Jordan Downs
Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, Councilmember Joe Buscaino and the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles secured HUD approval last month for a key milestone of the plan to transform Jordan Downs public housing into a model for 21st century affordable housing and an engine for economic revitalization in Watts. The approval to begin demolition at the site moves the development one step closer to a groundbreaking; the master developer team comprises BRIDGE and The Michaels Organization. Read more.
Last week, HUD Deputy Secretary Nani Coloretti toured two of the Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) public housing sites BRIDGE and MEDA are revitalizing in San Francisco's Mission District: 25 Sanchez and 462 Duboce. The properties are undergoing extensive rehabilitations that focus on life-safety upgrades and modernization efforts to improve resident life. Deputy Secretary Coloretti tweeted: "It turns out that the RAD pilot is working!" Read more about BRIDGE's RAD activity.
S2Teaming Up to Save Water
As part of BRIDGE's participation in the national Big Reach goal to reduce energy and water use across our portfolio 20% by 2020, the Portfolio and Property Management teams have replaced toilets at properties such as Laguna Canyon in Irvine (above) with new, higher performance models that use less water, often combined with other low-flow fixtures. So far, those properties are seeing a reduction in water use of up to 37%, and a reduction in water expense of up to 57%. Read more about BRIDGE's sustainability work.
S3Media Blitz Looks at Homelessness Causes, Solutions 
In an unprecedented experiment, more than 70 media organizations dedicated June 29 to covering the crisis of homelessness in the San Francisco Bay Area. The mass coverage resulted in hundreds of articles, op-eds and multimedia pieces and is being emulated in multiple cities. We shared several BRIDGE resident stories, including one about Norman (above), whose homelessness ended when he moved into a stable home with supportive services. Visit BRIDGEtown for Norman's story and more.
California Treasurer John Chiang administers two programs that spur production of quality affordable housing. Catch his latest video to learn how the programs tangibly impact communities and Californians. You'll see our recently completed Rivermark, and BRIDGE EVP Ann Silverberg describes how low-income housing tax credits and tax-exempt bonds were essential to the development. View video.
L2Doing Right by By-Right
BRIDGE is committed to advancing initiatives that support the creation and financing of affordable housing. One we strongly endorse is California Governor Jerry Brown's "by-right" proposal, which would streamline housing production for eligible projects that conform to local general plan and zoning ordinances; read Cynthia Parker's letter of support.
Celadon at 9th & Broadway in San Diego was honored to receive a 2016 Gold Nugget Grand Award for Sustainable Residential Community. The 17-story LEED Gold building provides 250 affordable apartments, including 88 reserved for special-needs residents. Above are Renee Self-Gibbons and Eve Lowey, Chameleon Design; BRIDGE's Aruna Doddapaneni; Ernesto Vasquez, SVA Architects.  Read more.