The city of Hayward has approved a $28.6 million new housing development for residents with low income. This complex will act as a community living space in hopes of reducing the homelessness issue throughout the city of Hayward.
The new development will be located on Depot Rd. and will be replacing the abandoned drug recovery center Cronin House. Half of the new housing units will be occupied by low-income residents and 25 percent will be dedicated to the homeless and differently-abled, respectively.
Abode Services, which is known for their Bridgeway complex in Fremont, Calif., will be the project builders of this expansion. It will contain 126 micro-apartments at 240 square feet each and support services for residents will also be provided.
Residents and homeowners in the area have mixed feelings about their potential new neighbors although the developers have good intentions.
“I’m against it. It’s not a good spot for it,” Mitch Medeiros, who lives in the area near the new development, told The Pioneer. “It would be much better if they used the facility like maybe the old City Hall downtown. It’s not being used at all. It’s a prime location people could access libraries, get to stores, even get small jobs maybe.”
Many residents feel that the safety of their homes and possessions are at risk due to concerns about the longevity of the neighborhood, property value, and theft.
“The city has compassion for people. I understand. I do too to a degree, but they’re not just putting a few homeless people here they’re putting 100 plus,” said Bob Williams, another unhappy resident. “I mean how many people do you think live on this street? The city did not ask feedback from the communities impacted, they just have their agenda.”
The new development has many people unsure about the impacts of the housing development that may follow. Some are taking precautions in order to keep their homes and items safe and in order to ensure that their neighborhood does not spoil.