PARADISE — By the end of 2025, 70 families will have new homes at the north end of Paradise on Cypress Lane.
The Community Housing Improvement Program, widely referred to as CHIP, and its partners broke ground on a massive new low-income housing development project Friday dubbed the Cypress Family and Senior Apartments.
Friday marked the beginning of the first phase of development which starts with apartment buildings designated for families and eventually senior citizens.
“We are so excited to be able to help make that a reality,” said CHIP President Seana O’Shaughnessy. “I have the wonderful privilege of thanking our amazing partners for doing hard things like rebuilding the community. It takes persistence, creativity and partnership.”
The project consists of building multiple apartment units along Cypress Lane complete with a community center and parking surrounding each building. There will be eight two-story buildings in total for family and individual units plus an additional 70 units reserved for senior housing. The senior housing will be broken into two single-story buildings and two two-story buildings.
CHIP and its partners are focusing on those who earn between 30-60% of the AMI, or area median income. Senior units will be reserved for those 62 and older.
Other amenities that will be added to the area are a community garden, a dog park, a laundry area and two playgrounds.
During his talk at the ceremony, Paradise Vice Mayor Greg Bolin recalled that the site was home to the senior living facility Cypress Acres as well as the main office of California Vocations before the Camp Fire in 2018.
“This place holds a lot of memories,” Bolin said.
For this project, CHIP worked with the town of Paradise, Mercy Housing and Zen Development Consultants LLC.
According to CHIP’s timeline, the design and public outreach processes were completed in February. Construction begins this year, and leasing and occupancy are planned for 2025.