Current Housing Efforts
Looking for housing?
Development Projects
Planned Projects
Newpark Plaza Mixed-Use Plaza
RW Investments Newark, LLC has submitted an application for the site at 5222 Newpark Plaza, currently home to commercial uses, into a mixed-use development. The proposal includes constructing three buildings, which will collectively provide 1,000 residential units, with 20% designated as affordable for low-income households. Each building would contain a parking structure, and two buildings would feature a combined 10,000 square feet of ground-floor retail space. The project is currently undergoing review and requires both Design Review and Tentative Map approval.
This project was submitted as a “Builders Remedy” application, which provides a streamlined review process for projects that include a minimum of 20% of the units as affordable units.
Additional information about the Newpark Plaza Mixed-Use Project can be found on the City of Newark’s Planning Division website.
Current Projects
Cedar Community Apartments at Towne Place Suites
The Cedar Community Apartments was selected for a $38.2 million Homekey grant, one of 35 projects across the state. The grant assisted with the acquisition and conversion of Town Place Suites into 124 apartments for extremely low-income households and households experiencing homelessness, including 11 units that would be reserved for military veterans. The grant also provides funding for residential services, including education and employment assistance.
Additional information about Cedar Community Apartments can be found at the Allied Housing/Abode Services website: https://www.abodeservices.org/cedar-community
Housing Element Implementation
Newark’s 2023-2031 Housing Element
The centerpiece of the Newark 2023-2031 Housing Element is a comprehensive plan with seven major goals to further affordable housing production and housing mobility, increase opportunity and protect residents from displacement. City staff are working on a range of projects that are a result of the adopted Housing Element which will have direct impacts on the residents of Newark.
Click the button below to see a full description of the Housing Element’s Goals and Policies.
Inclusionary Housing Ordinance
An inclusionary housing ordinance requires new residential projects to set aside a percentage of units for affordable housing or a payment of in-lieu fees made towards affordable housing.
The City of Newark already has an affordable housing impact fee in place; City staff is in the process of updating its approach to an inclusionary ordinance and is currently conducting interviews with key stakeholder organizations and convening a developer advisory group. Staff anticipates holding a community meeting in the winter of 2025 for public input and a draft ordinance for city council approval by the spring of 2025.
For more information about this project please contact housing@newarkca.gov.
Local Preference
A local preference policy prioritizes people who live or work in the local community for new affordable housing opportunities.
A local preference policy prioritizes people who live or work in the local community when affordable housing opportunities become available. This policy will help to ensure that housing supported by local resources serves Newark residents and workers, and it will provide support to residents facing displacement due to economic and real estate market conditions. Adoption of a local preference policy is a 2023-2031 Housing Element goal and a cornerstone of Newark's anti-displacement strategy.
The City commissioned a Live/Work Policy study in 2022 to support a local preference policy and ensure the City’s policy will not violate fair housing law. The study showed that lower-income Newark households are subject to displacement pressures. The study also showed that the adoption of a local preference policy would not have a disparate impact in terms of denying housing opportunities to particular protected classes of residents or workers.
Currently, the City is working with its legal team to develop a policy or ordinance to bring to City Council in early to mid 2025.
For more information, please contact housing@newarkca.gov
Tenant Protections
Renters represent a significant portion of the Newark community, and their concerns are a top priority for the City.
In response to housing barriers highlighted in the 2023–2031 Housing Element, the City is working on new tenant protections by engaging with both tenants and property owners to identify how to improve local housing policies for everyone.
Our activities included a survey, focus groups, stakeholder interviews, and a community workshop that took place on October 23rd from 6 -7:30 PM. We will use this input to develop new housing stability policies for the City Council to consider.
For any questions or comments, please reach out to the City at housing@newarkca.gov.
Community Workshop
On Oct. 23, 2024, the City of Newark held a virtual workshop on tenant protections, offering community members an opportunity to share their needs and learn more about existing and proposed tenant stability policies. See the presentations below.
Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs)
Accessory dwelling units (ADUs), also known as “in-law units,” “granny units,” or “secondary units,” are separate, smaller homes, on the same lot as a larger house, apartment, or condo building.
ADUs have their own kitchen, bathroom, and sleeping areas. They can be attached to the primary home (an “attached ADU”), detached from the primary home (a “detached ADU”), or a part of the primary home that has been converted into a separate apartment (a “conversion ADU”). ADUs are allowed on all types of residential properties.
ADUs play an important part in Newark’s housing supply and are part of the solution to address the statewide affordable housing shortage. The City is in the process of updating its ADU Ordinance (Newark Municipal Code Section 17.26.040) and implementing the Newark Housing Element Program H2.2: Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Program. More details on the update will soon follow.
If you are interested in learning more about ADUs and the permitting process, please visit the City’s Accessory Dwelling Unit website or contact joseph.balatbat@newarkca.gov
Objective Design Standards
The City is developing Objective Design Standards to offer applicants and developers a clear, measurable understanding of residential and mixed-use development expectations.
Unlike guidelines, these standards are precise and enforceable. For instance, an objective design standard might require that building entrances feature a roofed projection or recess with a minimum depth of five feet. These objective design standards will align with state laws and apply to projects governed by the Housing Accountability Act and related legislation. The City plans to present these proposed objective design standards to the Planning Commission in late Spring of 2025.
For more information regarding this effort visit the City’s Objective Design Standards website or contact Senior Planner Carmelisa Lopez at carmelisa.lopez@newarkca.gov.
Community Workshop
The City of Newark is developing Objective Design Standards for residential and mixed-use projects. You are invited to join the project team on Wednesday, February 26th from 5:30-7:30pm at the Newark Library - Newark Room located at 37055 Newark Blvd, Newark, CA 94560 to learn about the project and to provide feedback on site and building design elements. Your input will help shape staff recommendation and be shared with decision makers! For more info, visit www.newark.org/ODS
First-Time Homebuyers Program
The City is currently working with a consultant team to develop and administer a below market (or affordable) homeownership program and downpayment assistance program.
The intention of the program is to bring homeownership within reach, with a focus on BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) residents and first time homebuyers.
The City is in the process of selecting a contractor to develop and administer this program with the goal of launching it in 2025.
Alameda County currently administers the AC Boost program, which provides financial assistance (up to $210,000 in shared appreciation loans) to middle-income working households to purchase a home in Alameda County. For more information and qualification requirements, visit the AC Boost website.
For more information, please contact housing@newarkca.gov.