Welcoming Hundreds of Residents Home: A Strong Start to 2025!

We’re thrilled to announce two major milestones reached in the first two months of 2025. We received approval for two new communities to open their doors for over 300 residents to move into their new homes!

From Berkeley to Concord, these developments are transforming lives and strengthening communities. Together, these two properties provide 149 new permanently affordable apartments, including 25 homes specifically designated for individuals and families transitioning out of homelessness.

“Watching families receive their keys and step into their new homes is the beginning of our shared journey together,” says Olivia King, RCD’s Director of Resident Services. “We’re here to support each resident in their transition and in building a stable, successful future in their new community.”

“Watching families receive their keys and step into their new homes is the beginning of our shared journey together. We’re here to support each resident in their transition and in building a stable, successful future in their new community.”

Olivia King, Director of Resident Services

As we celebrate these openings, we’re grateful to our partners, supporters, and community members who make creating more affordable housing possible in the Bay Area. Here’s to starting 2025 with hope! Stay tuned for details about our upcoming Grand Opening celebrations!

Maudelle Miller Shirek Community in Berkeley welcomes 199 new residents and local nonprofit, A link to: Healthy Black Families. This new community is located across the street from the Ashby BART station, just one stop away from RCD’s office!

Rick Judd Commons in Concord welcomes 114 new residents. We are honored to dedicate this new building to a community and cause that Rick Judd, a long-standing member of RCD’s Board of Directors, cared about deeply.

Nature, History, Hope: An 8,000-Square-Foot Vision for Emeryville

This fall, artist Joaquin Newman created a breathtaking mural at A link to: Nellie Hannon Gateway—a masterpiece that will be enjoyed for generations. RCD’s newest development in Emeryville is located at a prominent corner and visible from the I-580 freeway. The vibrant mural spans all four sides of the building, making a striking impact on passersby.

Newman’s vibrant design features a sunrise and sunset, incorporating elements of the Bay Area, the Ohlone shellmounds, and the fall night sky. “The whole intention of the mural is to cast a spell of serenity on everybody who sees it—all of the millions of people on the 580,” says Newman. “One of the things I’ve loved about RCD over the years is that they make housing available to people. It is such a blessing that such places exist and will continue to exist for decades into the future. Together, we are creating a place of serenity for them, too.”

Newman conceived the mural’s concept during the height of the pandemic, a time of heightened stress and anxiety. “Being in touch with nature, the land, and the sky felt especially important,” he shares. “Sunrises and sunsets—you get them every day, and you have to appreciate them. That sense of ‘tomorrow is another day’ is so powerful. Artwork of this scale should carry a message, and I wanted to give something beautiful to the community. And what is more beautiful than nature?”

Construction of Nellie Hannon Gateway will bring 90 new, affordable homes to Emeryville later this year.

The mural reflects the Bay on its sunset side, acknowledges the deep history of the Ohlone shellmounds, and honors the generations that came before us. The stars and the shape of the moon are astronomically accurate to the season in which the mural was created. At 8,000 square feet and covering all four sides of the building, this is Newman’s largest project to date.

One of the most rewarding aspects of the project was the collaborative process. “The good thing about mural-making is that it isn’t solitary,” Newman says. “I cultivated a team to work with me on this project. I was fortunate to collaborate with artist Tony Coleman, as well as two mentees I’ve known since they were 15—Jasmine Quiroga and Greg Duggan.” Newman also acknowledges the contributions of collaborators Eduardo Pineda, Pancho Peskador, Pablo Ruiz Arroyo, David Burke, and Vogue TDK. “Along with my other artists, these experienced mural makers helped to make this huge project a reality,” Newman says.

This extraordinary mural not only transforms the building but also serves as a beacon of beauty, history, and hope for the entire community.

Preserving Affordable Homes: Support Berkeley’s Transfer Tax Exemption

Every RCD property undergoes periodic renovations to ensure our residents have safe, high-quality housing for generations to come. However, these improvements often require complex refinancing that can trigger significant property transfer taxes – up to $11,000 per unit in Berkeley. These costs reduce the funding available for actual renovation work and make it challenging to compete for limited state resources.

There’s good news: Berkeley District 4 Councilmember Igor Tregub has introduced a resolution to study exempting 100% nonprofit-owned affordable housing from these taxes. This exemption would help RCD and other nonprofit affordable housing providers upgrade amenities for residents and ensure the long-term preservation of affordable homes across Berkeley.

Take Action Now! Help us protect and improve affordable housing in Berkeley! A link to: Sign up to receive Advocacy Opportunity emails related to this transfer tax exemption for nonprofits plus other crucial affordable housing initiatives. You’ll get alerts about:

- Opportunities to support policies that create and preserve affordable homes
- Ways to contact your representatives at key moments
- Local housing advocacy events and volunteer opportunities

Take Action!

RCD’s housing, programs, and services support over 5,500 across the Bay Area. Click the button below to give a gift that creates a stronger, more hopeful future, for our residents and for our communities.

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