Last updated: February 2025

Community Housing Development Corporation (CHDC): Revitalizing a Former Gas Station into Affordable Housing

On December 16, 2024, community leaders, housing advocates, and local officials gathered in Richmond, California, to celebrate the groundbreaking of Legacy Court, a 43-unit affordable housing project led by the Community Housing Development Corporation (CHDC), an Equitable Community Revitalization Grant (ECRG) grantee. This milestone highlights how targeted investment in environmental cleanup can transform contaminated land into affordable housing and community assets. The project site, once a blighted gas station, underwent significant remediation funded through ECRG, allowing CHDC to remove over 900 tons of contaminated soil and clear the way for redevelopment.

At the event, Maryam Tasnif-Abbasi, Brownfield Development Manager at DTSC, reflected on the persistence behind projects like this: “Somebody saw this old gas station. They had a dream. After that dream, they had an idea. Then they had a conversation. Then they had a meeting. Then they had 100 meetings. Then they had 200 meetings. Then they had 300 meetings. We all know what it’s like…”

Her words underscored the vision, collaboration, and determination it takes to bring pollution to possibility. Legacy Court will feature one-, two-, and three-bedroom units with amenities including a community kitchen, computer lab, and bike parking. Designed as all-electric with solar panels and energy-efficient appliances, the project demonstrates how environmental justice and housing stability go hand in hand.

State leaders, including Senator Jesse Arreguín, praised the effort: “Know that in the state of California, we have a committed partner working with you.” The significance of this achievement was underscored by media coverage, recognizing the impact of transforming a long-vacant, contaminated property into homes for families who need them most. Through ECRG funding and CHDC’s leadership, Legacy Court is a model of revitalization—turning pollution into opportunity, one home at a time. Read more about the groundbreaking event.