Posted on: July 23, 2025
Full Source: Silicon Valley Business Journal
By Elizabeth Nguyen – Contributing Writer, Silicon Valley Business Journal
Resources for Community Development celebrates the grand opening of its affordable housing development Bell Street Gardens in Fremont on July 23, 2025. Photo by Henri Boulanger.
A long-vacant Fremont motel that was once considered a neighborhood nuisance is taking on new life.
The former Islander Motel at 38889 Bell St. has been converted into a 126-unit affordable housing complex, with city officials and development partners celebrating the transformation Wednesday morning at a grand opening ceremony.
The project, known as Bell Street Gardens, was developed by Berkeley-based Resources for Community Development and the city of Fremont in partnership with Housing Trust Silicon Valley, California’s Department of Housing and Community Development, and JP Morgan Chase.
The $177 million project includes 79 renovated motel units and 49 newly constructed apartments on the former Islander Motel site.
“This project represents giving hope and opportunity to our residents,” said Fremont Mayor Raj Salwan during the event. “The area was blighted and needed services. When Fremont grows, we’re making sure everyone has a home.”
Bell Street Gardens includes a mix of studios, one-, two- and three-bedroom units reserved for individuals and families earning between 20% and 50% of the area median income. Two units are designated for on-site property management. On-site services will be provided by Abode Services and East Bay Innovations.
The project is one of five affordable housing developments slated to open in Fremont this year, as the city seeks to meet its commitment to lease more than 560 affordable units in 2025.
RCD Executive Director Dan Sawislak said the nonprofit has been working on Bell Street Gardens for seven to eight years.
The site was previously used for interim housing for 159 unhoused individuals during the predevelopment phase.
“This used to be an old motel that was a source of community friction,” Sawislak said. “It’s exciting to design projects for affordable housing, especially in places like Fremont where the need is so great.”
Sawislak said the adaptive reuse involved adding a third floor to the original two-story structure. Despite structural and economic challenges, the site now features outdoor amenities and GreenPoint Rated sustainable design elements such as solar panels, EV chargers and energy-efficient appliances.
According to a statement from the city, funding sources include $10.47 million from the city of Fremont’s Affordable Housing Fund, $1 million in Federal HOME funds, $1.82 million in CDBG funds, $21 million from the Alameda County A1 Bond and $68.1 million in construction loans.
The project also received $48.3 million from the state’s Housing Accelerator program and $20 million from the Multifamily Housing Program.
Additional contributions came from the State No Place Like Home Fund, Federal Section 811 Project Rental Assistance and developer equity.
“This is RCD’s biggest development so far,” said Carolyn Bookhart, the nonprofit’s director of real estate development. “Once it’s done, affordable housing is catalytic. It restores the community.”
Housing Trust Silicon Valley, which has financed nine projects with RCD totaling $41 million, praised Fremont for making an early acquisition investment of $13 million to kickstart the project before other funds were secured.
“Affordable housing, once built, transforms how a neighborhood looks and feels,” Bookhart said. “This project has done exactly that.”
Full Source: Silicon Valley Business Journal
More on the Project:
https://www.vmwp.com/projects/bell-islander-revitalization/
Posted in: News