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The Aspire is inspired by the needs of transition-aged youth and unhoused young people in Riverside community colleges. Renderings courtesy of Bassenian Lagoni Architects. Click here for additional high-resolution images.
WHAT: Groundbreaking for The Aspire, new housing conceived in response to the growing need for stable housing for transition-aged youth (young adults aging out of the foster care system) and unhoused young people in Riverside community colleges.
WHEN: Tuesday, April 11, 2023, 10 AM - 12 PM
WHERE: 3861 3rd Street, Riverside, CA 92501; corner of Fairmount Blvd. and 3rd Street
Parking at Republic Parking at 3rd Street and Main Street
RSVP: Julie D. Taylor, julie@taylor-pr.com; Joshua Smith, joshua@taylor-pr.com; 310.247.1099
WHO: Remarks begin at 10:30 AM:
Italia Garcia, District Representative, Senator Richard D. Roth, 31st Senate District
Gloria Perlas Pulido, External Affairs, Southern California, Office of California State Treasurer Fiona Ma, CPA
Tarci Hodge, MHP Program Manager, California State Department of Housing & Community Development
Patricia Lock Dawson, Mayor, City of Riverside
Dr. Wolde-Ab Isaac, Chancellor, Riverside Community College District
Rochelle Mills, President and CEO, Innovative Housing Opportunities
WHY: To mark the beginning of construction of The Aspire, developed by Innovative Housing Opportunities (IHO), with Kingdom Development, both nonprofit affordable-housing developers.
DETAILS: This new community is approximately a mile from Riverside City College, which has been actively engaged in its planning. The Aspire is situated at the corner of 3rd Street and Fairmount Boulevard in a residential community within walking distance to the burgeoning downtown Riverside scene, including access to a weekly farmers market, cultural landmarks, and plentiful job opportunities. Onsite services provided at no cost to residents will include an array of social and supportive programs that ensure the well-being and future success of the residents. The Riverside Community College District will provide no-cost academic support for RCC students living at The Aspire.
The $25-million development will offer 33 furnished, one-bedroom units, each approximately 450 square feet, with a patio/deck. Taking design cues from Riverside’s rich historical Spanish Colonial Revival palette, the three-story structure includes elements reminiscent of the nearby legendary Mission Inn and Fox Theater. A site-specific artwork celebrating the City of Riverside’s identity and heritage will feature a magnolia tree that provides coverage and protection for the community. The artwork will uplift the residents as well as the surrounding residential neighborhood by creating a beautiful and engaging environment for all to enjoy.
FUNDING: HOME and Housing Authority funds from the City of Riverside
Project-Based Housing Choice vouchers from the County of Riverside
California Tax Credit Allocation Committee (CTCAC)
California Debt Limit Allocation Committee (CDLAC)
California Housing and Community Development (HCD)/Multifamily Housing
Program
QUOTES: “The Aspire’s combination of thoughtful design, community programs, and access to local amenities will position future residents to rise to their full potential and ultimately give back to their community,” says Rochelle Mills, President and CEO of Innovative Housing Opportunities, which is the owner, developer, and managing general partner of The Aspire.
“Innovative Housing Opportunities will work with the County of Riverside University Health System – Behavioral Health and a cadre of additional partners to offer residents an array of programming that includes robust educational support in life skills, goal planning, and financial resiliency to equip them to thrive long after their time with us,” says Emilie Dang, Innovative Housing Opportunities’ Community Impact and Programs Director.
“The Aspire reflects our primary mission to increase the amount of affordable housing available for disadvantaged youth and families,” says William Leach, President of Kingdom Development, a Riverside-based nonprofit. “We are thrilled to have the opportunity to further our mission right here in our backyard.”
BUILDING TEAM:
Developers: Innovative Housing Opportunities (IHO); Kingdom Development
Construction Manager: S.L. Leonard & Associates
Contractor: Portrait Construction, Inc.
Architect: Bassenian Lagoni Architects
Interior Designer: JAG Interiors
Landscape Architect: C2 Collaborative
ABOUT INNOVATIVE HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES:
The mission of Innovative Housing Opportunities (IHO) is to enrich communities by providing high-quality affordable housing, where residents can thrive, develop healthy habits, and achieve success and stability. IHO’s California development portfolio provides housing to a wide variety of residents, including seniors, families, foster youth, veterans, those living with mental illness, formerly homeless, developmentally disabled, and other special needs and mixed populations. Formed in 1976 to help business and government address the lack of low- to moderate-income housing in the City of Irvine, IHO is now working throughout California in strategic partnerships that creatively and effectively maximize efficiencies while achieving the most attractive and well-managed environments for residents and for the surrounding communities.
ABOUT KINGDOM DEVELOPMENT:
Kingdom Development was founded in 2015 to enrich the lives of disadvantaged youth through the strengthening of families and the development of housing. Kingdom carries out its purpose in three capacities: developing affordable housing for all populations in partnership with for-profit and nonprofit developers; consulting with for-profit and nonprofit developers as financial advisor, construction manager, and application consultant; and enhancing the industry’s ability to develop affordable housing by providing policy makers and industry practitioners insightful analysis.
Renderings: courtesy Bassenian Lagoni Architects