Affordable Housing on City Owned Lots

Below is a description of the Linc Housing Project. The City would like to hear your feedback and comments.  Please use the discussion tool below to engage. 

Project Description 

In October 2020, Eureka City Council chose Linc Housing to develop three noncontiguous City-owned public parking lots with affordable housing. Two of the lots are located on the outskirts of Downtown, at the northeast corner of 8th and G Streets (across from the Eureka Inn) and the northwest corner of 6th and M Streets (near Eureka City Hall). The third lot is located at Sunny and Myrtle, adjacent to Kool Beanz Coffee & Ice Cream.

Linc Housing’s approved project includes 90 dwelling units total across the three sites:

• 8th & G: A four-story, 31-unit apartment building is proposed at the 0.33-acre 8th & G site. The unit mix will include 14 one-bedroom units, 8 two-bedroom units, and 9 three-bedroom units. 15 of the units will be reserved for very-low income households, 15 for low-income households, and 1 market-rate manager’s unit.
• 6th & M: A four-story, 28-unit apartment building is proposed at the 0.3-acre 6th & M site. The unit mix will include 12 one-bedroom units, 7 two-bedroom units, and 9 three-bedroom units. 15 of the units will be reserved for very-low income households, 12 for low-income households, and 1 market-rate manager’s unit.
• Sunny & Myrtle: A four-story, 31-unit apartment building is proposed at the 0.4-acre Sunny & Myrtle site. The unit mix will include 16 one-bedroom units, 8 two-bedroom units, and 7 three-bedroom units. 15 of the units will be reserved for very-low income households, 15 for low-income households, and 1 market-rate manager’s unit.

All three developments will be 100% electric (no reliance on natural gas infrastructure), featuring solar PV panels. Each building will feature on-site amenities including: a large community room; homework room; computer area; on-site resident services provided by Linc Housing Corporation; short-term bicycle parking; secured, overnight bicycle parking; tot lots; and laundry facilities.

See Q&A for information on what constitutes low and very-low income households.

How does the Linc Housing Project help towards the City’s share of the region’s projected housing need?

How was this project initiated?

The City Council adopted the 2019-2027 Housing Element in December 2019, including Housing Element Implementation Measure IMP H-34 (Affordable Housing on City-owned Properties) which identifies 14 City-owned parcels at 8 separate sites to be put up for sale or lease to affordable housing developers with the goal of constructing at least 332 deed-restricted affordable housing units by 2028. The City released the first request for proposals (RFP) in July 2020 for City parking lots at 8th & G, 6th & M, and Sunny & Myrtle, and awarded the first three sites to Linc Housing in October 2020. The City entered into a Lease Disposition and Development Agreement with Linc Housing in March 2021.

What progress has been made on this project?

• Permitting: The project received Design Review approval from the City’s Design Review Committee in February 2021, with modifications approved in June 2022. Having secured all necessary financing (see details below), Linc Housing recently applied for building permits in November and December 2024 with hopes of breaking ground at all sites in Spring 2025.
• Funding: In June 2021, Linc Housing received approval from the Eureka Housing Authority for U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development project-based housing vouchers. Then in December 2021, California Department of Housing and Community Development awarded Linc Housing an Infill Infrastructure Grant of $750,000. In August 2023, the City and Linc Housing were awarded an Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities (AHSC) Round 7 loan and grant of $30.1 million. In addition to funding the housing, the award includes over $9.2 million in funding to the City and Humboldt Transit Authority for significant public infrastructure improvements, and $750,000 in funding for impactful programs (map of planned improvements). In June 2024, it was announced that Linc Housing secured another $15 million through the National Housing Trust Fund Program. Linc Housing then applied for tax credits in July 2024, which were awarded in October 2024. The project is now fully financed.
• Community Outreach: Linc Housing held two community meetings on April 29, 2021 and May 11, 2021 via Zoom, and two meetings on February 8 and March 9, 2023 at the Jefferson Community Center and via Zoom. Linc Housing also hosted an online survey, which received 312 responses. Since Fall of 2020, Linc has also held 19 small group meetings with community-based organizations, tribal entities, and other stakeholders, and has worked closely with City and Humboldt Transit Authority staff to identify needed public improvements to serve the future residents and surrounding community.

Who is Linc Housing?

Linc Housing is a 39-year-old nonprofit affordable housing builder and owner. Their mission is to build communities and strengthen neighborhoods for people underserved by the market. Linc has successfully created over 9,000 affordable apartments housing over 13,500 current residents, with over 1,500 additional apartments in development. You can find out more about Linc at their website, The Linc Between Hope and Home | Linc Housing.

(Rendering for 6^th and L Street Project)

Below is a description of the Wiyot Housing Project. The City would like to hear your questions and comments.  Please use the discussion tool below to engage.

Project Description 

In July 2023, Eureka City Council chose the Wiyot Tribe’s Dishgamu Humboldt Community Land Trust to develop two separate City-owned parking lots with affordable housing. One lot is located at the northwest corner of 6^th and L, adjacent to Eureka City Hall, and the other lot is located at the northwest corner of 5^th and D, adjacent to the vacant lot where the Lloyd building was recently demolished. 

The Wiyot Tribe’s initial conceptual plans propose 93 dwelling units total across the two sites:

• 6^th & L: The 6th and L Street project will include 52 housing units designed to serve independent elders. The building will offer a mix of studio, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom apartments. A ground-floor community dining hall with a commercial kitchen will provide regular meal service to residents and will also be available for community events. The ground floor will also accommodate 20 dedicated City vehicle parking spaces in a separate garage accessed from the alley. To encourage social interaction among residents, the design includes an exterior community patio on the second floor. The proposed five-story building (shown above) features architectural elements inspired by traditional Wiyot village structures.
• 5^th & D: The 5^th and D Street project will include 41 housing units designed to serve multigenerational and young families. The building will offer a mix of one-, two-, three-, and four-bedroom units. In addition to the residential spaces, the development will include an on-site daycare center and various resident amenity spaces. The proposed five-story building incorporates architectural elements inspired by traditional Wiyot village structures.

See Q&A for information on what constitutes low and very-low income households.

How does the Wiyot Project help towards the City’s share of the region’s projected housing need?

How was this project initiated?

The City Council adopted the 2019-2027 Housing Element in December 2019, including Housing Element Implementation Measure IMP H-34 (Affordable Housing on City-owned Properties) which identifies 14 City-owned parcels at 8 separate sites to be put up for sale or lease to affordable housing developers with the goal of constructing at least 332 deed-restricted affordable housing units by 2028. On April 4, 2023, Council authorized release of the RFP for the 5^th & D and 6^th & L Sites, and awarded the Sites to the Wiyot Tribe on July 18, 2023.

What progress has been made on this project?

The project is just kicking off. The Wiyot need to secure financing and work through the City’s entitlement process, which includes Design Review approval and building permits. Pursuant to the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the City and the Wiyot Tribe/ Dishgamu Humboldt CLT, at least one community meeting will be held before plans are submitted for Design Review approval. This first community meeting is tentatively scheduled for Wednesday, March 26, 2025 at 5:30 PM at Eureka City Hall (531 K Street) 2^nd Floor Council Chambers and via Zoom (link to come).

Below is a description of the EaRTH Center Project. The City would like to hear your questions and comments.  Please use the discussion tool below to engage.

Project Description

On November 16, 2021, City Council entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (“MOU”) with Humboldt Transit Authority (“HTA”) to collaborate on the development of the 3rd Street City-owned parking lots between G and H Streets for an intermodal transit center on the ground floor with three stories of affordable housing above. The site is approximately 0.61 acres in size and contains two contiguous parcels. The transit center is intended to integrate local and intercity bus service with other mobility options like rideshare, paratransit, bicycle and pedestrian travel at this centrally-located Downtown site surrounded by jobs and services. The transit center will include a lobby, courtyard, offices, restrooms, and five leasable commercial/retail tenant spaces fronting the street. The second through fourth floors will have a total of 46 residential dwelling units (45 affordable and one manager’s unit), consisting of three studio apartments, 18 one-bedroom, 13 two-bedroom, and 12 three-bedroom units. The second floor will contain residential common areas and amenities, including a community room with kitchen, a fitness room, and a 2,613-sf outdoor terrace with playground. In addition, each floor will contain laundry facilities, and two floors (third and fourth) will contain long-term bicycle storage.

How does the EaRTH Center help towards the City’s share of the region’s projected housing need?

How was this project initiated?

HTA was awarded a California State Transportation Agency 2022 Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program (TIRCP) grant with up to $10 million for the construction of an intermodal transit center. On October 18, 2022, Council adopted an amendment to the Housing Element that in part added the EaRTH Center to Implementation Program IMP-34 to meet the City’s lower income RHNA. On May 1, 2024, HTA’s Board adopted a resolution approving Danco as the developer for the EaRTH Center project, and authorizing commitment of TIRCP grant funds to Danco, subject to HTA's approval of the conceptual site plan for the ground floor. City Council then authorized the City Manager to enter into a Disposition and Development Agreement with Danco for the development of the Earth Center on June 4, 2024. City Staff then worked with Danco and HTA on the project’s design, and the project received Design Review approval from the City’s Design Review Committee at a noticed public hearing on January 8, 2025. Danco is now gearing up to apply for additional project funding with the hope of applying for building permits and commencing construction in the next two years.

Below is a description of the Sunset Heights Project. The City would like to hear your questions and comments.  Please use the discussion tool below to engage.

Project Description 

On September 5, 2023, City Council entered into an agreement with Rural Communities Housing Development Corporation (RCHDC) for development of the City-owned, 4.18-acre “Sunset Heights” property located between W. Henderson and W. Harris Streets directly east and upslope of Broadway. The proposed development will include 88 dwelling units (86 affordable units and two manager’s units) in four buildings with two indoor community centers and two outdoor plazas. The proposed buildings will also include laundry facilities and bicycle storage space. The dwelling units will be a mix of studios and one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments.

How does the Sunset Heights Project help towards the City’s share of the region’s projected housing need?

How was this project initiated?

The City Council adopted the 2019-2027 Housing Element in December 2019, including Housing Element Implementation Measure IMP H-34 (Affordable Housing on City-owned Properties) which identifies City-owned parcels to be put up for sale or lease to affordable housing developers with the goal of constructing at least 332 deed-restricted affordable housing units by 2028. The four contiguous Sunset Heights parcels were added to the program in 2022, after Pierson Properties & Development, LLC came forward with a proposal to swap three of the City-owned Downtown parking lot sites originally included in the program for the Sunset Heights property. The City acquired the Sunset Heights property from Pierson in early 2022, and officially added the site to the housing program in October 2022. On September 5, 2023, City Council entered into an agreement with RCHDC for development of Sunset Heights with a minimum of 80 affordable dwelling units.  

What progress has been made on this project?

To receive feedback on public priorities prior to development of a conceptual design, RCHDC and the City of Eureka held an initial public meeting at City Hall and via Zoom on November 15, 2023, and released an online survey which received 298 responses. The meeting and survey results informed development of two conceptual design options which were brought to City Council for review on May 7, 2024. Council collectively voiced preference for the first of the two options, and the project’s architect used that feedback to draft detailed plans. The project then received Design Review approval from the City’s Planning Commission at a notice public hearing on December 11, 2024. The Planning Commission also approved a lot line adjustment at the same hearing to reconfigure the four existing parcels into two parcels. RCHDC anticipates separating the development into two 44-unit projects for the purposes of securing financing, and the lot line adjustment allows for the two sub-projects to each be located on their own parcel.  Once the lot line adjustment is recorded, RCHDC may apply to the City for building permits to construct the project. 

Timing is contingent on RCHDC securing funding. In June 2024, RCHDC entered into a contract with Redwood Coast Regional Center (RCRC) for RCRC to provide $1 million to support housing of RCRC clients in a portion of the units. In addition, RCHDC is currently working with the City of Eureka and Humboldt Transit Authority (HTA) on an application for the Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities (AHSC) funding program. If the application is successful, AHSC will not only help finance the housing, but will fund public transportation and infrastructure improvements in the vicinity of Sunset Heights for a safer and more connected city. RCHDC, the City of Eureka, and HTA are hosting a community meeting on Monday February 24, 2025, 6:30-7:30 PM at Alice Birney Elementary School to get input on potential public transportation and infrastructure improvements to include in the application.  

Who is RCHDC?

Rural Communities Housing Development Corporation (RCHDC) provided the following description of their organization:

“RCHDC is a nonprofit dedicated to providing decent and affordable housing to low- and moderate-income persons in rural northern California. We strive to be a strong, dynamic, and flexible organization; effective at achieving our mission through our efforts and partnerships both public and private. RCHDC has developed over 700 units and manages over 1,400 units of multi-family affordable housing for individuals and families, elderly, and special needs populations. This extensive organizational history exemplifies our experience and capacity for developing and owning affordable housing. Throughout the last seven years, RCHDC has expanded its knowledge of Housing First Principles as evidenced by our successful collaborations with the Counties of Siskiyou, Mendocino, Lake, Tehama, and Humboldt to develop five No Place Like Home developments for people experiencing homelessness and/or serious mental illness.

RCHDC’s approach to developing affordable housing in the City of Eureka will be driven by the needs of the local community. To understand and plan for a project that meets those needs, we focus on five essential components – building a project-specific team, ensuring community involvement and integration, knowing the market and target population, assessing the built environment possibilities, and matching the appropriate funding sources. We look forward to expanding housing opportunities in the beautiful City of Eureka.”

Here is a link to the Sunset Heights Project Website for more information: https://www.eurekaca.gov/889/SUNSET-HEIGHTS-MULTI-FAMILY-HOUSING-DEVE

Below is a description of the C to F Waterfront project. The City would like to hear your questions and comments. Please use the discussion tool below to engage

Project Description  

On October 18, 2022, Council adopted an amendment to the Housing Element that in part added the C to F Waterfront to Implementation Program IMP-34 to meet the City’s very-low income RHNA. The Site includes three contiguous parcels totaling approximately 2.7 acres between the Eureka Boardwalk and 1^st Street (to the north and south) and C and F Streets (to the west and east).

On April 4, 2023, Council authorized release of an affordable housing request for proposals (RFP) for the C to F Sites. The RFP called for a minimum of 95 affordable housing units at the Site as part of a mixed-use development with ground-floor commercial, civic and/or recreational uses (based on the Site’s zoning, residential units are only allowed on upper floors). Bonus points were offered for projects that: (1) retain at least 25% of the site as public open spaces; (2) include buildings with visitor-serving/public spaces not just on the ground floor, but also on the top floor; and (3) relate to and are congruent with adjacent buildings and sites, and are an extension of the existing development pattern of Old Town, while providing a sense of human scale and proportion. No responses to the initial RFP were received. 

As a result of the RFP release, an environmental site assessment was performed, and it was identified that the C to D Streets portion of the property is a Regional Water Quality Control Board (RWQCB) Cleanup Program Site with an open cleanup case. The case is associated with contamination from prior industrial uses in the site area including a former fish cannery and light manufacturing operations (Case #1NHU224). The City worked with the RWQCB to perform supplemental site investigation work in January 2024 and received a “case closure” letter from the RWQCB in June 2024, indicating that the site meets closure criteria and no further action related to prior contamination is required.

With the cleanup case closed, City Staff has been working to solicit interest from affordable housing developers as well as local colleges and has had some promising preliminary discussions about potential mixed-use development of the site.