Property Profile: Paseo Estero & Vista Estero (Oakland)

Paseo Estero, provides 101 deeply affordable rental apartments for families, and Vista Estero, 110 deeply affordable apartments for seniors. The result of an innovative and highly collaborative public/private partnership, what was once an underutilized and mostly industrial site, is being transformed into a highly livable, walkable, and beautifully designed community to benefit generations to come. Housing Provider: MidPen Housing.

Brooklyn Basin is a new mixed-use, mixed-income district along Oakland’s waterfront, featuring over 3,000 new homes, creative retail, parks, and open spaces along 64 acres, and includes Paseo Estero, which provides 101 deeply affordable rental apartments for families, and Vista Estero, 110 deeply affordable apartments for seniors. The result of an innovative and highly collaborative public/private partnership, what was once an underutilized and mostly industrial site, is being transformed into a highly livable, walkable, and beautifully designed community to benefit generations to come. In 2015, the City of Oakland and Brooklyn Basin’s master developer, Signature Development Group, selected MidPen Housing to be the district’s affordable housing partner.

Paseo Estero and Vista Estero demonstrate the vision and commitment of one of California’s largest and most diverse cities to build more affordable housing for its residents. The communities began construction in December 2018 and completed in December 2020 and will be 100% occupied by residents earning 60% AMI and below by June 2021.

MidPen is committed to sustainable development, including the use of advanced green building methods: recycled content materials; energy and water efficient appliances; photovoltaic and solar thermal systems; and drought-tolerant landscaping. Paseo Estero and Vista Estero received LEED Silver certification.

Paseo Estero and Vista Estero also showcase art pieces and installations from OUSD youth and professional artists from Civic Design Studio with themes of Oakland and community pride.

Residents of Paseo Estero and Vista Estero enjoy onsite services and programs coordinated by MidPen Services.

Paseo Estero and Vista Estero mark the first phase of building affordable housing at Brooklyn Basin where ultimately 465 affordable homes are planned. The fact that so much affordable housing has been allocated is in large part due to the long-time efforts of The Brooklyn Basin Community Benefits Coalition made up of three resident membership organizations: Asian Pacific Environmental Network (APEN), East Bay Asian Youth Center (EBAYC), and Oakland Community Organizations (OCO) who together represent over 2,000 low-income families and seniors in Oakland. Formed in 2004, this coalition – with technical support from Urban Strategies – played an integral role in negotiating an agreement with the City’s Redevelopment Agency that required the construction of 465 deeply affordable homes. This agreement was accompanied by substantial investments of the City of Oakland’s and Oakland Housing Authority’s resources to ensure the properties’ development and ongoing operations.

Financing for the two communities was provided through public and private sources including the City of Oakland, the Oakland Housing Authority, the California Tax Credit Allocation Committee, the California Municipal Finance Agency, Wells Fargo, Freddie Mac and the Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco.