SAN JOSE, CA - San Jose recently celebrated the grand opening of Orvieto Family Apartments, a development by Eden Housing and ROEM Corporation, in collaboration with the City of San Jose. The grand opening celebration began on May 11, 2012 at 12:00 p.m. at 80 Montecito Vista Dr, San Jose, California 95111 (cross streets: Monterey Highway and Goble Lane).
Orvieto Family Apartments offers 92 one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments that are affordable to families with annual incomes that are at or below 50% of the Santa Clara County Area Median Income. This means that total household income for a family of four is at or below $51,750. Orvieto is one hundred percent affordable to very low-income families. According to HUD, affordable housing should not cost more than 30% of a household’s monthly income, however, an estimated 12 million households now pay more than 50 percent of their annual incomes for housing.
“Orvieto is the kind of apartment development we need more of—affordable living on a major bus route, conveniently located near shopping and open space,” said Leslye Corsiglia, Director of Housing, City of San José Housing Department. “San José’s market rents are rising very rapidly, so we appreciate the good work of ROEM and Eden Housing in increasing the stock of affordable housing for San Jose’s working-class families.”
The development consists of four stories of high-quality construction, provides 163 parking spaces in a one-level, semi-subterranean parking garage, and a bus stop linking the site to the downtown San Jose corridor. Project amenities include a large contiguous landscaped courtyard, a tot lot with seating areas, a community room with a kitchen and a library, a computer center, and a fitness room.
“At Eden Housing, we believe that where you live can change your life,” said Linda Mandolini, Executive Director of Eden Housing. “And Orvieto is a perfect example of that. In addition to a beautiful, affordable home conveniently located near public transit, restaurants, and shopping, our residents have access to free, onsite resident services that will help to enhance their quality of life. We are so proud to be part of this community.”
“Over 10 years ago when ROEM started building affordable housing, our mission was back then, and remains today, to provide affordable housing that is high quality and indistinguishable from market-rate housing,” said Jonathan Emami, Vice President of ROEM Corporation. “When we are able to collaborate with great development and industry partners as we did on Orvieto Family Apartments, it’s the residents of the new community in the end that ultimately benefits from these efforts.”
Designed by award-winning KTGY Group, Inc., Orvieto Family Apartments represents an environmentally-sensitive development. The project is constructed using sustainable building methods and also incorporates a number of 'green' features designed to ensure its long-term energy-efficiency and sustainability.
This development is an example of how many agencies working closely together can benefit local residents. This project was made possible in part due to a financial grant from Cal/EPA Department of Toxic Substances Control. “DTSC is pleased to have the opportunity to provide resources to assist the City of San Jose with the cleanup of the Orvieto site,” said DTSC Acting Deputy Director, Brownfields and Environmental Restoration Program, Thomas Cota. “This is a perfect example of how, if we work together, we can find the resources to successfully clean up contaminated property to safe levels and convert contaminated land into safe and sustainable communities for our future generations.”
Orvieto Family Apartments is financed with 4% Low-Income Housing Tax Credits and tax-exempt bond financing made possible by Freddie Mac Credit Enhancement Program. ROEM and Eden Housing have partnered with the Citi Community Capital, AEGON USA Realty Advisors, JP Morgan Chase, Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco, the California Department of Toxic Substance Control, and the City of San Jose for financial support on this $27,600,000 project. The architect is KTGY Group Inc. and the general contractor ROEM-ICON Contracting Group, Inc.
Grand opening celebration speakers included: Vice Mayor Madison Nguyen, District Seven, City of San Jose; Thomas Cota, CA DTSC Acting Assistant Deputy Director, Brownfields and Environmental Restoration Program; Linda Mandolini, Executive Director, Eden Housing; Leslye Corsiglia, Director, City of San Jose, Housing Department; Andre Medeira, Senior Banker, JPMorgan Chase; Jay Abeywardena, Vice President, Citi Community Capital; Sally Baker, Residents, Orvieto Family Apartments; Jonathan Emami, Vice President, ROEM Development Corporation; Robert Emami, President, ROEM Corporation.
In its 44 years of service throughout Northern California, non-profit Eden Housing has provided a roof for over 60,000 people. Hayward-based Eden Housing is the long-term owner-operator of its developments, and is committed to preserving and maintaining its buildings as community assets and supporting residents with a range of services. Since the organization’s beginnings in 1968, Eden Housing has developed or acquired more than 6,600 housing units and 60,100 square feet of adjoining commercial/retail space in more than 90 properties.
ROEM Development Corporation, ROEM Builders, Inc. and their affiliated entities are a full-service development and construction organization that has been specializing in the acquisition, planning, financing, new construction, renovation, and asset management of affordable housing for families and seniors throughout California for over 30 years. As a model developer and proven industry leader in the production of affordable housing, ROEM maintains its commitment to providing high quality housing through its collaboration with the public and private sector and communities alike, while completing developments with quality control and efficiency.
Ranked in the Affordable Housing Finance Top 50 National Developer’s list, and a registered member of USGBC and Build It Green, ROEM is dedicated to creating wholesome communities that are not only sustainable, but are designed smarter and built better to ensure that residents and visitors are healthier, happier, and safer.
To date, ROEM has completed 17 affordable housing projects totaling 1,782 units with almost 700 affordable housing units currently under construction. In total, ROEM Development Corporation, ROEM Builders and its affiliates’ affordable housing portfolio includes 24 projects totaling 2,482 affordable housing units.
The Housing Department, a public-purpose lender, has financed the construction of more than 18,000 affordable housing units, leveraging more than $2.4 billion in private and public capital with $620 million in City loans and grants. In addition to multi-family housing production, the City has assisted more than 1,900 homebuyers to purchase their first home, including over 700 public school teachers.
Celebrating 20 years, KTGY Group, Inc., Architecture and Planning, provides comprehensive planning and award-winning architectural design services for residential communities, retail, hospitality, mixed-use and related specialty developments. KTGY delivers innovative solutions that reflect clear understanding of development, market trends and financial performance and takes particular pride in its highly motivated and principal led studios. Serving clients worldwide, KTGY maintains offices in Irvine, Oakland and Santa Monica, Calif., Denver, Colo., and Tysons Corner, Va.