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April 25, 2005 
VOL.
43, NO. 8Oakland,
CA
COR churches urge new affordable housing
in San Leandro
By Voice staff
San Leandro city workers and others squeezed by the
rapid rise in Bay Area housing prices may soon find relief, thanks to
efforts by a coalition of community organizers and city officials.
During a housing forum held at St. Leander Parish earlier this month,
two San Leandro City Council members pledged to support a housing program
put forward by COR (Congregations Organizing for Renewal) to alleviate
the shortage of affordable homes.
The First United Methodist Church of San Leandro co-sponsored the event
with St. Leander.
Council members Surlene Grant and Joyce Starosciak said they would support
a plan to convert the Islander Motel in San Leandro into affordable housing.
The city is in the process of purchasing the property, and plans call
for creating housing at the site with services – such as job placement
and other programs –under the management of a non-profit group.
The council members also agreed to convene a task force to examine ways
to develop housing near the San Leandro BART station. This would be workplace
housing, according to Deacon Dennis Davis of St. Leander Parish, family
housing for city workers such as firemen, policemen, teachers and others
who serve the community but cannot afford to live there.
Grant and Starosciak also said they would push for the passage of a redevelopment
bond in San Leandro, which would be used to fund housing projects.
Deacon Davis and organizer Mariano Jauco said COR is also working on a
project to build housing on land between Bancroft and East 14th Streets.
This would also be workplace housing.
COR is a faith-based coalition of 13 congregations and two neighborhood
groups representing 25,000 families in Southern Alameda County. It has
helped get inclusionary zoning ordinances passed in Hayward, Fremont and
San Leandro. St. Leander and First United Methodist are members of COR.
