City Towers Apartments, Oakland, CA

A troubled Section 8 property in an urban setting.

City Towers Apartments is a 231-unit HUD Section 8 property comprised of three 12-story towers located in West Oakland. The previous owner had been in litigation with HUD for some years, and the property was neglected and in need of renovation.  We purchased it in 2004 and performed a $4.5 million rehab.

New Head Start center. New Neighborhood Network.

The City of Oakland wanted greater focus brought to the property in the form of more intensive management and enhanced resident services. KDF built a new Head Start center at the property, which we lease to the City for $1 per year. We also created a Neighborhood Network, which is a computer center where kids can do their homework, residents can prepare resumes, and the tenants can access other social services. Our non-profit partner Project Access staffs the computer center and provides art classes, homework club, and “Cook Your Snack” cooking classes for kids, along with more extensive computer classes for adults and youths. 

References: Angela Corcoran, Senior Supervisor in HUD San Francisco, 415-489-6606; Usana Hopkins, Director of Head Start Oakland, 510-238-7186; City Councilwoman Nancy Nadel, 510-238-7003