Agency Details:

East Bay Asian Local Development Corporation (EBALDC)

The East Bay Asian Local Development Corporation is a community development corporation that develops affordable housing and community facilities with integrated services focused on tenants and neighborhood residents, with emphasis on Asian and Pacific Islander communities and the diverse low income populations or the East Bay.

Description:
EBALDC builds affordable homes and efficiently manages its properties. EBALDC also helps neighborhoods, historic communities and individuals discover and develop the resources to realize their dreams - of affordable homes and new businesses, of educational opportunities, of fulfilling jobs, and of parks and cultural centers. In cooperation with other agencies and community organizations, we focus local and national resources towards collaborative, innovative strategies to revitalize existing East bay neighborhoods.

History:
The East Bay Asian Local Development Corporation (EBALDC) was created in 1975, around the dream of buying and preserving a beautiful but deteriorated warehouse in Oakland's Chinatown. From those efforts, the Asian Resource Center was developed. The building is a historic landmark that serves as a multi-service center for non-profit organizations, medical offices, and retail businesses.

EBALDC has grown to become a lead developer of affordable housing in the East Bay. During the past 34 years, EBALDC has developed 164 home ownership units, 1,517 affordable apartments, and over 375,000 square feet of commercial space for community organizations, including space for non-profit organizations, resident services, childcare, small businesses, and an art gallery. EBALDC has developed 22 residential and 9 commercial properties, three of which are historic renovation structures. Last month EBALDC celebrated the grand opening of its newest project, Jack London Gateway, the first green building that renovated 53,000 square feet of retail space and created 61 units of affordable housing for seniors. EBALDC's primary geographic boundaries are Alameda and Contra Costa counties. It has won multiple awards for excellence in development, design, and management.

As the organization has grown and strived to meet the needs of the community, activities have shifted to respond to the changing demographics of the neighborhoods we serve. The people EBALDC serves are now 41% African American, 36% Asian and Pacific Islander, 11% Latino with the remainder being Caucasian, Native American and other ethnicities. The geographic focus of the organization has also expanded to include Contra Costa and Alameda Counties. Services have moved beyond affordable housing to home ownership programs for low-income families, neighborhood economic development programs, advocacy, and an Individual Development Account savings program.

EBALDC complements its real estate development with programs that bring neighborhood revitalization and asset development to the communities in which it works. In 1997, EBALDC was tapped to serve as the lead agency for the Bay Area IDA Collaborative, a four-year test of the efficacy of Individual Development Accounts (IDAs) as a route to economic independence for low-income communities. Since the IDA program began, more than 1,200 people have participated in the program having saved a total of over $2 million dollars leveraging almost an additional $2 million dollars toward a home down payment, education, or small business development.

Still, the Bay Area faces intense challenges as the 21st century begins. Our hyper inflationary real estate market is the least affordable in the nation. While this largely results from our booming local economy and the new jobs it creates, housing inflation threatens to disrupt or displace historic East Bay communities and puts the American dream of a decent home beyond the means of hardworking families. It worsens social divides, crowding, sprawl, and traffic congestion. Ironically, it also threatens our economic prosperity when new workers can't afford housing. EBALDC has the expertise, experience, and community trust to pragmatically face these difficult problems head-on.

One thing that hasn't changed since 1975 is EBALDC's core values: our respect for historic buildings and cultures, our belief in the importance of people's visions and in creating the social and economic means to make them come to life.

Contact people:

Max Moy-Borgen, Volunteer Coordinator, (phone), (email) Frances Rosario, Development Associate, (phone), (email) Mark Baldwin, Director, Fund Development, (phone), (email)

Office fax number: (510) 763-4143

Address:

310 8th Street Ste 200 Oakland, CA 94607 (See a map)

Web Site: http://www.ebaldc.org

Directions:

EBALDC is located in suite 200 of the Asian Resource Center on Harrison street in between 8th and 9th street in Oakland's Chinatown. Entrances to the building are located on both the 8th and 9th street sides. The official. . . (more)   Nearest Metro/Subway Stop: Lake Merrit or 12th St./City Center BART,   Walk distance (in minutes): 5   Nearest Bus Stop: AC Transit 1/1R, 19, 40, 50, 51, 63, 5 minute walk

Last updated on October 6, 2009