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Folk's Landing
Napa, California

Four of the Folk's Landing units are in this rehabilitated historic building.

Several attempts had been made to rehabilitate the dilapidated property in Napa, California, by the time its owners came to the Napa Housing Authority for help in late 1992. Several years earlier, the city had agreed that the site, in the Calistoga Avenue Historic District, was appropriate for much-needed housing for the elderly, but two sets of owners had been unable to secure adequate financing for the project.

The plan called for 14 units--4 in a rehabilitated historic structure and 10 in two new buildings, consistent in design with the original structure. The units would be affordable to elderly or disabled persons at or below 80 percent of the area median income, with most units renting to households at 50 or 60 percent of the median.

The Napa National Bank had committed $600,000 to the project, but more than $350,000 was still needed. The city and the housing authority identified $116,000 in CDBG funds that could be used for rehabilitation, but substantial funds were still needed for new construction.

HOME funds could fill that gap, but Napa is not a participating jurisdiction and thus does not receive HOME funds directly from HUD. However, in January 1993, the State of California made HOME funds available under its program, and the Napa Housing Authority submitted an application for $235,000 for the financing to complete the new construction. The funding was approved, but it took more than a year for all reviews to be completed and for construction to begin on the project, which was called Folk's Landing.

In addition to environmental, floodplain, and relocation concerns, the project required extensive review by the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO), because of its location in a historic district. The SHPO review resulted in a memorandum of agreement dealing with recordation of the property, methods of moving buildings, and continued historic significance. At the request of a local university, an archeological study of the site was also required.

Construction of Folk's Landing finally began in February 1994 and was completed in two phases: The four rehabilitated units were finished in September 1994, then the new building was completed. The project was fully occupied by March 1995. HOME funding was critical to the project; both the HOME funds and the CDBG funds were structured as 3 percent deferred payment loans with 20-year terms.

Before rehabilitation began, the historic building was severely dilapidated.			Both new buildings provide handicapped access.

In addition to providing high-quality, affordable units for low-income elderly and disabled citizens, the development of Folk's Landing preserved and improved a previously blighted site in the historic district. There is no doubt that this project spurred other property improvements in the area.

Close cooperation among agencies at different levels of government was crucial to the development of Folk's Landing. The Napa Housing Authority submitted the HOME application and has ongoing responsibility for monitoring the project. The city provided CDBG funds for the rehabilitation, while the state provided HOME funds for new construction. HUD staff worked closely with the other participants to overcome various obstacles that threatened the project. As a result of this collaboration, Folk's Landing is now a pleasant and convenient home to 14 low- and moderate-income households.

Contact: Peter Dreier, Housing Authority of the City of Napa, 707/257-9543

Copyright 1997 - 1998 - 1999 - 2000
Affordable Housing and HOME
National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO)
630 Eye Street, NW
Washington, DC 20001-3736
Telephone: (202) 289-3500
Fax: (202) 289-4949