September 15, 2026
Community Development
DATE: September 15, 2026
TO: Mayor Martinez and Members of the City Council
FROM:
Lina Velasco, Director of Community Development
Jesus Morales, Housing Manager
Charice M. Duckworth, Senior Planner, Housing Division
Subject:
Contract with Community Housing Development
Corporation of North Richmond for Environmental
Remediation for Bob Dabney Plaza
FINANCIAL IMPACT: There is no fiscal impact on the General Fund. The proposed $80,014.40 expenditure is funded by the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency’s original $1,000,000
award that established the Richmond Brownfields
Revolving Loan Fund (RBRLF). The action will also
appropriate the remaining RBRLF balance of $42,514.39
into the Fiscal Year 2026-2027 Housing Division budget
(Account String: 22531063-400855-07B73).
PREVIOUS COUNCIL
ACTION:
None.
STATEMENT OF THE
ISSUE:
Community Housing Development Corporation of North
Richmond (CHDCNR) is undertaking the environmental
investigation necessary to facilitate the development of Bob Dabney Plaza, a permanently affordable multifamily
housing project located at 100 and 106 Macdonald
Avenue. To help advance the project, CHDCNR is
requesting funding from the City of Richmond's
Brownfields Revolving Loan Fund (RBRLF) to cover
Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC)
environmental oversight fees.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
APPROVE a contract with the Community Housing
Development Corporation of North Richmond
(CHDCNR), in an amount not to exceed $80,014.40, to
support environmental assessment and remediation
activities for Bob Dabney Plaza, a permanently affordable AGENDA
REPORT
September 15, 2026
multifamily housing development located at 100 and 106
Macdonald Avenue, using funds from the City’s
Brownfields Revolving Loan Fund (RBRLF);
APPROPRIATE the remaining RBRLF balance of
$42,514.39 into the Fiscal Year 2026-27 budget; and
AUTHORIZE the city manager, or their designee, to
execute the contract – Community Development
Department (Lina Velasco/Jesus Morales/Charice
Duckworth 510-412-2052).
DISCUSSION:
In September 2009, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) awarded the former Richmond Community Redevelopment Agency (Agency) a $1,000,000 Brownfields Revolving Loan Fund (RBRLF) grant to provide financial assistance for the assessment, cleanup, and redevelopment of environmentally impacted properties throughout the City. Following the dissolution of redevelopment agencies in 2013, administration of the RBRLF was transferred to the City of Richmond, which has continued to administer the program in accordance with the EPA grant requirements.
Since assuming administration of the RBRLF, the City has provided low-interest loans to public and private entities and grants to eligible nonprofit organizations to support environmental cleanup activities that facilitate redevelopment, improve environmental conditions, and promote investment in disadvantaged communities. Consistent with the EPA grant agreement, grants may only be awarded to nonprofit organizations.
The RBRLF is reaching the end of its grant term, December 31, 2026, and the remaining balance must be expended to complete the program and close out the EPA grant. Working in coordination with EPA staff, City staff have identified an eligible use of the remaining funds that advances the objectives of the program while supporting the development of affordable housing in Richmond.
The Community Housing Development Corporation of North Richmond (CHDCNR), a qualified nonprofit organization, is developing Bob Dabney Plaza, a permanently affordable multifamily housing development located at 100 and 106 Macdonald Avenue.
The project will provide 32 affordable family housing units with on-site supportive services for extremely low- to low-income households. As part of the environmental due diligence and remediation process, the project requires oversight by the California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC), resulting in eligible oversight costs.
CHDCNR has requested funding of up to $80,014.40 from the City's Brownfields Revolving Loan Fund to reimburse their DTSC oversight fees, and related remediation investigations cost completed and in progress in support of their Bob Dabney Plaza project.
Approval of the proposed contract and appropriation of the remaining funds into the Fiscal Year 2026-27 budget would enable the City to fully expend the remaining RBRLF
September 15, 2026
funds in accordance with EPA program requirements, support the development of permanently affordable housing, and formally close out the Brownfields Revolving Loan Fund grant.
SYNERGISTIC POLICIES:
The proposed agreement supports implementation of the following goals and policies of the Richmond General Plan 2030 Land Use and Urban Design and Housing Elements:
Land Use and Urban Design Element, Policy LU3.3 (Infill Development) Promote infill development on vacant and underutilized sites to accommodate housing and mixed-use development while making efficient use of existing infrastructure and public services. The proposed grant will facilitate the environmental assessment and remediation necessary to redevelop an underutilized site into permanently affordable housing.
Housing Element – Goal 1, Policy 1.1 (Increase the Supply of Housing) Facilitate the production of housing for all income levels, with an emphasis on affordable housing for extremely low-, very low-, low-, and moderate-income households. The Housing Element also encourages leveraging public funding and partnerships with nonprofit housing developers to increase the supply of permanently affordable housing.
The proposed funding advances these objectives by utilizing federal Brownfields funding to support the development of Bob Dabney Plaza, a 32-unit permanently affordable multifamily housing development serving extremely low- to low-income households.
CONCLUSION:
In consideration of these factors, approval of the proposed grant agreement will support the Community Housing Development Corporation of North Richmond's efforts to complete the environmental assessment and remediation activities necessary to advance the Bob Dabney Plaza affordable housing project. The funding award will also enable the City to fully expend the remaining balance of the Brownfields Revolving Loan Fund in accordance with EPA grant requirements, formally close out the program, and leverage federal funding to facilitate the redevelopment of an environmentally impacted site into permanently affordable housing.
ATTACHMENTS:
Attachment 1 – Standard Contract