Wiyot Housing

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

• 6^th & L: 
  1. 52-unit apartment complex in a 5-story building, totaling 46,357 square feet of floor area on a 13,200-square-foot lot.
  2. The development is intended to serve independent elders who seek smaller units, community amenities, and proximity to community services and transit.
  3. 24 studios, 20 one-bedroom, and 8 two-bedroom units.

• 15 of the units will be reserved for very-low income households, 11 for low-income households, and 26 for moderate-income households.
• • Amenities: Ground-floor lounge and community dining hall with commercial kitchen; 20 City parking spaces in a separate garage with rooftop courtyard for residents; resident vehicle loading area with an accessible van parking space; commercial loading area off the alley; laundry facilities; an indoor long-term bike parking room and outdoor short-term bike parking.
• 5^th & D: 
  • 41-unit apartment complex in two buildings, one four-stories and one five-stories, with a combined floor area of 51,523 square feet on a 13,200-square-foot lot. 
  • The development is intended to serve multigenerational and young families, including university students.
  • 14 one-bedroom, 16 two-bedroom, 6 three-bedroom, and 5 four-bedroom units.
  • 15 of the units will be reserved for very-low income households, 10 for low-income households, and 16 for moderate-income households.
• • Amenities: day care center for 40 children; ground-floor courtyard and playground; rooftop deck, garden and community room; 8 parking spaces including 1 ADA-accessible space for an electric car-share fleet for residential use; views of the bay and Tuluwat Island; laundry facilities; an indoor long-term bike parking room and outdoor short-term bike parking.

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 funding for the project, 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, and at least one community meeting will occur during the funding application phase, prior to building permit submittal. The MOU also requires targeted outreach to local agencies and groups.