Big picture
Oakland has just issued grading permits for a new affordable housing project at 2125 Telegraph Avenue, marking a key step toward construction. The plan calls for an eight-story building with 97 units focused on senior residents, developed by Mercy Housing. Most of the units will be studios for extremely low- and very low-income households, with 20 set aside for people who were formerly unhoused. The site is currently a surface lot near the 19th Street BART Station and Lake Merritt. The project includes common amenities like a rooftop deck, community room, kitchen, laundry, and bike parking. Construction is expected to cost around $74 million, though the schedule hasn’t been finalized yet.
Why this matters
Oakland has long struggled with housing affordability and homelessness, especially among older residents. Moving this project forward helps deliver deeply affordable units in a transit-accessible neighborhood, which can ease pressure on the housing market and support people with low incomes. Setting aside units for formerly unhoused individuals connects housing supply directly with efforts to reduce homelessness. The permit issuance shows real progress from planning to building, helping address the city’s urgent affordable housing needs.