Property Profile: Sunflower Hill at Irby Ranch (Pleasanton)

Sunflower Hill at Irby Ranch is the first independent, affordable residential community for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in the Tri-Valley area.

Sunflower Hill at Irby Ranch is the new construction of 31 studio, one-and two-bedroom affordable homes for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (“I/DD”) and their families, as well as a 4,500 square foot community center located in Pleasanton, California.  The community includes several amenities including a makerspace room, exercise room, as well as a community room opening onto the large landscaped courtyard with seating areas, multipurpose sport court and bocce ball court. The 1.64 acre property is GreenPoint Rated Gold.

Sunflower Hill at Irby Ranch is the culmination of many years of advocacy as well as a successful partnership between two nonprofits: Sunflower Hill and Satellite Affordable Housing Associates (SAHA). Sunflower Hill is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to create sustainable and intentional residential communities for individuals with developmental disabilities. Sunflower Hill was founded by local parents with adult children with I/DD who were concerned about the severe lack of housing options that would enable their loved ones to live independently with supports as part of the community rather than in an institutionalized setting. The families had a vision for a community akin to senior living: independent living in a safe, secure setting with friends and activities. These families did not have expertise in affordable housing development however, they successfully advocated to have an inclusionary parcel set-aside as part of the land use approvals for a market rate subdivision and also secured zoning approvals to build a higher-density rental project in a town characterized by low-density single family development. Fast forward several years, and Sunflower Hill in partnership with Satellite Affordable Housing Associates has completed its first development.

Sunflower Hill at Irby Ranch is the first independent, affordable residential community for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in the Tri-Valley area which includes the cities of Pleasanton, Dublin, Livermore and surrounding areas of eastern Alameda County.  Buoyed by our initial success, Sunflower Hill has additional developments in predevelopment and aims to build many more affordable communities for people with I/DD.

Independent living options with supports for people with I/DD, are few in number. Such options that are also affordable and without Section 8 or other rental or operating subsidy are truly rare. Because these subsidies were not available, SAHA worked hard to demonstrate to State and local funding agencies that this project could be feasible without operating subsidies and that many I/DD households have sufficient income to afford the affordable rents. In addition, Sunflower Hill at Irby Ranch was developed on an inclusionary parcel donated by the homebuilder who was concurrently developing Irby Ranch, a single-family residential subdivision. This project embodies innovation on many levels as it creates supportive rental housing for a special needs population without project-based rent subsidies and is also located in a high-income suburban community characterized primarily by low-density single family homes. We hope that Sunflower Hill at Irby Ranch will inspire others to find creative solutions when faced with constrained land and funding resources.

The full-time service coordinator and full-time Residential Programs Manager ensure that the community offers rich and inspiring programing to encourage a full and meaningful life for residents. Sunflower Hill and the Housing Consortium of the East Bay (HCEB) offer a wide range of community building and life-enhancing programs and activities as well as service coordination to ensure that residents receive the direct supports they need to live independently and to thrive. Of particular note, the community building includes a commercial kitchen that is being shared by Culinary Angels, a nonprofit caterer whose mission is to provide nutrient-rich meals and nutrition education to people going through a serious health challenge. Culinary Angels uses the commercial kitchen to prepare meals for their clients while also offering a nutritious, affordable, meal plan to Sunflower Hill residents who opt in to the voluntary program.