OAKLAND — An affordable housing development has been proposed for the site of a peace center and former church just north of downtown Oakland, documents on file with city officials show.
The Unity Council has proposed a project with 94 affordable apartments at 111 Fairmount Ave., documents show. Work on the project would require the demolition of some parts of the property yet leave other portions of First Christian Church intact.
94-unit affordable housing development at 111 Fairmount Avenue in Oakland, north of the city’s downtown, concept. A portion of the First Christian Church is visible. (SmithGroup)
, Street-level view of a 94-unit affordable housing development at 111 Fairmount Avenue in Oakland, north of the city’s downtown, concept. A portion of the First Christian Church is visible.”The site is currently occupied by a 23,000-square-foot religious facility that is no longer in use and has significantly deteriorated,” the Unity Council states on its website.
First Christian Church was built around 1929 using a design by architect W.H. Weeks, according to the Oakland Wiki website.
“The project will preserve and restore key architectural elements of the church sanctuary while demolishing portions of the structure to accommodate new residential construction,” the Unity Council states in a project description.
Housing would be restricted to those who make up to 60% of the region’s area median income. The Alameda County area median income for a household of four is $159,800, according to the state Housing and Community Development Department.
This would point to a maximum annual income of $95,880 for a household of four.
In addition, some units would be set aside for people who were formerly homeless, the Unity Council states on its site.
“Resident amenities will feature a central courtyard, outdoor play space for childcare, on-site laundry, a community room, and wraparound supportive services,” the Unity Council states.
The Oakland Peace Center owns the property, whose assessed value was $5.8 million as of January, Alameda County Assessor’s Office documents show. The Unity Council has reached a deal to buy the site from the Oakland Peace Center
The proposal has emerged at a time when the church’s membership has been dwindling, according to the Unity Council.
“The remaining congregation views the future affordable housing development as the church’s enduring legacy, one that honors its history of community service and inclusivity,” the Unity Council stated in a post describing the project.
Congregants formed the Oakland Peace Center as a way to accomplish the church members’ goals for the site, said Kalynn Blakely, the peace center’s executive director.
“The congregation wanted to see the property serve as a community center and provide a site for affordable housing in order to prevent gentrification in this neighborhood,” Blakely said.
The Unity Council, which describes itself as a “non-profit Social Equity Development Corporation” with more than 60 years of involvement in Oakland’s Fruitvale neighborhood, has at least five housing developments in the works, according to its website.
In 2024, it floated plans for an affordable housing development on the site of the fire-scorched former Ghost Ship property in East Oakland, where a 2016 blaze killed 36 people.
The deadliest fire in Oakland’s history triggered a criminal prosecution and settlements of lawsuits brought by a victim who survived and the families of those killed.
The city of Oakland agreed to a $33 million settlement of a civil lawsuit. Oakland-based PG&E settled a separate civil lawsuit for an undisclosed amount.
